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

“Christ’s anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him.” 1Jn 2:27    When you pray diligently and believe you have heard from God, but then you start asking other people what they think, you’re honoring their opinions above God’s. That kind of mindset will prevent you from developing a relationship where you constantly hear from Him. You need to trust Him. If you have made bad decisions in the past, this can be difficult. But you must learn to listen to God without constantly needing reassurance from others. The Bible says: “The anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you; [so]…you have no need that anyone should instruct you…His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true…so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him” . That doesn’t mean you don’t need teaching and instruction when it comes to understanding God’s Word; it means you have God’s Spirit livi

Question I constantly hear about how people should love one another but when I look at the world, the evidence is overwhelming—there is more hate than love. Even in my own life I find that I stay upset and angry and find it difficult to show love, especially to those who do wrong. I’ve asked the Lord to help me be more loving but it seems many times that I exhibit just the opposite and it discourages me. I’m sure God prefers that we exhibit love rather than hate. Answer From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham For those who belong to Jesus Christ, God’s priority is that His love would become the hallmark of life—because it is the hallmark of Christ’s life. How does this become a reality? It doesn’t happen by accident or by gritting our teeth and hoping that somehow we can make ourselves love others. It happens only as we grow closer to Christ and submit our lives to Him, allowing His Holy Spirit to cleanse and change us. The Bible says that “the fruit of the Spirit is lov

Every year I make a long list of New Year's resolutions, and every year I forget every one of them. Is it just a waste of time to make a list of New Year's resolutions? A: No, it’s not a waste of time to examine our lives and admit that we need to make some changes—if we’re honest about actually doing it. Unfortunately, most lists of resolutions aren’t really resolutions at all; they’re only a series of wishes, without any plan for making them happen. But let me suggest you ask yourself two questions as you think about your list. First, what is God’s goal for you during the coming year? What does He want to see happen in your life in the new year? In other words, don’t just write down anything that happens to come to mind; seek instead God’s priority for your life. Perhaps you have never given your life to Jesus Christ—and if not, make this your first step. And if you do know Christ, make it your goal to draw closer to Him during the coming year. Jesus said, “But se

Question   I am trying to teach my children about the true meaning of Christmas and it’s hard to do when the holiday has been turned into a commercial event about all the wrong things. Shouldn’t it be more about the infant Jesus and the sweet story of that first Christmas night? Answer  From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham In the midst of all upheaval, crisis, difficulty, problems, and fear comes the true message of Christmas with all of its hope, goodwill, and cheer. The message of Christmas has been terribly misapplied and misunderstood for many years. Some think of business profits, shopping, gifts, tinsel, toys, and celebration. Others think only of Bethlehem, of the star in the sky, shepherds in the field, and angels singing. Still others cynically ask, “Where is this Prince of Peace in a world filled with so much trouble?” The real Christmas message goes far deeper. It heralds the entrance of God into human history. It is Heaven descending to Earth. It is as though a trumpe