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Following
Jesus Daily
Jesus gave
many challenges to mankind. Possibly no challenge is greater than that given by
Jesus in the two words, "follow Me." "Then Jesus said to His
disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24) The
early disciples were invited to "follow Jesus" and become fishers of
men. "Then He said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of
men." (Matthew 4:19) Jesus likewise demands commitment from us! He is
still asking people to follow Him daily. Let us learn what it means to follow
Jesus.
Following
Jesus daily begins when you become a Christian. God is glorified only
in the church. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be
glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.
Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21) The saved are in the church. "Praising God
and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily
those who were being saved." (Acts
Following
Jesus daily continues with seven day service. "Daily" is one
of the key ideas in our service to Jesus. "Then He said to them all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (Luke 9:23) A
"hot-cold," "hot-cold, "hot-cold" religion will never
bring peace or spiritual progress. The church began with "daily"
service. "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking
bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of
heart." (Acts
Following
Jesus daily involves the two greatest commandments. "Jesus said to
him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great
commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as
yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law
and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40.) Christians must love God and
love one another. "This is My commandment, that
you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12) Our love for
fellow Christians must be like the love Jesus has for us. "A new
commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that
you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John
13:34-35) God commands us to love one
another. "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a
liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love
God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who
loves God must love his brother also." (1 John 4:20-21) You can not be
"wrong" with a fellow Christian and "right" with God at the
same time.
Following
Jesus daily involves serving others. Jesus taught the disciples
servitude when He washed their feet. "So when He had washed their feet,
taken His garments, and sat down again,
He said to them, Do you know what I have done to
you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and
you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your
feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an
example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to
you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater
than he who sent him. If you know these
things, blessed are you if you do them." (John 13:12-17) They had been
concerned about the "great places" in the kingdom but Jesus wanted
them to learn to be "servants" not "rulers." Love must
motivate us to serve one another daily. "For you, brethren, have been
called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but
through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13)
Following Jesus daily is strengthened as we
resist temptation. Those that
avoid and endure temptation are truly blessed. "Blessed is the man who
endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of
life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12)
Temptation comes to everyone. Those that persevere and endure these temptations
will be blessed with a crown of life. These trials of one's fidelity, integrity
and virtue are the proving ground for eternity. The crown of life is the blessing promised to those that endure the temptations of
life.
Following
Jesus daily involves daily evangelism: The life blood of the church is evangelism. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He
who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be
condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16) Men and women that have committed their lives to
the Lord must be motivated by love, to share the gospel with others. It is past
time for all of us to carry out God’s command to bring forth fruit. (John
15:1-8) If we do not bear fruit we will be cut off, cast into the fire and
burned! Paul wrote, “And the things that you have heard from me among many
witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
(2 Timothy 2:2)
Following
Jesus daily changes our homes. When families follow Jesus: (1) Husbands
will love their wives (Ephesians
Following
Jesus daily is our greatest need and most pressing challenge. Are you dedicated
to Jesus in your daily living? Paul is a good example of the commitment
needed. "I have been crucified with
Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives
in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Those that
follow Jesus daily will be in heaven. Is your name written there?
- - -
- Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer List: In Need Of Prayers: Emily
Cain, Tom Conway, Marie Curlee, Bobby Fullington, Danny Gandy, Roy Goodwin,
Judy Green, Christopher Hart, Dianne Hoffman, Linda Johnson, Mary Lawrence,
Abby Lee, Robert
McCann, Jo Ann Moorer, Curtis Newton, Pat Newton, Candy Parker, Mary
Powell, John Reynolds, Austin Shows, Sarah Stidham, Gladys Warren, Richard
Watts, and Mary Williams. Crowne Health Care: Mary Alexander,
James Alford, Gladys Childs, Kathy Johnson, Wallace Murry, and Myrtle Perdue. Pine
Needle: Mary Lou Phelps. Georgiana Nursing Facility:
Helen Autrey, Mae Beverly, and Doris Pierce. Shut-Ins: Emma Lee
Gafford, Jean
Hayes, and Doris Taylor.
