Young People’s Blog

“See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:15).

Today we see a lot of what is called “road rage” here in North America. If someone else makes a move while driving that seems offensive to some other driver, the driver who feels disrespected sometimes reacts very strongly. They may simply blow their horn loudly, but at other times accidents have happened, and sometimes guns are pulled out. People have even been killed because of road rage. Our old sinful nature tells us that if someone does something wrong to us, we should do something wrong to them.

However, this is not the way of our new life in Christ. Paul tells the Thessalonians that they were never to return evil for evil to any man. No, God’s way is to return good for evil, for that is what God has done for us. Those who are not saved will never be won for Christ by evil; rather, it is the display of the heart of God that will show them the true character of God. It was “while we were yet sinners” that “Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

“The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth” (Psalm 37:21).

Have you ever lent something to someone, and never gotten it back again? I remember when I was in my first year of high school (that was about 65 years ago!), another boy borrowed some money from me, and never paid it back. You will probably laugh about it, because he borrowed only ten cents! But I did not have much money back then, and it really bothered me. The other boy thought it was a big joke, as he never intended to pay it back. He bought a piece of pie with that money in our high school cafeteria.

If we borrow something from someone, it is important to bring it back, or pay it back. But then the last part of the verse tells us that the righteous shows mercy, and gives. Does that mean that we are always to give something to someone who asks for it? No, we need wisdom from the Lord in order to use His money wisely, but it is a wonderful thing to give when someone is in real need.

I know a Christian man who was approached by another Christian brother who was poor, who asked for a loan of money. The brother who was asked to give the loan said, “No, I will not loan you the money, but I will give it to you.” He could afford to give the money, and he was glad to help the other brother who needed some help. Needless to say, the poor brother was very thankful for the help. God is a giving God, and we are called to be like Him.

“Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

This verse might not seem to be connected with a pear pie, but let me explain. Yesterday my wife bought two baskets of pears at the grocery store, and later I saw her sorting them on the kitchen counter. Some were too hard, and some were so ripe that they were too soft and juicy. But she managed to get a bowl full that were just right—not too hard and not too soft. They will make the best pie!

As Christians, we need balance in our Christian life. When the Lord Jesus came into this world, He came preaching grace and truth. Grace is the goodness of God that we do not deserve, but truth brings in the fact that we are sinners, and need a Savior. We cannot have true grace without truth, and we cannot have truth without grace. They balance each other.

We need this balance in our lives too. We are to show grace to others, but we are also to show truth from God’s Word. The Lord will help us to maintain a proper balance, if we ask Him.

“Be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15).

Today’s verse is short, but has a great deal of meaning. On Monday, October 10, it will be Thanksgiving Day here in Canada. While thanksgiving was practiced in Canada for many years, Thanksgiving Day was officially declared by the Canadian Parliament back in 1957 to be on the second Monday of October. Thanksgiving in the United States began long before this, having been celebrated by the Pilgrim Fathers in Plymouth, Massachusetts as far back as 1621. Since 1941 it has been held on the fourth Thursday of November.

It is important to be thankful for everything the Lord gives us, but particularly for good food, shelter, and clothing. In preparation for the day, my wife wants to make a special dessert—a pear streusel pie. (She happens to be very fond of pears.) We will speak a little more about this pie tomorrow.

“God, who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

The farm on which I grew up was a fruit farm; we did not raise cattle. In some areas of Canada and the United States, people raise cattle, and sometimes they are allowed to roam freely over wide areas, looking for good pasture. Frequently those cattle are branded; a characteristic mark is placed upon them, clearly identifying to whom they belong. Then no one can steal them, for the mark will always tell who the rightful owner is.

The Spirit of God in a believer is like that brand. When we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, it is clear that we belong to the Lord. Satan cannot steal us away, for the Holy Spirit identifies us as belonging to Christ. What a wonderful security that is!

“Then said I [the Lord Jesus], Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God” (Hebrews 10:7).

