THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 1, NUMBER 15, MAY 13, 2001

“WALK IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE CALLING”  

            You may recognize the title of this article as a partial quotation from Ephesians 4:1.   After presenting so many of the wonderful, foundational truths of the gospel in the first three chapters, Paul begins to make practical application of those truths in chapter 4.  He is saying that because all of these things are true, this is how we should live, this is how those truths should manifest themselves in our lives.  

            When I think of my manner of life, or my “walk”, the first thing that comes to my mind is my responsibility to glorify God in everything that I do.  That is why I am here, that is what I am to be about.  I think of the Lord’s statement in the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5:14 – 16.  He said, “You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on a lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”     In 1 Corinthians 6, beginning with verse 13, Paul began to write about purpose in creation, about things being used for the purpose for which God created them.  In verse 13, he wrote, “Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them.  Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body.”  Skipping down to verses 19 & 20, we find, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”   The only way that you and I can truly glorify God is by doing what He says.  We can hardly be said to be magnifying, extolling, praising, and ascribing honor to God, (which is the meaning of glorify), if we fail to obey Him.  Do you remember the words of the Lord in Luke 6:46?  Jesus said, “And why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?”  

            While all of the tasks and responsibilities that the Lord has given us are important, I can think of none that is more fundamental and important than to be evangelistic.   In Matthew’s account of the Great Commission, Matt. 28:18 – 20, Jesus told His apostles, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Their responsibility was to go and teach the gospel.  Those who responded favorably to the gospel call were to be instructed to do the same thing, to teach others the good news of Jesus Christ.  That is how the church grew.  Individuals were taught the gospel, obeyed it, and turned around and taught others.  So great was the enthusiasm of the first century Christians, that even persecution could not keep them from telling others about Jesus.  In Acts 8: 1 – 4, we find, “And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.  And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem ; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria , except the apostles.  And some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.  But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.  Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.”  

            Can you think of a kinder, more loving, greater thing that we can do for someone than to tell them about Jesus and the salvation that He has made available to them?  Can you think of a more magnificent way to glorify God?

            We just concluded a gospel meeting and Robert did a wonderful job.  What we need to ask ourselves is “What kind of a job did I do?”  Did I invite anyone to “Come and see” as Philip did with Nathanael in John 1:46 ?  Did I tell anybody that we were having a gospel meeting at the Northern Kentucky Church of Christ?  Did I even walk next door, and across the street to put an invitation on the door of my neighbors?  Was I at each service that I could possibly attend?   

            If I didn’t do these things, than I need to resolve that I am going to do better because that is what God wants of me.  All of it is truly a matter of love; love for God, love for the Lord, love for His Word, love for my brethren, and love for my fellow man.  John wrote in 1 John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”   

            None of the things that each of us can do to help a gospel meeting and to spread the wonderful news of salvation at other times is so hard that it is beyond our capabilities.  God never asks that we do anything that is impossible for us to do.  But He does ask that we do all that we can do!   

            Let’s all hitch up our britches and determine that I, personally and individually, am going to have a hand in bringing someone to the Lord this year.  If I invite enough people, if I give out enough tracts, if I ask enough people to study with me or with another member of the congregation, if I pray enough and work enough, God will give the increase.  

            Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have said of this congregation the same thing the Holy Spirit said of the Thessalonian brethren in 1 Thess. 1:7 & 8?  There we find, “So that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.  For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.”

                                                Greg Litmer

MOTHERS  

            I just wanted to offer a word of encouragement today to all of the young mothers in the congregation, and the young fathers too.     

            It may very well be that sometimes you wonder what in the world you are doing at services.  Your baby, or babies, cry, squirm, wiggle around, make other noises, and just generally make it extremely difficult for you to get much out of the services.  On some days it may seem like you are spending more time in the foyer and the cry-room than you are in the auditorium.  It may even be that from time to time you find yourself thinking it might be better to stay at home because your children are disrupting others in their worship.  

            Well, I just wanted you to know that most of us “have been there and done that”.  Also, I have been where there were no children, no noises, no banged heads when everybody sort of holds their breath until the child screams – and I would much rather have the noises.  I like the “baby amens”, because the alternative is so discouraging.  

            Keep on bringing the kids!  Keep on doing whatever you have to do at services!  If it is rough now, I can guarantee that it will get better.  You are doing what the Lord wants you to do.  Your children are learning that God is the Number One priority and your example is priceless.  

            Besides, you are soon going to turn around and those babies will be young adults and their childhood “church” antics will make good conversation at the restaurants.  Who knows, they might even have one or two themselves that will behave JUST LIKE THEY DID!  

                                                            Greg