Following Christ English

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13   Yesterday, we shared about the power of Jesus, but what is even more astounding about Jesus is His love for people. When the angry mob and guards came to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest. Peter did this to defend Jesus, but Jesus reprimanded Peter and then healed the man’s ear. Then Jesus made a profound statement. He said, “Do you not think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53) In Roman culture, twelve legions would have equated to 72,000 angels! In the book of Chronicles, just one angel killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Jesus was saying no man could take His life.   In John 10:18, Jesus says, “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up.” It wasn’t t

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 When the Israelites were traveling to the promised land, God would lead them by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. They wouldn’t make one move unless God’s cloud or fire moved. They knew that He had their best interests in mind.    Are you following God’s leading for your life? There are several ways you can be sure you are being led by God and not “leaning on your own understanding” for the decisions you have to make.   One way to be led by God is to make sure you are living according to His Word. The Bible is a roadmap that will lead you to great places if guided by it. God’s Word is “a lamp for your feet and a light on your path” Psalm 119:105. If you are making a decision not supported by the Bible, you are headed down a destructive path. The boundaries of the Bible are there to protect you and your family.   Another way to know what path you should be taking

Q: I hear the phrase often to “rest in the Lord,” yet the Bible says that we should work. Resting in the Lord must mean something very different from doing nothing, and I’d like to know what this means because I find that I am restless and unfocused when I rest. A: From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham God is near to those who belong to Christ and have Him at the center of life. When we struggle, fight, and strive for our way, we are not resting in the Lord. The psalmist wrote, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7). True Christians are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that God the Father would send His Spirit to help us in all things. We must admit our weakness so that we can ask Him to take over. Standing with Christ means that we stand aside and let Him have His way in our hearts and minds. The human heart is resistant. What a comfort to know that our Savior is constantly praying for those who belong to Him. Paul wrote, “The