This verse is repeated from Psalm 40, and prophetically the Lord Jesus is speaking to God His Father. The Lord Jesus became a man, and came into this world to do the Father’s will. Perhaps you have readily agreed to do the will of someone else, even when it meant you had to make a personal sacrifice. But the Lord Jesus knew that the will of God His Father meant that He would have to go to Calvary’s cross, and suffer for sin. Yet He continued on, whatever the cost, and accomplished the work His Father had given Him to do.

Now, on this the Lord’s Day, He wants us to remember what He has done for us, and all that He suffered in doing the Father’s will. It is a privilege for us to do this for Him.

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1).

It is easy to boast of what we plan to do tomorrow, or at some time in the future. When things are going well for us in this world, we are more likely to become overconfident, and perhaps boast of what we are going to do.

Many years ago, two successful businessmen in England were chatting together. One of them asked the other one if he had heard of the death of another businessman, whom both of them knew well. “No,” the other one said, “I had not heard.” Then he remarked, “I am so busy that I guess I do not have time even to die!” He then knelt down to tie up his boots, and immediately suffered a fatal heart attack.

None of us knows when we may suddenly be called to die, and it is important to be ready. Those who know Christ as Savior can be at peace, knowing that if they are suddenly called to die, they will be instantly with Christ.

“Those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:4-5).

Yesterday we spoke about a beautiful day which we enjoyed in our area of Canada. However, over the weekend many people in Canada’s Maritime provinces had experienced a severe storm that came off the Atlantic Ocean, and caused widespread damage. Hurricane-force winds and heavy rains tore roofs off houses, caused flooding, and brought down many trees. Some houses were washed away into the sea, while many roads were impassable because of trees strewn across them. A few people were killed, while others are now homeless, and many are without power.

Were these people worse than anyone else, that the Lord allowed such things to happen in their area? Not according to our verse for today. No, God has the right to allow a serious problem in one area, in order to warn everyone else. God is speaking to this world through these events, just as He spoke when the tower of Siloam fell nearly 2,000 years ago. When God speaks like this, it is important for all of us to pay attention.

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

As I write this on October 3, 2022, it is a beautiful day here in eastern Ontario, Canada. The sun is shining, and it is about 18 deg. C. (about 65 deg. F.). It is a perfect day for a walk outdoors. The maple and oak trees are beginning to exhibit their fall colors, and around the area farmers are harvesting things like corn, soybeans, pumpkins, and apples. Some friends from another country are visiting us, and they are very much enjoying the weather and the various sights that are different from their home country.

How good the Lord is to give us all these things! In spite of the fall of man, and the fact that sin has spoiled God’s creation, we can still enjoy much of the goodness of God. His goodness to man has not ceased because of sin, and He wants us to enjoy each day which He has made.

Of course, we cannot really enjoy God’s creation unless we know the Creator, and the only way to know Him is through the Lord Jesus, who came into this world as a man to reveal God’s heart of love. When we know the Lord Jesus as our Savior, we can enjoy creation even more.

“There came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto Him [the Lord Jesus], Get Thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill Thee. And He said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and do cures today and tomorrow” (Luke 13:31-32).

The fox is known as a very clever and cunning animal, and here the Lord Jesus compares Herod to a fox. The Herod family were politically clever, and knew how to manipulate people and events so as to prosper and gain power in the Roman Empire. But sadly, Herod had no interest in the things of God, and did not want to believe on the Lord Jesus. But he had respect for both John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus, and it is doubtful whether he really planned to kill the Lord Jesus. The Pharisees probably made up this accusation just to see what the Lord Jesus’ reaction would be.

Herod’s cleverness did not always work, and a few years later he lost his position in the land of Israel. He was then banished to a place in Gaul, which is modern-day France. There is no record that he ever believed on the Lord Jesus.

The Lord Jesus was not afraid of Herod, and His answer to the Pharisees was that He would continue His work of doing the Father’s will. The threats of men like Herod (even if those threats were true) could not stop the Lord Jesus from going about His work.