Walking in the Son: A Devotional Pursuit of Holiness

By Russel D. Fox

This devotional probes the depths of Scripture, calling us to radical discipleship.

Russel D. Fox observes that the church is struggling with pursuing holiness, which leads to conflict and the splintering of churches. Drawing from his experiences growing up and his career in the car business, he shares how to apply biblical principles as you pursue holiness. He considers questions such as:

• What must we do before we work on our holiness?
• How can we draw closer to the Father through the Son?
• How can we enter the kingdom of heaven?
• What are the consequences of sin?

You’re encouraged to read each devotional with God’s Word open. Take time to chew on what you have read and meditate on God’s Word and journal as you go through this book.
These thought-provoking devotionals will challenge you to go on a deeper, more profound walk with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664284456

Russel D. Fox

Russel D. Fox spent twenty-five years in the car business before God called him to vocational ministry. He completed a double-major undergraduate degree in pastoral ministry and Christian studies before earning an advanced Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry in biblical counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He hosts a podcast titled “Let’s Open the Bible,” speaks at conferences, writes, and pastors a church in the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina.

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Copyright © 2022 Russel D. Fox.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Interior Graphics/Art Credit: Russel D. Fox

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8446-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8447-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8445-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022921733

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/18/2022

Unless otherwise stated all scripture citations are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture passages marked KJV are taken from the King James version of the Bible.

Scripture passages marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture passages marked ESV are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

scripture passages marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

Scripture passages marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture passages marked J. B. Phillips are taken from The New Testament in Modern English by J. B. Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by Permission.

Scripture passages taken from The message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture passages marked HCSB are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission.

To Christy, you are an answered prayer.

I am proud to be your husband and I am proud of you.

Thank you for enduring this knucklehead. I love you.

CONTENTS

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 Avoiding Destruction

Chapter 2 We Are Not Abandoned

Chapter 3 Ancient Warfare

Chapter 4 Learning Discipline

Chapter 5 People of Prayer

Chapter 6 People of Praise

Chapter 7 Given in Marriage

Chapter 8 The Substance of Faith

Chapter 9 Learning to Lament

Chapter 10 What’s Next?

Bibliography

About the Author

FOREWORD

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Y ou’re in for a treat as you read Dr. Russel Fox’s daily devotionals. He probes the depths of key scriptures. Russel calls us to more radical discipleship. He reminds us of God’s sure faithfulness. He summons us to further steps more profoundly into our own Garden of Gethsemane, that is, deeper surrender to our Lord and Master.

Read these pages, breathing a prayer for your further steps in obedient Christian living. You’ll be rewarded with the joys of a life yielded to the King of Kings.

Sincerely,

Dr. Bill Greenwood

Author of

Be the Bridge: Closing the Gaps in a Divided World

Now available online.

PREFACE

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T his book is a devotional, but it is written unlike any devotional I have ever read. So, because it is a bit different, you will see each chapter represents a broad theme for that particular chapter. At the beginning of each chapter, you will see the English word for that chapter with the Greek or Hebrew word being translated into that English word below it. And then, you will see the Greek or Hebrew word transliterated using English letters.

So, here is what it looks like:

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I chose to include this because I know some people are genuinely curious about the original languages and want to learn, while others do not.

I pray in your personal journey of spiritual growth, the inclusion of the original language sparks a desire to learn more. My Greek professor always said reading the Bible in English and Greek compares to the difference between watching high-definition and standard definition TV.

Whether you decide to pursue a study of the original languages or not, I pray this book will sharpen your own understanding of God, the Bible, and his will for you. At the end of the day, we will all account for how we spend our time. Spend it by investing in growing and helping others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

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W hy a book, why this book? The reason for the book is because the idea of it would not leave me alone. I asked my prayer partners to make it a matter of prayer, and one said, the reason it is on your mind is you need to write this book. God is prompting you. I wrote this book because God burdened my heart. In my opinion, one of the primary issues in church is a lack of pursuing holiness, leading to many of the divisions and splintering we see in the church. Therefore, this book encourages those who read it to passionately pursue holiness by walking in the Son. If this knucklehead can, anyone can.

I encourage you to read each devotional with God’s Word open. Take some time to chew on what you have read and consider the other passages that come to your mind. Meditate on God’s Word and journal as you go through this book. I find that journaling is a great way to process your thoughts and understand what God is saying.

This book is a devotional book born out of reading God’s Word, wrestling with it, and spending time learning about God during my journey of faith. If your view of God does not come out of spending unhurried, uninterrupted time in prayer and being in his Word, let me ask you to put this book down and pick his up. This book should not replace your time with his Word. This book is intended to add to your prayer and Bible study time as you walk in the Son. I hope it is as encouraging and exhilarating for you as for me.

Walking in the Son: A Devotional Pursuit of Holiness

CHAPTER 1

AVOIDING DESTRUCTION

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Destroy

Απόλλυμι (Greek)

Apollumi

Ruin, Destroy, Perish, Lost

This word retains the threat of imminent destruction.

A pursuit of holiness needs to understand the destructive nature of sin. Destroy as a theme may seem odd, but there are two great destructions we need to know, both related to sin. We are facing eternal destruction apart from Christ. There is a destroyer of our souls who wishes to see our destruction come to pass. The second is Christ became flesh to destroy the devil’s works, according to 1 John 3:8.

