Category: What do you think?

Staying within the work God

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AMY TURNER

The Bible reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10:13 that we should not boast about things outside the place God has given us. Paul explained that he would stay within the limits of the mission God had assigned to him. He would not try to claim influence in areas where he was not called.

Consider what this may mean for us today. Each person has a role and a place of service given by God. When we stay within that role, we are free to do our best without needing to compete or act like we know everything. It helps us to value the gifts of others, since God gives different callings to different people.

Trying to act outside of what God has given can lead to pride and foolish mistakes. But when we accept our lane and respect the lanes of others, we are guided toward humility and peace.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves;

Philippians 2:3

Seeing Life’s Challenges the Right Way

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JEFF TURNER

Many Christians turn to 1 Corinthians 10:13 during hard times, remembering God’s promise to provide a way to endure temptation. In the original Greek, the same word is used for both “temptation” and “trial.” I believe this means that life’s challenges can be either, depending on how we respond.

If a difficulty leads a person to sin, through doubt, accusing God, or losing trust, it has become a temptation that succeeded. But if the same situation is met with prayer, trust in God, and patience for His deliverance, it becomes a trial that builds strength.

Temptations pull a person toward sin, while trials grow a believer’s faith. The very same problem can be one or the other, based on our reaction. God calls us to view life’s struggles as opportunities to grow in faith and serve Him better, trusting His promises to guide us through.

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12

True Peace Comes from Following God’s Will

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FLOYD ROGERS

Some people search for peace in all the wrong places. They look to money, pleasure, or distractions. But nothing outside of God can bring lasting peace. As long as someone lives in a way that goes against God’s will, inner peace will remain out of reach.

When a person begins to know God better and grow closer to Him, it becomes clear that ignoring His direction only leads to restlessness. Disobedience may be hidden under temporary comforts like wealth, alcohol, drugs, or relationships, but these things can’t quiet the soul. Peace does not come from what we own or experience; it comes from who we know.

Peace is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Through Him, people can face difficult moments with calm and confidence. This kind of peace does not depend on circumstances but on the presence of Christ within.

Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.

John 14:27

The Promise of Life Through Christ

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AMY TURNER

The Bible teaches that Jesus rose from the dead, and this truth gives hope to all who believe in him. In the first man, Adam, death came into the world. Because of him, every person faces sin and death. But through Jesus, called the new Adam, there is a new future. His resurrection is described as the first fruit, meaning it is the beginning of what is to come for those who follow him.

The order is clear. Christ was raised first, and when he returns, those who belong to him will also be raised. What happened to Jesus will one day happen to his people. Just as we shared in Adam’s weakness, we will share in Christ’s victory over death. Our story does not end in the grave, but in life with him.

This hope is not only for later but also for today.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep [a]through Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:14

The Meaning of the Helmet of Salvation

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JEFF TURNER

In Ephesians 6, Paul tells believers to wear spiritual armour, including the helmet of salvation. For Roman soldiers, a helmet was essential protection against powerful head strikes in battle. Such blows could end a fight instantly. Spiritually, this helmet represents the believer’s hope of final salvation.

In 1 Thessalonians, Paul calls it the helmet of the hope of salvation. This points to the confidence that God will complete the work He began in every believer. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that He will bring His people to glory. This hope is not uncertain; it is a promised inheritance that can never perish, kept safe by God’s power through faith.

The greatest threat to a believer would be the fear of losing salvation. The helmet of salvation guards against that fear. It protects the mind with the assurance that eternal life rests on God’s promises and the finished work of Christ.

But since we are of the day, let’s be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

1 Thessalonians 5:8