Category: Article

Jesus Christ Our Priority

As summer winds down and we begin to prepare for another school year, I’d like for us to reflect on our priorities. Greg McKeown in his book “Essentialism” points out the word “priority” was introduced into the English language in the 1400s and was singular. It wasn’t until the 1900s that the word was used in its plural form, “priorities.” Today, the word priority is used to describe what is most important in our life, but we typically talk about our multiple priorities. We attempt to make many things of upmost importance. It feels like many of our priorities conflict with one another, competing for our time, energy, and resources.

Perhaps, we would do better if instead of thinking about all of our many priorities, we just focused on our priority, Jesus Christ! When we focus on Christ as the one and only priority in our life all other things fall into place as they should. Paul’s statement in Philippians 1:21 shows what having Christ as the priority looks like, ^“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

We now stand at the door of a new school year, routines will be changing, new activities will begin, and our schedules will be full. However, let us not lose sight of our priority. Let us keep Christ number one and not let anything become even close to as important in our hearts. When we have opportunities to meet with our brothers and sisters to study God’s Word, let’s take advantage of the opportunities. It’s hard to say Jesus is the priority in our life when we allow other “priorities” to get in the way of spending time in His Word with the church He died to create.

            Occasionally, I loosely borrow the quote from Amos 7:14 that “I am not a prophet nor a son of a prophet.” Then I’ll go on and make a prediction about who’s going to win a sports event or do something else in the future. I’ve also talked to people who’ve endured horrible tragedies. Most all have stated that it’s best we don’t know what the future holds – and I wholeheartedly agree! There are just some things we can’t prepare for even if we know about them beforehand.

            However, there are several things we do know await each of us. Jesus is coming again (Acts 1:9-11). All of us are assured of death unless Christ comes while we’re still alive (Hebrews 9:27; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). There will be a resurrection of the dead when Christ returns – some to eternal life and some to eternal condemnation (John 5:25-29). Many passages warn us of the judgment to come (Hebrews 9:27; Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:1; and Matthew 25:31-46). No one will escape the final judgment (Romans 14:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:10). There are only two possible destinations for eternity – one for the saved and one for the condemned (Mark 16:16). Each of us is making a choice each moment of our lives as to where we will spend eternity. When we consider the horrors of hell and the place God has prepared for the devil and his angels, all of us should be like the apostle Paul – continually trying to persuade men to choose Christ as their Lord and Savior (Matthew 25:41; 2 Corinthians 5:11).

            Our Creator is a loving God, but He is also a righteous God – demanding justice: For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:30-31; NKJV).

Justin Morton

This week my family and I are back in Knoxville for a prior commitment. For the last 11 years, I have had the privilege of directing the last week of Teenage Christian Camp in Knoxville. I love church camp and always enjoy spending the week with amazing young people and staff members who want to learn and grow in their walks with God.

We certainly miss being with you all but look forward to spending the weekend with you at our Gospel Meeting! Make sure you’ve marked your calendars for this coming Friday, July 22^nd – Sunday, July 24^th as our brother Brad Harrub comes to speak with us. He will be covering a wide variety of topics over these three days. Please make plans to be here for these lessons, and be sure to invite some friends and neighbors to join you.

In the Gospel of John we see Andrew issue his own invitation. After spending some time with Jesus and realizing who He is, Andrew goes and finds his brother and tells him, “We have found the Messiah (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus” (John 1:41-42). Andrew had learned enough about Jesus that he wanted to share this discovery with his brother, so he went and brought him to Jesus. Here’s what’s interesting about this: the brother he brought to Jesus was a man by the name of Simon, better known as Peter.

Inviting someone to hear the Gospel of Jesus proclaimed may not seem like that big of a deal. However, you never know what a simple invitation will do. You just might invite someone whose life will be transformed and who will go on to do great things in service to God.

It has been a busy summer at Walter Hill and it is not over yet.  Walter Hill has hosted MYM for the teens, VBS was a great event, youth camp at Mt. Joy was a success, and a Walter Hill group has just returned from a mission trip to Honduras.

