Faith Church Member Covenant: Walking in the World

So far we have been able to dig into just a few of the great biblical reminders from the Faith Church Membership Covenant of how believers are called to live. We have been encouraged and convicted to follow our Lord wholeheartedly, and we hope you have been as well! Let’s continue to explore this covenant.

I also purpose to maintain family and private devotions; to train my children according to the Word of God; to seek the salvation of my relatives, friends, neighbors and acquaintances; to walk carefully and cautiously in the world; to be just in my dealings, faithful in my engagements, and exemplary in my conduct; to avoid all gossip, backbiting, and unrighteous anger; to abstain from all forms of activity that dishonor our Lord Jesus Christ, cause stumbling to a fellow believer, or hinder the winning of a soul to Christ; to be zealous in my efforts to advance the cause of Christ, and to give Him preeminence in all things.

The next point we will go through is the concept of walking “carefully and cautiously in the world.” Ephesians 5:15-16 tells us, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” Romans 12:2 states, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.Philippians 1:27 encourages us, Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” Clearly is it important to make sure we are being careful to accurately display who our Lord is to a watching world.

At Vision of Hope, we seek to equip our ladies not only to know how to overcome temptations they face personally, but also how to live as a disciple of Christ in our world. One way we are able to do this is with Phase 2 of our program. Once a resident reaches Phase 2, she often gets a job or has other responsibilities outside of the VOH home, often in a secular environment. Situations often arise in which we have the privilege of walking a young lady through how to love unbelievers while standing for the Truth, how to show others who our God is by the way they live even when they won’t listen to the gospel, how to handle when others are sinning around them, and many other everyday situations they may not have known how to handle before. It is wonderful when our ladies are able to find joy, perhaps for the first time, in following Christ and obeying Him despite the difficulties.

Walking as Christ in the world is not easy, and takes a lot of wisdom. There is no cookie-cutter approach to every situation and person we face in this world, so staying fervent in prayer and seeking counsel from mature, godly believers are vital to knowing how to walk wisely and righteously, loving others as Christ does.

Bethany Dunn
Bethany heard about Vision of Hope while attending Word of Life Bible Institute in Florida. When she began praying about what God wanted her to do after graduating, He kept bringing Vision of Hope to her mind. Knowing that there was an internship available, Bethany applied, was accepted, and began her internship with VOH in July, 2012. Since then she has been amazed at the opportunities God has given her to learn more about His Word and how it applies to everyday life. Bethany now serves on staff at Vision of Hope.