2. Please
Pray For: Pray for Paul Findley and Ben Newton as they serve in
3. Sympathy
Expressed: Our sympathy and love is expressed to: (a) the family of Bill
McCraney, and (b) the family of Billy Wayne Conway.
4. Congratulations:
Congratulations
to Felice Kendrick on the birth of her granddaughter, Madilyn
Aurelia Hartin. She was born on June 17th
and weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and was 20 ˝ inches long.
5. Prayer Requested: Please continue
to pray for the four churches that the Walnut Street Church of Christ has
helped to establish in Guyana; Plaisance Church of Christ, Industry Church of
Christ, Wowetta Church of Christ, and Bina Hill Church of Christ.
6. Birthday: Celebrating
birthdays this week are: June 25th Isabella
Bagents and June 26th Linda Adams.
7. Bridal Shower: There will be a bridal shower for William Phillips and Shana Burnside on June 29th after the evening service in the multipurpose room. Bring finger foods and everyone is invited. (The meat committee will clean-up after the shower.
8. Fifth
Sunday Meal: The fifth Sunday meal has been moved to Sunday, July 6th.
Everyone is invited to stay after morning worship and enjoy a meal and good
fellowship. (The vegetable committee will clean-up following the meal.)
9. Diaper
and Wipe Shower: There is a box in the foyer to put diapers and wipes
in for Missy Alford and her baby, Branson Ford.
10. Thank You: (a) Dear
Walnut Street Church Christ, I want to thank you for my new Bible and it will
put to use as I grow. I want to thank you also for the love and support I’ve
received from you as I go through this stage in my life. I will always use what
I’ve learned from ya’ll and thank you once again. In Christian Love, Mitch
Bozeman (b) Thank you all so much for helping us. Thanks to everyone
who has sent me cards, but most of all thank you for your prayers. Please
continue to pray for me and my family. Love, Sarah Stidham
11. Wednesday
Night Van Driver: We are in need of a driver for the van on
Wednesday nights. Our thanks to Jeff Thomas, who has driven for some time now.
If you can help with this please let Charles know.
12. Web-Site: Check out our website: http:\\www.walnutstreetchurchofchrist.org.
New material is added each week and you can also access many teaching articles
and past issues of The Reporter.
13. Put These Dates On Your Calendar:
(a) June 22nd–26th
– Vacation Bible School – Walnut Street Church of Christ – Time 6:30-8:30 p.m.,
(b) June 28th –
Vacation Bible School – Grady Church of Christ – Time 8:30 – 3:00 – Lunch will
be provided, (c) July 6th-11th – Backwoods
Christian Camp – Please partici-pate! All that plan
to participate please fill out the Backwoods Christian Camp form that is on the
table in the foyer or ask Charles Box or Darrell Powell for forms. (d) September
13th – Ladies Day –
A Second Look At
The Beatitudes (Part 2)
I would like to continue a brief study of the “beatitudes.” (Matthew 5:3-11.) This is a continuation of last week’s article.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5.) Contrary to the world’s definition of meekness, it does not describe someone who is weak and cowardly. A meek person is more fittingly described as being the opposite of proud or haughty. Meekness was a characteristic of Christ, yet we know that the Lord was and is all-powerful. A meek soul is one that has been tamed by God, and is, therefore, the master of his own spirit. (Lewis, The Gospel According to Matthew, pp. 81.) Do not be ashamed to be characterized with meekness, for it is the meek that will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6). Physical hunger is one of man’s strongest desires. When you are hungry, you seek nourishment, and you do not stop until it is found. The terms “hunger” and “thirst” are used here to show the sense of necessity and the urgency that a Christian should have for righteousness and godliness. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:34.) As the body desires and needs nourishment, so the soul should long for the ways of God.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:7.) We praise the “good Samaritan” for the mercy that he showed when he reached out to meet the need of the suffering man. The longing to be merciful seems to be imbedded into the hearts of most people, which is only fitting. You see, God is merciful. (Luke 6:36.) And we are all made in the very image of God. (Genesis 1:27.) In James 2:13, James said, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.” If we are to obtain mercy, we must show ourselves merciful to others.
- - - - Darrell Powell
A man must be
big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong
enough to correct them.
Don’t just own a Bible; read it!
(334-382-3001)