By: J. Raymond Pecoraro

The book entitled "The Caine Mutiny" written by Herman Wouk is a novel about World War II. In his book, we read about an excellent illustration of what happens when someone becomes a follower of Christ.

This book tells about a young man from a very influential family who decided he wanted to enlist in the military, particularly the United States Navy. The day this young man was to report for military duty, his mother drove him in their fancy family automobile. His good mother kisses her beloved son goodbye knowing she wouldn't see him for quite some time. The young son shakes hands with the military guard and enters the secured building closing the door behind him.

The young man's mother suddenly worried that her son didn't have enough money so she rushes back to the door of the building. But the guard politely stops the mother from entering the building where her son stood. When she demands entrance, the guard refuses to allow her in. She could see her son standing on the inside the door, so she reaches for the doorknob. "He's my son!" she cries. The guard gently removed her hand from the knob and said softly, "I know, Ma'am, but he belongs to Uncle Sam now. He's a sailor."

Of course, the Bible gives us the best illustrations of what it means to be a follower of Christ. When we submit our will to the Will of the Lord, blessings begin to flow on into eternity. In Matthew 22:37, Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." The followers of Christ get their marching orders directly from God.

When we believe in Him and become obedient to the gospel we become His followers! We are now under a new authority. (Matthew 28:18-20). We are subject to new commands because we belong to Him. What was once important to us no longer matters and loses its significance. We look at things in life differently. Our new desire is to love the One who first loved us. Our new desire is to serve the Master with every fiber of our being.

Daily Devotional 
By Tom Smith from the Wooddale Church of Christ 

There are 168 hours in a week. There are 10,080 minutes in a week. How many of those hours and minutes do you devote to God?

Life is short Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. Don't waste the day, but work towards making it a success James 4:13-14 Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. We don't know what the next day brings Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Use your time to prepare not for earthly things, but for Godly, so as you will not be as the rich fool Luke 12:16-21 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Work while there is time John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. Don't be idle Matthew 20:4-6 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

An idle soul will hunger Proverbs 19:15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Don't waste time in regrets but look forward Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Don't waste time in worry, because the Lord will provide Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Again the question is asked, "How many of those hours and minutes do you devote to God?"
 

By: J. Raymond Pecoraro from the Wooddale Church of Christ

Jesus' prayer to His Heavenly Father was this: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17). Truth is truth no matter what we think about it. No religion is above the truth either. If any religion goes beyond the explicit and implicit truth found in God's Holy Writ, then that religion has gone beyond that which is written! (II Cor. 2:17; Titus 2:5). Truth is truth even if you don't think it has an effect upon your life directly! Truth is truth even if someone chooses to ignore it for whatever reason!

A multitude of "religions" spring up daily. One has to wonder why? Why are there so many religious groups around the world? I can think of only two viable reasons used to want a religion that grossly differs from that which the Lord began & purchased with His own precious blood in A.D. 33! (Acts 2:1-47; 20:28). One reason is they want to please themselves rather than God. The second reason is that they have a total disregard for God's truth! They change the truth of God into a lie and therefore, the Lord sends them a strong delusion. (Romans 1:25; II Thess. 2:11-12).

I recognize the fact that these followers believe they are true believers. Believing a thing to be true doesn't necessarily make it true. I can believe that the world is flat but that won't make it flat. I can find out the truth about the world being round from historical records & change my mind or remain in ignorant bliss. In the same manner, truth can be had by all those interested. God left us with His Holy Word known as the Bible. We can seek out God's Word and it will show us His truth. (Luke 8:11). Jesus said, "We shall know the truth and the truth shall make us free." (John 8:32).

In John 17:17ff, Jesus prayed for a unified people; a people sanctified or set apart from the world. Why would the Lord pray such a sincere and earnest prayer if it doesn't matter what someone believes and practices? It wouldn't make much sense, would it? Of course not! God isn't pleased with people who ignore His Word and follow after their own satisfactions!

In I Peter 2:2, we read, "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby." We need to have people get excited about spiritual truth which leads to spiritual growth. God's truth is worth hungering for! Someone has aptly stated: "Study the Bible to be wise; believe it to be safe; practice it to be holy." I think these are great words to apply to one's life!
 

Tonk Talk by Mark T. Tonkery

C stands for Christ. He is our model, our motivation. Our attitude must be the same as John the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30) Paul put it this way, “But that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or death.” (Philippians 1:20).

R stands for resurrection. The Cross was no accident. What Satan had intended as our ultimate defeat, God used to bring us redemption and triumph. The best and worst of all things collided. Of course, the Cross wasn’t the final answer in this battle; the empty tomb and the resurrected Lord are (1 Cor. 15:1-4). We are the victorious recipients of this grace, paid at such an agonizing cost, administered in such a cruel manner by our greatest adversary, and secured by Jesus’ triumph over the grave. (Rom. 5:10).

O stands for outreach. Our mission must be the same as our Lord’s In Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.” Evangelism is the lifeblood of the church: May we all be looking for opportunities to share the good news of Christ with our friends and neighbors. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Psalm 107:1-2).

S stands for Salvation. By Jesus' death and resurrection, Jesus brings salvation to people who believe in him and are obedient to the Gospel (Rom. 1:16,1 Cor. 15:1-4 & 2 Thes. 1:7-9). Jesus has provided Salvation and has deliverance us from the guilt and power of sin. Act 4:12 states that Salvation is found in no one else.

S stands for service. The purpose of Christianity is service. We are saved to serve. “For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45). Luke 22:27 “Jesus says, But I am among you as the one who serves

John 19:16-37 shows us the picture of the Cross. With all its ugliness, shame, and pain Christ endured it for you and me. When we think of the Cross, two words we must never associate with it are the words “tragic accident.” The New Testament makes it very clear that two separate streams of power converged at the cross. Evil had its way and brought the Son of God to the Cross. God had His plan and He allowed the cross to happen to redeem us.