The Christian life is portrayed in the New  Testament in a  variety of ways. The writers of the  New Testament use word pictures to help us understand. They use things that we are familiar with. They take common, everyday actions and give them spiritual application.

          One way the  life of a Christian is portrayed in the New Testament is that of a  “walk.”  That is something that all of us are able to do unless hindered by health reasons. Eph. 5:2 reads as  follows: “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (ESV) We also read in verse 8, “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” We have been called out of a “kingdom of  darkness,” into the “kingdom of the Son of His love.” (Col. 1:12-14) The Lord expects us to live for  Him.  The ‘walk” of the believer should be one of progress.

          We know that the way we walk physically and the pace of our walk is different with each person.  This can  be illustrated in  the  “marathon concept.”  Here in Louisville, KY we have what is called  the “Mini-Marathon.”  Many are entered, and while only one person wins the race, all who finish receive some recognition.  Some are fast runners, slow runners, fast and slow walkers. Some are on crutches, some in wheelchairs,   but their goal is to finish the race.

          So it is with the believer. We are “in Christ”, we are admonished to “grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus”  (2 Peter 3:18).  Jesus has a  right to expect continual growth in His children. But He realizes that as we all grow at different stages in the physical realm, so it is also in the spiritual realm.  “walking”  denotes progress.  If we desire to  “learn of Him,” and grow as  Christians he will equip us for the journey. We must have our eyes upon Jesus at all times (Heb. 12:1-2). He gives us  His Word to study, meditate upon and apply to our lives.

          We must be  found “walking  in the Truth.” This phrase is used numerous times in the New Testament.  Jesus is the great example of One walking in Truth.  In John’s 2  short epistles, 2^nd  &  3^rd  John both recipients, “the elect lady” in  2^nd  John 4  and Gaius in 3^rd  John4 are commended for walking “in the truth. John also is thankful that others are walking in the truth also. 

          We want to be pleasing to our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus in eve3ry possible way.  Since we have been called out of darkness into the marvelous light of the Gospel, we have an obligation, yea, privilege to help others find their way to Christ also. “Walking in Truth” will help us cultivate the type of life we need to continue to grow in the Lord.   

          We must be found following the teachings found in the New Testament that show us how to live for Him who died for us! Written by Larry Miles

http://larryslines.com/living-as-a-christian/walking-in-the-truth.html

David Urey was desperate.  He, his wife, and their son were involved in an automobile accident in West Virginia.  Urey suffered only minor injuries but his son suffered a concussion and his wife had a broken back and a severe scalp injury.  Mrs. Urey was also in her fifth month of pregnancy.

A surgeon at Grant Memorial Hospital in Petersburg, WV, told Urey he could perform basic surgery to keep his wife alive, but she needed to see a neurosurgeon as soon as possible.  The closest one was 150 miles away at Georgetown Hospital, and Urey’s wife would probably not survive if transported by ambulance, the doctor said.

Searching for a helicopter to airlift his wife to D.C., in desperation Urey called the White House.  He was able to explain his situation to Gen. James Hughes, President Richard Nixon’s military aide.  Gen. Hughes called Lt. Col. Abe Wolson to see if the President’s helicopter could make the round trip to WV and back to Georgetown Hospital so Urey’s wife could have the life-saving neurosurgery.  Lt. Col. Wolson said that the flight was possible so the order was given.

The rescue mission was successfully completed.  “The outcome was that Brian, their son, fully recovered from his head injury in a few weeks.  Mrs. Urey gave birth to a normal baby boy and she eventually recovered,” Wolson said proudly. *

Because of our sins, we were in a fatal condition, unable to save ourselves, and desperately in need of rescue (Romans 6:23).

Although our sins are an offense to Him, God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to rescue us.  This divine rescue mission would demand that Jesus give His life to pay the price for our redemption from sin (1 Peter 1:18-19).  Jesus willingly laid down His life for our salvation, so that we might live (John 10:17-18).