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)

I have heard people forget the sweet taste of a low price because of the bitterness of poor quality. What if you could have the best of both free and exquisite quality? How can this be? After all, if I get something for nothing, doesn’t someone get nothing for something? Yes, it is often true that when things are too good to be true, they usually are. The operative word here is usually.

It is not a matter of fact but rather it is a general truth that when something is too good to be true, it is. However, when someone gives you a gift of the highest quality, isn’t it in poor taste to refuse that person the pleasure of seeing you delight in it? Someone who loves you very much and only wants what is best will often do irrational or unreasonable things. They will do unjustified things to see you happy and meet your needs. This has nothing to do with whether something is too good to be true. Love abolishes this proverb because there is no accounting for what someone will do in the name of love.

The One who spoke the universe into existence sees us through the lens of love. Consider the Creator’s love for his creation. A love that has proven to be long-suffering through the millenniums. A love that knows the end from the beginning, the thoughts and intents of our hearts, the words of our breath before we utter them, and despite our wicked hearts and evil thoughts, continues to love us.

God’s love is so intense he offered humanity a once and for all sacrifice for our wickedness through a blood-soaked Savior. The Lamb of God, God incarnate who surrendered himself for his creation. One day he washed his creation’s feet, and on another, his creation nailed him to a cross after he was whipped, spit on, and beaten. He was naked, bruised, and battered. Hoisted up on a hill; there was nowhere for him to hide. Most in his position would be ashamed, but he was not most. Jesus had nothing to be ashamed of; he was perfect and sinless. He was fulfilling the Father’s will and loved his creation.

Why is this a gift? Jesus offered himself as a ransom for the sin of the world. His sacrificial death provides the once and for all payment for the world’s sins because sin separates the created beings from the Creator. The gift is salvation from eternal separation from the Father. It is a gift of reconciliation between us and our Creator, whose image we bear and whose existence we have denied. Rationally, this type of gift is hard to grasp. However, beloved, a gift is not a gift until it is received.

None of us are worthy of this incredible gift. We cannot earn it. We are all merely sinners in need of a Savior. We must first recognize our need for a Savior, our worthlessness and his worthiness. Romans 10:9–11 helps us here. That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on him will not be put to shame.’

In Luke 19:10, Jesus is saying he comes to restore those sin destroyed. Those ruined by the ravages of sin. Those who are perishing, lost, and hopeless apart from his gift. Those who would suffer eternally as payment for their own sin.

Salvation comes at great expense. While on the cross, Jesus knew he would soon join his Father after defeating death once and for all. He knew we would stand at the crossroads of faith and rationalism one day. His blood dripped off the cross and spattered onto the ground for us.

Jesus offers the most exquisite gift ever, and because it is a gift, there is no charge to us. However, the gift of salvation was not freely obtained. Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to enjoy this gift. That, my friend, is love. It is remarkable grace. Have you accepted his gift?

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For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:18–19)

The call to draw near to God is one of the most compelling sentences in scripture for me regarding personal holiness. I should point out the not-so-obvious first and most important aspect of drawing near God. The order is essential. Before we can work on our holiness, we must acknowledge the One who makes it possible for us to draw near to God in the first place; Jesus Christ.

This passage in Hebrews reminds us we do not draw near to God through the law. We can draw near only because of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Without the Messiah suffering and dying so we might obtain this better hope—the remission of our sin, allowing us to reconcile to the Father—there is no way of drawing near.

The Bible says we are to give honor where honor is due. We can obtain this better hope only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior. The Messiah takes away the sins of the world, through whom all things are, and in whose image we are created. If we miss this, we have missed it all.

Have you drawn near to the Father through the Son?

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And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. (Luke 15:20)

It is easy to hear or read a familiar passage of scripture and tune out or gloss over it. When thinking about the passage known as the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11–32, we see a profound reality one might not immediately realize. The entirety of Luke 15 is devoted to telling three parables by Jesus to the Pharisees, scribes, sinners, tax collectors, and the unlisted disciples.

In this final parable, we get a picture that seems like a story about a father and his two sons. On a much deeper level, though, we get a picture of God’s grace, forgiveness, and unconditional love. In the story, the prodigal son who spent his portion of the inheritance in sin and his judgmental, unforgiving older brother represent humanity.

The prodigal represents humanity who rebelled against the father by sin. He will not be allowed into his father’s kingdom until he repents of his sin. When he returns, there will be a grand celebration. He will receive untold riches because of the father’s grace and mercy of forgiveness. Humanity is also represented by the angry brother standing ready to judge others and condemn them when they slip or fall.

Sin is a tricky business. We are often deceived into thinking we are right and everyone else, to some degree, is wrong. Sin helps us to see the faults in others, all while justifying our own. Christ patiently works on us to remind us we, like sheep, have gone astray and are not immune from sin.

The real question is, Have you gone the other way yet? In the story, the prodigal came to understand his destitute condition and decided to go the other way. That’s what it means to repent: to go in the opposite direction. The prodigal’s direction was toward his father, where he received the forgiveness he did not deserve. The father celebrated and loved the prodigal more than he could ever know.

Could it be said that you have turned toward the Father? Will it be said of you on the day when your