The Commands of Christ Podcast

How does God use sorrow and loss to mature our faith? Can we trust Him day by day when His purposes are hidden in pain? We reflect on the life of Karolina Sandell-Berg as a living expression of Jesus’ call in Matthew 5:48 to grow into spiritual maturity. Through frailty, suffering, and the sudden loss of her beloved father, Karolina turned to Christ rather than away from Him, allowing trials to deepen her trust in God’s wise and loving care. From bitter waters, God brought sweet songs—most notably Day by Day—reminding us that the Lord uses hardship to perfect our faith, shaping us through suffering to rest in His promises until we stand with Christ at last.

Can Christ’s love really overcome bitterness and transform even the darkest suffering? We reflect on the life of Jacob DeShazer as a powerful testimony to Jesus’ command in Matthew 5:44, seeing how the gospel turned hatred into forgiveness and enemies into brothers. Captured, tortured, and imprisoned during WWII, DeShazer encountered Christ through Scripture, and the love of Jesus changed his heart from vengeance to compassion. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, he not only forgave his captors but returned to Japan to proclaim salvation, showing us that loving our enemies is possible only because Christ first loved us when we were His enemies. 
 

What does it look like to go the second mile? Are we willing to say yes to God even when we feel unqualified or afraid? We reflect on the life of Gladys Aylward as a living picture of Christ’s command in Matthew 5:38–42, showing sacrificial love beyond obligation. An ordinary woman by the world’s standards, she relied wholly on Christ, and through her willingness God brought hope, protection, and the gospel to suffering people in China. Her life reminds us that going the second mile is not about our strength or credentials, but about a heart surrendered to Jesus, trusting Him to work through our willingness for His glory and the blessing of others. 
 

How should we live now so that we will have no regrets later? As we look at the life of Jonathan Edwards who modeled living with integrity and eternity in view, grounded in Jesus’ words from Matthew 5:37. Relying on Christ rather than self-effort, Edwards sought to be a man of his word, shaping his life, ministry, and perseverance through trial. In a time of spiritual coldness, God used his faithfulness to bring a great awakening, reminding us that when we depend on Christ, He empowers us to live truthfully and use our lives for His glory.

Do we live with integrity when no one is watching? Are our private thoughts and habits aligned with the holiness Christ commands? Billy Graham, one of the most recognized evangelists in history, sought not only to preach Christ but to live in a way that honored Him. Billy Graham built his life and ministry on integrity. Through daily time in God’s Word, reliance on the Holy Spirit, and personal safeguards like the Modesto Manifesto, he guarded his heart and walk from moral failure. Though not perfect, he pursued holiness with sincerity, striving to be the same man in private as in public. His life reminds us that lasting impact flows from a life surrendered to Christ, lived with purity, humility, and devotion.

Are we living Christ, not just preaching Him? Robert Chapman, called “the saintliest man” by Charles Spurgeon, lived a quiet yet powerful life marked by humility, love, and a deep commitment to live for Christ. He gave up personal rights, pursued unity without compromise, and served the poor and the lost with Christlike love. His life reminds us that true gospel witness flows not from fame, but from faithfully living Christ before others.

How do we run our race with full surrender to Christ? Eric Liddell’s life answers this question and many more with quiet strength and unwavering faith. Known for refusing to run on a Sunday at the 1924 Olympics, Eric honored God’s law above worldly praise, trusting Christ by his obedience. His gold medal in the 400m became a testimony to God’s faithfulness. But Eric’s race didn’t end on the track—he gave his life as a missionary in China, serving others with humility and joy until his final breath. His last words, “It’s full surrender,” remind us that true greatness is found in yielding wholly to Jesus. Let us run our race likewise—looking unto Him (Hebrews 12:1–2).

Are we willing to let our light shine wherever God places us? In Amy Carmichael’s life, we see the radiant fulfillment of Christ’s command: “Let your light so shine before men…” (Matthew 5:16). From the streets of Belfast to the orphanages of India, she lived with an eternal focus, burning with a holy love that served, rescued, and sacrificed. Whether walking in open fields or confined to a sickbed, she never ceased to shine, trusting God to use every trial for His glory. May we, too, be faithful to shine for Christ to the very end.

How can we rejoice when suffering for Christ? Richard Wurmbrand’s life answers that question with powerful clarity. Tortured and imprisoned for his faith under Communist rule, he chose to obey Christ’s command: “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad” (Matthew 5:12). His example calls us to turn toward Jesus in our trials, not away. Like Wurmbrand, may we find strength to rejoice not just in ease, but in the presence of the living Savior who gives joy amid tribulation.

How can God use a weak and broken life for His glory? What does it mean to truly follow Christ? In this episode, we reflect on the life of David Brainerd, a frail and often melancholy man who wholeheartedly obeyed Jesus’ call: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Despite sickness, loss, and rejection, Brainerd chose hardship over ease, taking the gospel to unreached Native American tribes. Through deep prayer and dependence on Christ, he witnessed powerful revival and lasting fruit. His legacy, preserved in his journals, has inspired generations. Like Brainerd, may we follow Christ with our whole hearts and pray to be used beyond what we are.