Following Christ English

Q: Why did the crowds cheer Jesus when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey shortly before His crucifixion—but then turn against Him and demand the Roman governor put Him to death? Why did they change their minds? A: Yes, Jesus was enthusiastically welcomed when He rode into Jerusalem just days before His death. (Traditionally this day is called “Palm Sunday” because many in the crowd cut palm branches and waved them as a sign of honor.) It must have been a dramatic sight as Jesus approached Jerusalem on a donkey (which was a sign of His humility). The Bible says that “the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices … ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!'” (Luke 19:37-38). Even those who weren’t part of that welcoming crowd listened eagerly to His teaching during the next few days. But soon many turned against Jesus and demanded His death: “‘What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?’ Pilate asked. They all answered, ‘Crucify h

Isaiah 48:17 says, "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." When God created you, He prepared a life for you with a purpose and a way to fulfill that purpose. This purpose is the reason why you were created and brought here on Earth by God. And I want to assure you that if you follow this path, you will succeed in your life and fulfill God's purpose. God knows that with your human understanding, you can not know and follow this path. That's why in His word, He says He is the one who teaches you and guides you. First, He teaches you to know this path, and then He guides you on how to walk in it. The word says he directs you in the way you should go, meaning you don't have alternatives. This is a path you must follow. This path is a set of God's guidance and principles that you should follow as long as you live on this earth. The question I ask you today is: Which way did you use to get the job you

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32   Sometimes, the best in you can only be brought out by the worst done to you. This usually happens by the people you have loved, helped, and trusted the most. There’s an old saying that “time heals all things.” Well, that is not true regarding offenses. Unforgiveness does not get better if you leave it alone or try to push it down. You either fester unforgiveness or you foster healing but you have to be doing one or the other. And if you choose to ignore the unforgiveness in your heart, it will get worse.    Paul’s letter in Ephesians gives a beautiful plan of action of how to release forgiveness. He says to first “put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, and harsh words.” Start by draining all the damaging emotions of unforgiveness out of your life. He goes on to say, “Be

“Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land…” Deuteronomy 5:33   Your Heavenly Father wants to bless your life. Psalms 35:27 says, “Let them shout for joy and be glad who favor my righteous cause: Let them say continually, ‘Let the Lord be magnified who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.’”   One of the first ways to experience the wonderful blessings of God is to care about the same things He cares about. When you “favor his righteous cause” by helping the poor and oppressed, you are preparing for God’s blessings. Being compassionate and becoming focused on others brings joy to your life.   Notice the verse didn’t say, “I take pleasure in their poverty.” God doesn’t take pleasure in watching you barely get by. He smiles when His children prosper. He is interested in every detail of your life, and He greatly cares about your house payment, savings account, and college fund. Believe

Pursue righteous living…Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” 2 Timothy 2:22   If you want to be in God’s will and experience His blessings, you have to be around the right people. The people who are right for you are the people who will be honest with you. They don’t just tell you what you want to hear, but they tell you what you need to hear. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” (Proverbs 27:6). Good friends are not afraid to confront you.   Get around the right people because everybody who comes into your life brings a spirit. Sometimes, it is easy to gravitate to people we can relate to and who are similar to us. But the problem with that is, if you both share the same weaknesses, you will not grow in that area. You need to get around someone who is strong in the areas where you are weak. They know how to help get you to where you want to be.   In 2 Chronicles 10, Rehoboam had just been appointed king. Some of the leaders of Israel m