Still to come is our gospel meeting with Brad Harrub beginning Friday, July 22, going through Sunday, July 24.  Please be making plans to be at Walter Hill those three days.

Bible classes are in full swing for the summer and if you are not currently attending a Bible class on Sunday evening or Wednesday evening, this is a great time to get in that habit.

Justin is getting settled in and is delivering great messages from God’s Word.  With Justin, Paul, Chris, Janice, and Steve, we are indeed blessed with a wonderful group of ministers and support staff.

The Old Testament man, Job, when all was going well for him, praised and worshipped God.  When Satan took his children and his farm and afflicted him with sores all over his body, Job praised and worshipped God.

For the most part, we have been richly blessed with the things of this life.  We have housing, clothing, and food to eat.  We occasionally sing a song, called, “Count Your Blessings”.  A line in the chorus is “Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.”

I hope we are all taking time to count our blessings, even when life does not seem to be going too well.  Regardless of our status in life, whether rich or less fortunate, in good health or poor health, we have much reason to be thankful to God who provides all good things in our lives.  May God be praised!

Summer is in full swing, and the roads are full of families traveling to their favorite destinations. The months of planning for that long-anticipated vacation have finally arrived. There is no doubt about it, summer is a wonderful time for families. We are able to make many memories and share countless moments that will last a lifetime.  

As our summer months fill up with travel, I would like to remind all of us of one thing that should always be a constant on our calendars. No matter how busy we get or where we are traveling, let’s be sure to make the Lord and His church our top priority. The Hebrew writer said, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:25).

Sadly, too many people allow the Lord and His church to be placed on the back burner during this time of year. They become so focused on their activities and vacations that they choose to skip meeting together on the Lord’s Day to worship with the saints. Let’s show our children what’s most important to us. Friends, it doesn’t matter the season, Jesus and His church should always be our top priority (Matt. 6:33).

The summer is a wonderful time of year. So many good things take place, memories we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. However, as we travel during this busy season, may we never forget our love, loyalty and commitment to Jesus. Gathering with believers in other cities can be a great blessing and encouragement. Let’s not vacation from the Lord and His church.

            Fifty years ago, if you’d said to me, “Let’s do lunch,” I’d have asked you what you meant. Today I would respond, “Let me know when.” We have attached a new meaning to the action verb “do” and we understand it. Interestingly, the Bible tells us many things to do – actions to take – and many act as if the meaning has changed although it hasn’t. Bible commands under the New Testament are as valid today as when they were set forth in the first century. For example, the actions of believing and being baptized are still conditions for salvation (Mark 16:16).

            We know we are saved by God’s grace through faith – and “not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). But don’t omit the next verse: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Titus 3:1-8 affirm that those who have been saved by God’s grace should be careful to maintain good works.) We must be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22)!

            What are these good works that we were created anew to do? Jesus gave a good list in the judgment scene recorded in Matthew 25:31-46 – providing for the needs of our fellowman. He adds another good work to the list in the next chapter with the woman anointing His head with oil (Matthew 26:6-13). We might conclude that giving glory to the Son of God or worship is a good work – and it is something we’re commanded to do!

            “Good works” surely encompasses anything our Lord commands or expects us to do as His redeemed. And it surely includes our treatment of one another (James 2:14-17). May we always do unto others as we would have them do unto us (Matthew 7:12). But, more importantly, may we do like the wise man and do what Jesus taught (Matthew 7:24-27)!

A Walter Hill Welcome

As our family has been transitioning to Murfreesboro over the last few weeks, Paul’s commendation to the churches at Galatia has been on my mind. He said, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:9-10).

The members of Walter Hill have not grown weary of doing good. Many of you have taken opportunities to live this verse out, going above and beyond in demonstrating the principles Paul outlines. Despite the difficulties that come with any move, you have made our family feel so welcome and at home. To those who have opened up their home to us and those who have taken us out for a meal, thank you. To those who have sent cards of welcome, messages of encouragement and offers to help with our boys or our housing, thank you. To the individual or family who anonymously paid for our lunch a couple weeks ago, thank you. To each of you who have repeated your names for us (please keep doing that!) and reminded us of what you do or how you are related, thank you.

