“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:13-16

Two missionaries in China were standing by a clogged up sewer, arguing about why they shouldn’t have to clean it out. The first missionary said, “I’ve been here longer, I shouldn’t have to do this.” The other one replied, “But I have more education. I didn’t spend all that money on schooling to be cleaning out sewers.” While they were arguing back and forth, famous missionary Hudson Taylor walked past them, opened the sewer, went down into it, cleared it out, and took care of the problem. While the missionaries were arguing, Hudson Taylor simply did the job that needed to be done.

We need Christians who rather than focusing on what they don’t have to do, focus on what God has commanded us to do! While some would use grace to live life the way they want, we should use grace to live life how God wants.

Grace is the inner working of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, bringing them into the image of Christ— when we have a correct view of grace and an appreciation for it, we will draw closer to Christ and further away from sin. Grace will motivate us to live for Christ each day.

One motivation of grace is to serve others. Galatians 5:13 says, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” While so many people view grace as a license to sin, this verse shows us that true grace should be our motivation to serve others! Because we have God’s grace in our lives and because He controls us, we should be motivated to serve one another.

The Bible does not show us that grace will bring less service, but will cause us to lead a more dedicated life to God. First Peter 2:16 says, “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” We are free under grace, not to sin but to serve! Christian freedom is not about living how we want but living how God wants us to live.

When was the last time you went out of your way to serve someone else? When was the last time you sent a friend a card, baked some cookies for your neighbor, mowed someone’s lawn, or showed someone you cared? Sometimes the hardest thing you can do is show kindness to someone who isn’t kind to you. But that’s where God’s grace comes in! Because of God’s grace, we can serve anyone who comes along our path.

Ask God now to give you grace to help others today. As you go about your daily routine, be looking for someone who you can serve through God’s grace.–By Dr. Paul Chappell

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” —Matthew 4:18-19

“Follow Me.” It was as simple command, yet those to whom it was given would be changed by it. They were given the call—a call to leave everything they knew and set out on an unknown journey with an unknown destination. They could have resisted; they could have clung to their old life and refused the call. Yet that day, Peter and Andrew chose to leave behind their nets and follow this man they called Jesus.

Have you ever thought about what it might have been like to be one of the twelve apostles of Christ? Think of being an established, and perhaps very successful, fisherman, lawyer, doctor, or businessman. Your life is going well, your family is fed and clothed, yet now a man who some claim is the Messiah is calling you to give up your old life and follow Him. What are your thoughts and reactions? Do you follow Him or not?

The disciples faced a difficult decision, yet you and I face that decision today as well. The call that Jesus gave to these twelve men, He has given to us. “Follow Me.” The word follow is an interesting word. Today let’s look at three defining characteristics of follow and how they apply to our relationship with Christ.

First, follow has been defined as “to accept as a guide or leader; accept the authority of or give allegiance to.” In order to follow Christ, you must give your allegiance to Him. Are you committed to Christ and to His plan for your life? A life of “followership” requires your allegiance to Him and trust in Him.

Second, follow has been defined as “to conform to, comply with, or act in accordance with; obey.” Along with being committed to Christ, following Him requires a compliance with His plan and an obedience of His commands. You cannot be a follower of someone and not obey his rules. Imagine a soldier not obeying his commanding officer, or an employee not abiding by the rules of the employer. In order to be a Christ-follower, you must obey the commands He has given in His Word.

Last, follow has been defined as “to imitate or copy; use as an exemplar.” Too often Christians desire to follow Christ without becoming like Christ. They commit to God’s plan, obey His commands, yet never strive to live as Christ lived.

The essence of following Christ is becoming like Christ. Christ has called you to follow Him—to commit to His plan, obey His commands, and to become like Him. He has reached out to you as He reached out to the disciples. It will take a giving up of your old life—your former pursuits and desires, but God promises that as you decide to follow Him, He will bless you beyond what you can imagine.

The decision you must face isn’t whether or not to follow, but what you will follow. Everyone follows something, whether it be a person, thing, or hobby. God desires that you would choose to follow Him above anything else in your life.

What is keeping you from following Christ? Are you committed to His plan, obedient to His commands, and becoming more like Him? Today, determine to follow God. Consciously choose to follow the Lord before all other pursuits. Strive to follow His path, obey His commands, and live like Him today. –By Dr. Paul Chappell

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” –Acts 16:25

During WW II, a lady by the name of Darlene Deibler was doing mission work in Indoneisa when she was captured by the Japanese secret police. This is how she described what happened as she was locked in solitary confinement:

The door closed upon me, and I dropped to my knees, eyes intent upon the keyhole. When I saw the key make a complete revolution, I knew I was on death row, imprisoned to face trial and the sentence of death.

I listened to the footsteps of the guard recede on the concrete walkway. When he was gone beyond hearing, I sank back onto my heels. My face and hands were wet with cold perspiration; never had I known such terror. Suddenly I found I was singing a song that I had learned as a little girl in Sunday school in Boone, Iowa:

Fear not, little flock, whatever your lot;

He enters all rooms, The doors being shut.

He never forsakes, He never is gone,

So count on His presence from darkness ‘til dawn.

So tenderly my Lord wrapped His strong arms of quietness and calm about me. I knew they could lock me in, but they couldn’t lock my wonderful Lord out. Jesus was there in the cell with me.

The same God who gave Paul and Silas peace in the prison gave this dear sister a song in the night. In her most desperate hour she was assured that God was there with her, and that gave her hope. They could lock her in prison, but they couldn’t lock God out!

My dear friend, it might be that you feel as though you are bound in some dark lonely prison today. There appears to be no ray of light and no reason to hope. Although your circumstances are different your fear is just as real. In this terrible time I remind you that her God is your God and what He did for her He can do for you. With God we always have reason to hope.