Young People’s Blog

“Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:25).

Two days ago, we looked at a verse that told us to pray without ceasing, and we saw that we should always be in an attitude of prayer in our everyday lives. We should always be ready to look up to the Lord and give thanks, or ask Him for help.

Today we see that it is important for us to ask others to pray for us too. We ought to be concerned about one another, and pray for one another. When someone else has a problem, we should be ready to pray for them. Sometimes we do not know how to pray, and then it is nice simply to ask the Lord to help them, and to pray for the Lord’s will in their lives.

For example, if someone is very sick, we naturally want them to get better. But sometimes it is not the will of God for them to get better right away. I knew a twelve-year-old girl once who prayed earnestly that her grandmother would recover from a serious illness, and when instead the Lord took her grandmother home to be with Him, she was very upset. We can understand that, but the Lord’s will is always best, and we must be willing to submit to it. He can give us peace in our heart to accept whatever He allows.

“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

Sometimes we can do things that other people might think to be wrong, even though we are not actually doing something wrong. I grew up on a farm, and there were a lot of bulrushes (cattails) growing down by the creek. When the heads dried out in the late summer and early fall, my brothers and I would sometimes cut them off, and then light the end with a match. They burned slowly with a red glow, and emitted some smoke, so that they looked very much like a cigar. Then we would pretend we were smoking cigars.

I well remember my mother quoting today’s verse to us, and pointing out that even though we were not actually smoking cigars, we were giving the appearance of doing so. It was a good verse for us to remember, and I never forgot it. Let us always remember that as Christians, we represent the Lord Jesus in this world, and that the world is watching us.

“Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).

This verse does not mean that we should be praying every minute of our lives, but it does mean that we should always be in an attitude of prayer, and ready to pray. We can thank the Lord for what He has done for us, and bring our problems and our requests to Him. He is always ready to hear us!

However, the second verse for today is most important. Whatever may happen to us, we should be able to give thanks. Sometimes the Lord allows something very serious in our lives, and we may not be able immediately to give thanks for it. For example, if your brother or sister were suddenly killed in a fatal car accident, it would be rather difficult for you to thank the Lord for allowing that to happen. But we can accept it from the Lord, and continue to thank Him for His goodness to us. We know that He loves us, and when He allows things in our lives, it is always for our good. We can always “in everything give thanks.”

“But every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:13-14).

Some people today prefer to eat vegetarian, but most people in North American still enjoy eating meat. We expect babies to want milk, and that is natural. Milk is good for them, is easy to digest, and helps them grow when they are very young. However, there comes a time when it is good to introduce them to solid food, and eventually children learn to appreciate and eat meat.

However, in order to eat meat you must have good teeth, and small babies do not have teeth until they are a few months old. But then soon they can begin to eat solid food. Parents would be very upset if their children still drank only milk when they were four or five years old, as they would not grow properly on that kind of diet.

It is the same for us as Christians. We grow at first on milk—simple things from the Word of God, but the Lord likes to see us grow and appreciate the deeper things of His Word.

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:12-13).

The one whom the Lord used to write the book of Hebrews uses the expression “brethren” in this verse, so that he is referring to true believers. Of course, an unbeliever could also read it, and have his conscience reached. However, it is possible for even a true believer to be overcome by unbelief, and be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. When we lose sight of what the Lord has said, and listen to the devil, he can persuade us that the Lord is not going to honor His promises. Then “an evil heart of unbelief” can overtake us, and our hearts become hardened. This happened to some of the Israelites in the wilderness, in the Old Testament, and then they complained, and even rebelled against the Lord.

Let us always remember that the Lord may test our faith in Him, but that He will NEVER disappoint our faith.

“Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth…they shall perish; but Thou remainest…and as a vesture [piece of clothing] shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed” (Hebrews 1:10-12).

We do not know how long ago God created this world; it may well have been millions of years ago. Only a few thousands of years ago he created man and put him on it. But the Lord created this world for a purpose—to honor and glorify His beloved Son. When He is finished with this present creation, He will fold it up, like a piece of clothing that we do not need anymore. Then He will create a new heavens and a new earth, where sin will never enter.

God is able to use His creation for His own purpose, and it is wonderful for us to recognize this, because He has included us in that purpose.

Today man is very worried about saving this earth from the effects of too much carbon dioxide and other factors that are spoiling the environment, but God knows just how long this world has to last, and will make sure that it is here until His purpose is accomplished. We can rest in that fact, and not be worried or upset.

“So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet” (2 Samuel 9:13).

Yesterday we saw how King David wanted to reach out to Saul’s and Jonathan’s descendants and show them kindness. It seems that there was only one relative left, a man lame on both his feet named Mephibosheth. David has him brought and tells him he will restore to him all the land of his father and grandfather. But then he tells him that he will in the future always eat at the king’s table! This chapter in 2 Samuel is only 13 verses long, and yet it talks about eating at the king’s table 4 times. It seems more important than all the land that was being given back to Mephibosheth.

We too are invited to eat at a “King’s” table. We can be “partakers of the Lord’s table” (1 Corinthians 10:21). It is such a wonderful place to which to have an invitation! More wonderful than all our blessings as Christians is the opportunity to have fellowship with the Lord Jesus at His table. And we can share in this every Lord’s Day.

“And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him?” (2 Samuel 9:3).

The previous king, Saul, and his son Jonathan had been killed in battle, and now David was king. Jonathan had been David’s special friend and David wanted to help any of his remaining relatives. But isn’t it wonderful how he states it in this verse! David is reaching out to the house of Saul, his enemy. And he is going to show the kindness of God. David is not going to claim the credit for his well-doing. He does not say, “the kindness of David”! No, God will get the glory.

It is good for us to remember this as well. We may do something kind and thoughtful for a neighbor, or even someone who might not have been kind to us. We need to do it for the Lord, and make sure that He gets the glory and thanks for it, not ourselves. The Lord will be honored, and we will be happy. When we do any good thing in our Christian lives, it is the Lord who gives us the desire to do it, and the power to do it. He should get the glory for it!

“Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them” (Luke 12:37).

This verse is so wonderful that it is almost beyond our understanding. The Lord Jesus has suffered and died for us, and then has given us the privilege of serving Him down here. But when we get up there in heaven, He is going to come out and serve us! Can you imagine that? He is going to remain a man forever, and remain a servant forever!

When we get up there, we would all consider it the greatest privilege to serve Him, and there will be service we can do for Him, even up there in heaven. But He values the fact that we have been faithful to Him down here while He was rejected, and He will honor us by serving us. What unbelievable grace!

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning” (Luke 12:35).

We do not see people with their “loins girded about” in western countries, but in many countries of the world people wear clothes that are relaxed and loose, when they are resting around the house. But when they go out to work, they cinch up those clothes tightly around their loins—the area just above the waist. Then they are able to go out and work hard, and be active. The Lord wants you and me as Christians to be like that too. We are not left in this world simply to live good upright lives, and then to go to heaven at the end. No, we are left in this world to look after Christ’s interests, and to be lights for Him in a dark world. We are to be active for Him, but also simply to shine as lights for Him.

When we act in a right way before God, the world around us will notice. We may not always preach to them, but our character and actions will show that we belong to Christ.