I want you to know how grateful the Morton family is for our Walter Hill Welcome! You all have helped to make this transition as smooth as it can be. We look forward to working with all of you for the glory of God.

Seven suggestions to help welcome Justin as our new minister:

1. Pray for Justin, Miranda, and the boys. I suggest making a commitment to pray daily for Justin throughout the duration of his ministry. Once the “honeymoon period” is over and the daily grind of ministry begins, praying will strengthen Justin and his family and will fortify your bond with them.
2. Send them a welcome note or email. Just offer a brief note, introducing yourself and/or family, and offering a heartfelt welcome.
3. Mention your name on your first several encounters with them. Give them the opportunity to learn your name and, over time, to learn a part of your life story.
4.  Embrace the uniqueness of Justin. Justin has a distinct personality, a unique set of spiritual gifts and a diverse set of experiences. When the Spirit leads a church to a new minister, the Spirit seldom leads a church to a person just like the previous minister. To compare Justin to any other is to disrespect the Spirit’s role in guiding us to Justin in the first place.
5. Be attentive to caring for Justin’s family during the transition and afterward. While we are excited about welcoming Justin, keep in mind that he and his family are going to be dealing with grief of departure even as they are trying to embrace the excitement of a new beginning.
6.  Speak positively about Justin publicly and privately. One of the ways we bring out the best in our ministers is to speak well of them.
7. Involve Justin, Miranda, and the boys. Do not be afraid to treat Justin and his family like any other member; involve them, have them for dinner. Remember Justin and his family have struggles and needs just like you.

Walter Hill is such a blessed congregation. We are confident the Lord will continue to bless Walter Hill as we remain faithful to Him. The future is bright! This is an especially exciting Sunday as Justin begins preaching full time. This is a day we have been anticipating for some time and have prayed about as we searched for and selected Justin to be our new minister. In many ways this is a day of new beginnings.

Much like the turn of the new year, new beginnings generate a lot of momentum and excitement. We need to recognize this and make sure we make the most of this opportunity. Sometimes we need a reset or refocus on who we need to be as the Lord’s people. Times of transition and new beginnings can provide us with opportunities to refocus. While Justin, Miranda, and the boys are coming to work, we must not forget they are here to work with us and alongside us.

Maybe this new beginning needs to be a time where we look at our service in the Lord’s church. Perhaps we ask ourselves, “How can I improve as a worker for Lord?” It’s often easy to neglect responsibilities we are uncomfortable with, maybe it’s time we expand our horizons and step out of our comfort zones.

Maybe it’s time to volunteer to teach a class, even if it’s just one class, or maybe it’s time to write a card of encouragement to someone. Maybe it’s time to begin inviting others to church or having Bible studies with the lost.

Let’s all challenge ourselves as we enter this new beginning to grow as workers in the Lord’s Kingdom.

            After repeatedly doing something for twenty-five years, it’s hard to stop! That’s how I feel as I write this article. I’ll still write one once a month, but Justin will bear most of the responsibility. I have mixed emotions as I step away from full-time work. However, I know it is time to let a younger, more energetic man step up to the plate.

            It’s hard to believe I’ve been here this long and yet it seems as if I started yesterday. You have welcomed Gail and me into your lives and made us a part of the Walter Hill family. We love and appreciate you more than words can ever express. There have been few rough spots along the way. In fact, there have been so few that I can’t even remember them.

            I am thankful for the opportunity to continue serving in a part-time position. That’s where I have had so many mixed emotions. I never read about gospel preachers retiring in the New Testament. I think like old soldiers, we don’t die – we simply fade away! I hope to do just that at Walter Hill – very slowly! In the meantime, I’ll walk with each of you down life’s pathway as we strive for heaven.

            I’m not ready to cite the apostle Paul’s valedictory address from 2 Timothy 4:6-8. However, we would all do well to heed the Lord’s guidance of Joshua 1:6-9 in a 21^st century setting: “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”