The Commands of Christ Podcast

Are we investing our lives in what will matter for eternity?
In this episode, we consider the life of beloved hymn writer Philip P. Bliss. From writing enduring hymns such as “Hold the Fort,” “Almost Persuaded,” “I Will Sing of My Redeemer,” and “Hallelujah, What a Savior,” to surrendering his musical gifts wholly to the service of Christ, Bliss lived with eternity in view. We are reminded that we do not know how many days we have remaining, nor the hour of our Lord’s return. Yet because Christ is coming, we can faithfully press on, consecrate our gifts to His service, proclaim the Gospel, and invest our lives in what will endure forever. May we watch, be ready, and joyfully serve our Redeemer so that when we see Him face to face, we may be found faithfully occupying until He comes.

What does it truly mean to love our neighbor as ourselves? Are we willing to pour out Christ’s love even toward those who are difficult to love?
 

In this episode, we consider the remarkable life of missionary and author Elisabeth Elliott through Christ’s command, “. .  .Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:39)  After her husband, Jim Elliott, and four fellow missionaries were killed while seeking to reach an unreached people group with the Gospel, Elisabeth responded not with hatred but with a desire that those responsible would come to know Jesus Christ. In an extraordinary expression of forgiveness, surrender, and love, she eventually lived among the very people who had killed her husband, sharing the Gospel alongside her young daughter. Her life reminds us that loving our neighbor flows from first knowing and receiving God’s everlasting love ourselves. As we surrender to Christ, deny ourselves, and allow His love to work through us, may we willingly pour out our lives for others—even when loving them is costly—so that a watching world might see the love of Jesus Christ.

How can we truly love God with all our heart, soul, and mind? What changes when we not only know that God loves us, but genuinely believe and abide in His love?

In this episode, we consider the remarkable life of evangelist Henry Moorhouse through Christ’s great commandment: “. . .Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37) Once caught in a life of rebellion, gambling, and sin, Moorhouse was pursued by the grace of God, transformed by Jesus Christ, and became a passionate preacher of the Gospel. Captivated by the truth of John 3:16, he proclaimed the love of God wherever he went and profoundly influenced D. L. Moody’s preaching and ministry. Moorhouse’s life reminds us that “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) As we spend time in God’s Word, believe His love for us, and draw near to Christ, may His love increasingly fill our hearts and overflow into a life of wholehearted devotion to Him and love for those around us.

How do we honor earthly authorities while remaining wholly surrendered to God? What does a life lived in light of eternity look like when obedience to Christ brings sacrifice, suffering, and uncertainty?

In this episode, we consider the remarkable life of missionary Adoniram Judson through Christ’s command to “. . .Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.” (Matthew 22:21) We see how Judson sought to honor governing authorities and serve with wisdom amid political turmoil, war, imprisonment, and persecution, while never losing sight of his greater allegiance to Jesus Christ. Through heartbreaking loss, years of seemingly little fruit, and tremendous personal suffering, Judson continued to give himself to the work of the Gospel. His life challenges us to pray for those in authority, walk faithfully before them, persevere when the fruit of our labor is unseen, and above all render our very lives to God. As those created in His image, may we live each day with eternity upon our hearts, surrendered to Christ for His kingdom and His glory.
 

Do we see the poor, hurting, and forgotten around us with the heart of Jesus Christ? Are we willing to surrender ourselves so that God can use us to meet both their physical and spiritual needs?

In this episode, we consider the life of Salvation Army founder William Booth through Christ’s command to care for “the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind” (see Luke 14:12–14). Burdened by the desperate needs he witnessed in London, Booth gave himself to bringing practical help and, above all, the hope of the Gospel to those society often overlooked. His ministry embodied a simple concern for “others”—feeding the hungry, caring for human dignity, and proclaiming salvation through Jesus Christ. Even through suffering, opposition, and failing eyesight, Booth continued serving with remarkable perseverance. His life challenges us to look beyond ourselves, see those in need around us, and allow Christ to have all that we are so that His love and light might flow through us to others.
 

How can we learn to pray with childlike faith, trusting God even when circumstances seem impossible? What might God do when we take Him at His Word? Through the life of George Mueller, we are reminded that “. . .all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22) From caring for thousands of orphans to witnessing remarkable answers to prayer, Mueller’s life testified that God is faithful, hears His children, and delights to provide according to His will. As we meditate on Scripture, bring our needs before our heavenly Father, and walk through trials that strengthen our faith, we are encouraged to look beyond the “fog” of our circumstances and fix our eyes on the living God, asking in faith and trusting Him to work for His glory. 

How deeply are we pursuing God, and does prayer hold the central place in our lives that Christ desires? Through Jesus’ declaration that His house should be “called the house of prayer” and the life of A.W. Tozer, we are reminded that true spiritual influence flows from communion with God. Tozer’s ministry called believers away from shallow, entertainment-centered Christianity and back to a wholehearted devotion to Christ. As we seek the Lord personally through His Word and prayer, we are drawn into greater unity with one another and become the kind of people whose lives point others toward Jesus. May we pursue God with such sincerity that our churches become houses of prayer and our lives bear the simple testimony of men and women who truly belong to Him.

How can we follow Christ’s example of greatness through humble service, and are we willing to serve those others overlook? Through the life of Silas Told we see that true greatness in God’s kingdom is found not in being served, but in becoming a servant. After Christ transformed his life, Silas devoted himself to teaching children and ministering to prisoners—especially condemned men facing death—bringing them the hope, peace, and salvation found in Jesus. His example challenges us to go where the need is greatest, serve without seeking recognition, and faithfully point others to the One who “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

What does it look like to forgive when the hurt runs deep, and how can we keep walking in forgiveness when painful feelings return? Through Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18 and the remarkable testimony of Corrie ten Boom, we see that forgiveness is not merely an emotion but an act of faith and obedience empowered by the Holy Spirit. As we remember how freely God has forgiven us for Christ’s sake, we can forgive those who have wounded us, and trust God with the healing process. Forgiveness may happen in a moment while healing takes time, but as forgiven people, we are called to forgive—believing that Christ can free our hearts from bitterness and lead us into His peace, love, and freedom.

How can a marriage remain strong under relentless pressure? What does it look like for husband and wife to reflect Christ and His Church through faithful love? Together we are encouraged by the testimony of Charles and Susie Spurgeon, whose life exemplified Christ’s design for marriage. As they faced demanding ministry, physical suffering, personal trials, and public criticism, they chose to draw nearer to Christ rather than drift apart from one another. Susie joyfully strengthened, encouraged, and supported her husband’s calling, becoming an indispensable partner in the work God entrusted to him. Their lives remind us that a Christ-centered marriage is sustained not by human strength but by God’s grace.