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn away from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

The Apostle Paul extolled the glory of this rescue mission as he opened a letter to Christians in Galatia: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Galatians 1:3-5).

Jesus came to rescue YOU.  He will save you, if you will only accept His offer on His terms.

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from “Abe Wolson recalls one mission worth 20 years of service” by Don Moore in www.donmooreswartales.com.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Daily Devotional
by Mike Johnson via Wooddale Church of Christ 

There once was a farmer who had a real problem with crows in his cornfield. Nothing he tried worked to keep them away. Even the scarecrow did not work. The man was very frustrated.

This farmer had a pet parrot that he kept inside all of the time. This parrot had learned to talk and was a source of great companionship for the farmer as he was alone. One day the door was left open and the parrot flew outside. He eventually ended up in the cornfield with the crows.

Later in the day the farmer came into the yard from another part of his farm and noticed in the cornfield behind his house a whole bunch of crows. He had had enough. He ran inside the house and got his shotgun. He then went into the cornfield and began shooting and killing crows. After he had finished, he decided to walk around and count how many he had killed. He was so proud of his accomplishment.

As he added up the total he came across his pet parrot that was lying in the ground at the point of death. The farmer was now distraught and asked the parrot what had caused the injuries that would cost him his life. The parrot answered, "Bad company."

Bad company has been the downfall of many a good person. They never intended to be destroyed by their associations and, yet, as they continued these acquaintances they were, very slowly, being destroyed in spite of their original intent. The Bible warns, "Be not deceived: evil companions corrupt good morals" (I Cor. 15:33).

One of the best things that you can do for yourself is to surround yourself with good people. They will help you to be better. And, at the very least, they will not bring you down. Consider these things today.

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea.
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle’s flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was compete,
And so, He called it...Dad.

Author Unknown

A man I knew had a military background.  He ruled over his family with an iron fist.  In a counseling session with him and his wife, he demanded that I tell her “the Bible teaches that I am the head of the house!”  “Actually,” I told him, “you’re not.”  We read together from I Corinthians 11:3. “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”  It’s true that God holds a man accountable for his family and gives him the authority to oversee it – but the head of every family is Christ! The most important role that God gives to fathers is the spiritual leadership of their family.  I thank God for Christian mothers.  The truth is that many homes would have no Christian influence or training if it was not for them.  Often, they are the ones who see to it that the children are taken to Bible study and church.  They are the ones who tell the children Bible stories and listen to their prayers at night.  I know many women who have raised faithful Christian children without the help of a husband and father.  But, it is difficult and not the way God intends for it to be.  In Ephesians 6:4 Paul makes a very direct charge to dads: “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the training and admonition up in the training and admonition not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”  How does God measure my faithfulness to Him?  One way is, by the way, I lead my family in following Him.  In Genesis 18:19, we read one of the reasons   Abraham was approved by God.  “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice.”

As fathers, we must provide leadership for our families. It is up to us to determine what our family believes and stands for.  As Joshua challenged Israel “Choose you this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” (Joshua 24:15)  How can we, as fathers be a spiritual leader in our home?  First, by teaching.  God commanded fathers to make His will known to their children.  (Psalm 78:5-6; Isaiah 38:19).  He told the fathers of Israel to lay up His words in their hearts and to “teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”  We share things we enjoy with our children.  We talk to them about sports, we teach them to drive a car and to hunt.  But are we training them in the way of the Lord?  Christian fathers must study God’s word and teach it to their children!  Second, by example.  In Deuteronomy  32:7, we are told “ask your father, and he will show you.”  Our own example is the strongest leadership that there is.  Do you pray with your children?  Are you taking an active role in the church?  As your children observe you day in and day out, do they know you to be a man of integrity – honest in all of your dealings?  Pure in your language, attitudes, and habits?  Fathers, God has given us a tremendous responsibility!  It’s time for all of us to say “as for me and my house – we will serve the Lord!” (author unknown)