Category: What do you think?

Our Natural Resistance to Thankfulness

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

JEFF TURNER

Why is it so hard to say thank you?

Even with all the blessings surrounding us, gratitude often feels like an afterthought. Think about your day yesterday – how many times did you pause to acknowledge a blessing? Our ancestors in Eden lived in constant gratitude, their every breath a song of praise to their Creator. Heaven itself rings with endless thanksgiving. Yet here we are, surrounded by daily miracles – sunrise and sunset, breath in our lungs, food on our tables – and we struggle to muster a word of thanks.

This resistance to gratitude isn’t just a bad habit; it’s a symptom of how far we’ve wandered from our original design. When we find it hard to be thankful, it’s a wake-up call, reminding us that we need to realign our hearts with God’s intent for us.

As 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

The Unchanging Truth of Salvation

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Salvation is a real, unchanging truth, not just a feeling. Romans 10:9 explains, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” This means you must believe Jesus is God’s Son and trust that He rose from the dead. If you truly trust Jesus as your Savior, you are saved.

When you put your faith in Jesus, you begin a permanent relationship with Him as your Lord and Savior. This relationship doesn’t depend on how you feel or what you do—it’s a lasting reality. Even though Satan may try to make you doubt this, once you truly believe in Jesus, nothing can change your salvation.

As a true believer, you will want to live in a way that pleases God. The Bible also teaches that when you are saved, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you, sealing your salvation. Scripture assures us that once you’re saved, no one can take that away. Salvation is a solid truth, not something that changes with emotions.

Luke 14: Embracing the Challenges of Faithful Living

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Luke 14, challenges the common notion of convenient Christianity. Following Christ demands more than casual belief—it requires a careful counting of the cost.

Like a builder who must calculate expenses before laying a foundation, potential believers must understand the depth of commitment their faith requires.

The call to discipleship demands that faith take precedence over family ties, personal ambitions, and even one’s own life. This isn’t a path for those seeking comfort or convenience, but rather for individuals ready to embrace a transformative commitment that will reshape every aspect of their existence.

What could this world offer that could be more precious than God’s gift of Salvation?

Discovering Hope: The Jailer’s Transformation

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

In Acts 16, we find a powerful story of faith and salvation in the ministry of Paul and his companions. After being led by the Holy Spirit, Paul, along with Timothy, Luke, and Silas, arrived in Philippi, the first European city to receive the gospel. There, they found their first convert, Lydia, a woman of influence who welcomed them into her home. Yet, despite their growing ministry, Paul and his team soon faced persecution for preaching. They were beaten, chained, and locked in a prison cell. Even in this dark moment, they found strength in their faith and began singing praises to God, astonishing the other prisoners.

Their faith was soon rewarded when an earthquake shook the prison, loosening their chains and opening the doors. The jailer, fearing for his life and expecting the prisoners to have escaped, prepared to take his own life. But Paul called out, reassuring him that everyone was still there. This act of compassion deeply moved the jailer, who fell at their feet, asking, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul’s answer was simple and direct: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” This timeless message underscores that salvation is a gift of faith, not something earned or complex.

Today, people around the world find themselves asking the same question. In times of hardship, fear, and uncertainty, the call to believe in Jesus offers not only hope for the future but peace for the present. Many, burdened by life’s pressures, feel a deep longing to escape or find rest. Just as the jailer found his answer in the prison cell, so too can we find peace by placing our trust in Jesus.

This story reminds us that God meets us where we are, without any requirement to “fix” ourselves first. Like a doctor who welcomes the sick, Jesus calls us to come as we are, simply to believe and receive. It’s a simple yet profound call to faith that has the power to transform lives.

Ultimately, Paul’s message to the jailer speaks to us all: Believe in Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. This invitation is open to anyone seeking peace and hope amid life’s challenges, offering a path to a life of renewed purpose and strength through faith.

Love That Transforms

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

We often try to change ourselves through sheer willpower – new year’s resolutions, self-help books, lifestyle changes. But lasting transformation comes through love.

When you know you’re truly loved, not for what you do but for who you are, it changes you from the inside out. This is what divine love offers. It doesn’t demand perfection before accepting you; it accepts you and then begins a journey of transformation with you.

Think of a flower turning toward the sun – it doesn’t strain or struggle, it simply responds to the light. Today, instead of trying to force change in your life, simply turn toward this love. Let it begin its gentle work of transformation in you.

Corinthians 3:18 tells us, “But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit..”