Young People’s Blog

“He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit” (Proverbs 17:27 JND).

The word “cool’ is quite common among young people today, and to do something right is considered to be the “cool” thing to do. It can also mean that we are not all worked up about something, but are at peace in ourselves, and can act in the right way.

In our verse today we find that someone who has real understanding is of a “cool” spirit. That means that a person who really is wise, and understands the situation, does not need to get angry or “lose their cool” over a difficulty. A Christian should always be of a cool spirit; we should be able to approach life’s difficulties in the fear of the Lord, yet trusting Him to lead and guide us.

Also, someone who has knowledge does not need to talk a lot. Everyone today seems to want to express their opinions, and everyone seems to feel the need to say what they think about a particular question. Here we find that those who really know what they are talking about do not need to use a lot of words. They can listen to others, and then express themselves in a few words. It is good advice for all of us to remember.

“The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing” (Psalm 34:10).

Normally we would think of lions, and especially young lions, as being strong enough to find their prey and get food without any problem, but there are times when they do lack, and are hungry. Here in our verse for today we have the Lord’s assurance that they who seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. What does this mean?

It means that when we look to the Lord, He is able to provide for us even when it is naturally difficult. It means that we can trust the Lord in any problem, even if there seems to be no way for the problem to be solved. However, we must remember that the Lord may test our faith; He may not give us what we need all at once. Also, He may not give us whatever we ask for, but we will not lack anything that is good for us. This is very reassuring.

“The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him” (Psalm 25:14).

This is a very good verse to remember along with yesterday’s verse. Yesterday we pointed out that the Lord wants us to commit our way to Him, and that He is willing to show us the right path in our life. However, today’s verse shows us that it is those who are walking with the Lord who will be able to hear the Lord’s voice and to know His mind for them. We cannot walk in a careless, sinful or worldly way, and then suddenly go to the Lord and ask Him for His guidance in some difficulty. We are used to getting answers to almost any question very quickly on the internet, but we cannot “google” the Lord. We must know Him as Savior first, and then have a happy relationship with Him in order to have His guidance in our life.

I remember a woman who told me that when she asked the Lord for guidance, He did not answer her. She was a true Christian, but she was very angry at the Lord because of the difficulties she was in, and almost blamed Him for them. Until she submitted to what the Lord had allowed in her life, she would not get any guidance. She needed to get back to the Lord, confess her sin of being angry, and then ask Him what to do. The Lord wants our company, and a happy state of soul and guidance from the Lord go together.

“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5).

Here is one final verse from Psalm 37, and it reminds us to commit our way unto the Lord. Another good translation of the Bible says, “Roll your way upon the Lord, and rely upon Him.” Sometimes we are not sure of which way to go in our lives, and at other times, when perhaps we think that we have everything worked out nicely, something comes along to upset our plans. This can be very difficult for us, but then it is good to remember that the Lord wants us to roll the problem onto Him. In fact, sometimes He allows something to upset our plans so that we will have to trust Him. It is worthwhile having our plans upset so that we can see how He can help us, and work everything out. He wants to carry our burden for us, for He knows the right way for us to go, and if we ask Him, He will show it to us. We do not need to be anxious or worry about what to do; the Lord is with us, and we can rely on Him. As our verse says, “He shall bring it to pass.”

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed” (Psalm 37:3).

Back in February we enjoyed two other verses from this psalm, but this one is particularly good to remember. At the time I am writing this, the war between Russia and the Ukraine is heating up, and just about everyone is worried about where it will end. It is a good time to be reminded to trust in the Lord!

The verse refers to the nation of Israel and their earthly blessings, but you and I can apply the verse to our spiritual blessings, and our enjoyment of them. No matter how difficult life may get in this world, nothing can touch the heavenly blessings we have in Christ. To “dwell in the land” pictures to us living in the enjoyment of all that Christ has given us, while being fed pictures to us the feeding of our souls from God’s Word.

However, we can also trust the Lord for our needs in this world. He knows that we need food, clothing, and shelter, and we can count on Him for these things too. He has promised to look after us all the way home.

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10).

The world calls this day St. Patrick’s Day, and many people wear green to celebrate the day. But which is more important to you and me—the fact that today is St. Patrick’s Day, or the Lord’s Day? St. Patrick lived in Ireland, back in the 5th century A. D., and supposedly was the one who brought Christianity to Ireland. But how much better it is to remember our Lord Jesus Christ, and to use the Lord’s Day for Him!

The one who wrote the words in our verse for today was the Apostle John, and at the time he had been banished to the Greek island of Patmos because he was a Christian. He did not likely have any Christian fellowship there, but he valued the Lord’s Day, and was “in the Spirit” on that day. This means that he was enjoying the Lord on the Lord’s Day, and devoting his thoughts to the Lord’s things, rather than something else. Perhaps he was not able to remember the Lord with other Christians as he would have liked, but his thoughts were on his Lord and Savior.

The Lord appreciates it when we use the Lord’s Day for Him, and for His interests. It is the one day in the week that reminds of the Lordship of Christ over us.

“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered” (Proverbs 28:26).

“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

Naturally speaking, all of us like to direct our own way, and decide what we want to do. We think that we can look at situations and decide how to handle them. But the Bible says that we are not really capable of this, and that to trust in our own hearts is foolish. We do not know what may happen tomorrow, or even later today. Only the Lord knows the future and can show us the right way.

When we are young, there are many big decisions to be made, such as how much education to get, what kind of career we pursue, where we might live, whom we might marry, etc. It is most important to go to the Lord and ask Him what to do. If we really want to know His mind for our life, He will show us. But we must be walking with the Lord in order to be able to hear His voice, and to know His mind for us. He wants to lead and guide us, first of all for His glory, and then for our blessing too.

“Yea, Mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted…hath lifted up his heel against Me” (Psalm 41:9).

Have you ever heard the expression, “Beware the ides of March?” The word “ides” is Latin, and in Roman times, it referred to the 15th day of the months of March, May, July, and October. Away back in the year 44 B.C., Julius Caesar, who held supreme power in Rome, was assassinated by a group of senators on March 15. Supposedly someone who knew about the plot warned Caesar to “beware the ides of March.” It is doubtful whether anyone actually gave him this warning, but it found its way into legend because it was used in Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar. One of those who aided in his assassination was Marcus Brutus, who was supposed to be Caesar’s friend.

About 74 years later, in 29 A.D., the Lord Jesus was betrayed by one of His followers—Judas Iscariot. But the Lord Jesus did not need any warning about Judas, for He knew well what Judas would do. Although his name is not mentioned, our verse for today describes him, and it was written about 1,000 years before Judas lived. Like the other disciples, Judas had spent several years with the Lord Jesus, and had worked with Him. Yet he was not a saved soul, and when the opportunity came, he sold his Master for thirty pieces of silver.

“And he [Herod] sent, and beheaded John in the prison…And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus” (Matthew 14:10,12).

“And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught” (Mark 6:30).

Here we find two different groups of people who approached the Lord Jesus, probably about the same time. They brought two very different kinds of news to Him, too. The apostles (or disciples) had just returned from a very successful mission of preaching, healing, and casting out devils. No doubt they were happy to report to the Lord Jesus what they had done.

But the disciples of John the Baptist came to report that Herod had just beheaded the one they followed. They knew where to go for sympathy and comfort! John the Baptist had been a most faithful man, and had told the people that the Lord Jesus was coming. But now his work was done, and God allowed the wicked King Herod to behead him.

The Lord Jesus understood both His own disciples, when they were glad, and John’s disciples, when they were sad. He understands us too, whether we go to Him when we are happy, or whether we are sad. He can appreciate our happiness, or comfort us in any sadness in our life.

“No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

When I was growing up, there was an older brother who often used to impress this verse on us. Of course, we cannot really walk uprightly until we are truly saved and have a new life in Christ. But as Christians, we can walk uprightly before the Lord, or we can allow our old sinful nature to act, and walk in a wrong way.

The Lord wants to give us good things, and if we walk uprightly, He appreciates this. Our verse does not mean that the Lord will give us everything we want, but rather He will give us what is good for us. But just as parents like to give good things to an obedient child, so the Lord values those of His children who walk uprightly.

Parents love their children even when they are not good, and the Lord never stops loving His children either, even if they behave badly. However, when we walk to please Him, we enjoy His company, and He delights to give us good things. He wants a warm and happy relationship with us!