Category: What do you think?

A promise prepared in quiet ways

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JOHN COPIC

In the story of John the Baptist, we see how quiet faith and steady obedience can shape history in ways no one expects. His life begins with two older people, Zachariah and Elizabeth, who lived with devotion to God. They followed God’s ways with sincere hearts, yet they carried the pain of having no child. When an angel told Zachariah that Elizabeth would give birth, the message sounded impossible. Their age and long years of waiting made the promise hard to believe. Zachariah asked for a sign and received one, though not in the way he hoped. He lost his ability to speak until the child was born, a reminder that God’s word stands firm even when our faith feels weak.

Elizabeth’s pregnancy was a gift she had once given up hoping for. She kept herself out of public view for several months, likely waiting until her condition could not be questioned. When it became clear that she was expecting, the joy of the community would confirm the mercy she had received. Her quiet praise shows how God sometimes answers long–held desires in unexpected seasons.

John’s birth was more than a family blessing. His arrival fulfilled promises spoken generations earlier. Prophets had said that someone would prepare people to meet the Messiah. John was that person. He did not come as Elijah returned in the flesh, but he carried the same spirit and boldness. His purpose was simple and direct: to call people back to God and help them recognize the one who was coming after him.

Be still my soul the Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide
In every change He faithful will remain

Yet even a person with a strong calling can struggle. Later, when John was imprisoned for speaking truth, he began to question whether Jesus was truly the one Israel had waited for. His suffering did not match the future he expected. So he sent his followers to ask Jesus for clarity. Jesus did not rebuke him. Instead, he pointed to the work being done. He spoke of the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, lepers cleansed, the deaf hearing, the poor hearing good news. These signs had been written long before in the words of Isaiah. Jesus used those promises to steady John’s heart. Through this, we see that doubt does not cancel faith; it reveals our need for God’s reassurance.

Jesus affirmed John’s place as a prophet with a unique role. He also explained that the least person in God’s kingdom now stands in a better place, because the promised Saviour has already come. John lived as the final voice announcing the arrival of someone greater.

John’s message was sharp but honest: turn from sin because God’s kingdom is near. Many people came to be baptized, admitting their wrongs and seeking a new start. But some came with pride, trusting their heritage instead of their hearts. John warned them that real change shows itself in a changed life, not in family ties or status. He spoke of judgment in clear terms and pointed to the one who would bring a deeper work, a cleansing that only God’s Spirit can give.

The account of John’s life shows that God works through ordinary people, difficult moments, waiting, and even doubt. God brings good from situations that seem broken, and he does not ask us to figure out how he will do it. Faith means trusting that his purpose will stand, even when our plans fall apart.

Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:8

Seeing people with open eyes

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MATTHEW JONES

Some moments appear ordinary, yet they carry quiet meaning. These moments may come when we least expect them, and they give us the chance to see people to some point in the way God sees them. A story from Acts 3 shows how two men, on their way to a time of prayer, met a man who had been unable to walk since birth. He sat at a temple gate each day and asked for money from those passing by. On this day, he called out as usual, hoping for a small gift to help him get through another day.

IRS Images, 2025

But something different happened. The two men stopped, looked at him closely, and asked him to look back at them. That simple act of eye contact mattered. It showed they did not see a category or a problem. They saw a person. Others likely passed quickly without noticing him, but they slowed down long enough to take him seriously. Seeing people in this way often requires us to move at a slower pace and look past surface details. It asks us to set aside frustration, fear, or assumptions, and to notice the deeper needs in front of us.

When the man asked for money, he asked for what he knew. He needed income because he could not work. The two men did not have what he requested, but they had something far more meaningful to give. They offered healing in the name of Jesus. They lifted him up by the hand, and strength returned to his feet and ankles. The man stood, walked, and then burst into joyful movement.

His physical healing was clear to everyone who had seen him begging for years. But the change ran deeper. The healing of his body pointed to a change of heart and faith. The man who once sat outside the gate now walked freely beside those who had helped him. His excitement drew a crowd, and he became living proof of what hope can do. His life showed that God steps toward people who cannot help themselves, and that faith brings new beginnings.

The man in Acts 3 experienced outward healing, but the deeper miracle was the transformation of his life. He experienced God’s Amazing Grace.

These events also remind us that help is not only about meeting physical needs. Meeting those needs matters, and sometimes it is the right place to start. But many people carry questions beneath their requests. A simple favour, a short conversation, or a small need can create space for something more. Our conversations at work, in the neighbourhood, or during errands can open a door to something deeper if we pay attention.

When people experience real care, trust forms. The man who was healed held tightly to the two who had helped him. In the same way, people often cling to those who offer kindness when life feels dark or confusing. These simple interactions can lead to healing of the heart and can spark faith that grows over time. Our ordinary moments can become places where God brings new life, healing, and hope.

Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32

Holding steady when faith meets opposition

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DON HEBERT

People who follow Jesus often feel the steady pressure of criticism, mockery, and misunderstanding. It may come as small comments, unfair assumptions, or loss of friendships. It may feel mild at times, but it can also cut deep. These moments can leave believers discouraged, unsure of themselves, or tempted to pull back from their faith. When the culture around us pushes against what we believe, it raises a hard question: Will we stand firm if the pressure increases?

2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV): “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted“. IRS Images, 2025

Jesus prepared his followers for this struggle long ago. He taught that hostility toward those who believe in him is not new, and not a sign that something is wrong. It is part of what it means to belong to him. His words still guide us today.

One of his clearest teachings is that the world does not react strongly to Christians simply because of personality or politics. The deeper reason is spiritual. People who follow Jesus no longer fit within the moral system that rejects God. Jesus said that believers were once part of that system but are now joined to him. This change of allegiance makes Christians feel like strangers to the world they once blended into. Because of this, believers face the same kind of resistance that Jesus faced. Those who do not understand him often do not understand his followers either.

Some people say they admire Jesus while criticizing Christians. But often the Jesus they admire is a version shaped by their own preferences, not the Jesus shown in the Bible. When the true Jesus, his words, his authority, and his call to change, is made known, many resist him. That resistance has always existed and still exists today.

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

This kind of hostility does not always look extreme. In Canada where my dad lives, it may appear more in insults, exclusion, false accusations, or social pressure than in violence. It may look different where you are reading this. The Bible recognizes these as real forms of persecution. Words and attitudes can wound deeply, and many believers carry these wounds. Some have lost friends, strained family ties, or faced unfair treatment at work or school. None of this should be dismissed.

But hostility should not surprise us. Jesus said that if people opposed him, they would oppose those who follow him. At the same time, he also said that some people would listen and believe. The reaction to the message of Jesus has always been divided.

If a believer never experiences any form of pushback, it may be worth asking whether their faith is visible at all. This does not mean seeking conflict or being harsh. It simply means being honest about who Jesus is and what he asks of us, even when it costs us something.

Jesus also explained that many people oppose him because they do not truly know God. If they understood God’s goodness, strength, mercy, and love, they would respond differently. This should shift our hearts from anger to compassion. The one who rejects our faith may actually be someone who needs it most.

Even so, the Bible teaches that hostility toward Jesus is without a true cause. People rejected him despite his kindness, his miracles, and his teaching. Their reasons were not good reasons. Yet Scripture said ahead of time that this would happen, reminding believers that opposition is to be expected.

So how should Christians respond? Not with revenge or harshness, but with truth and steady faith. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would help his people speak about him. The Spirit would give strength to keep sharing the message that brings life, even when the world pushes back. Throughout history, believers have faced hostility by continuing to pray, to speak, and to live with honour.

Jesus also warned that the greatest danger is not the harm others may do but the temptation to abandon faith. When the pressure rises, some may feel ashamed, fearful, or tired. But Jesus gave his words so that his people would remember the truth when difficulties come. Remembering keeps us from letting go.

Around the world today, many believers face deadly persecution. Countless others face pressure that is quieter but still real. We are called to remember them, pray for them, and stand firm in our own setting. Jesus walked the path of rejection before us. His strength, his Spirit, and his promises remain with those who follow him.

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

John 15:18

Understanding spiritual power without rituals

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CONNIE WILLIAMS

For as long as I can remember, people have been drawn to stories about demons and dramatic rituals meant to drive them out. Movies, television programs, and even some religious groups have added to this interest. Yet when we look closely at what Scripture teaches, we find a very different picture of spiritual power and how believers are called to face evil.

Jesus confronts a possessed man. IRS Images, 2025.

The New Testament describes a moment when Jesus confronted a man under the influence of a demon. The account shows that demons are real beings. They have intelligence, emotion, and the ability to choose. This demon recognized who Jesus was, feared His authority, and obeyed His command to leave. Jesus did not use long rituals, special objects, or dramatic displays. He spoke a direct command, and the demon submitted. This picture shows the true nature of spiritual authority: it rests in Christ alone.

Jesus also gave His twelve apostles the ability to drive out demons, along with other signs that confirmed their message in a time when believers did not yet have the New Testament. These signs helped people know that the apostles spoke truthfully about Jesus and salvation. But the Bible does not say that this same authority was given to all believers or passed down through history. It was a specific gift for a specific group with a specific purpose.

Some passages that appear to describe these abilities for all believers. But the verses list several gifts together, such as healing or raising the dead, that not every believer has. Because of this, I believe scripture never teaches that all followers of Jesus are given the gift of driving out demons.

When we read the letters written to the early churches, we see long lists of spiritual gifts, but none of them include exorcism. We also find detailed teaching on spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6. This chapter gives clear instructions about truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, and God’s Word. This is presented as the full equipment every believer needs. There is no mention of rituals to remove demons or special techniques for confronting them.

Another important point is the limit of rituals that claim to free someone from demonic influence. Even if a person temporarily breaks free, Jesus explained that the problem can return if nothing changes within the person’s life. The human will plays a key role. Influence from evil does not come out of nowhere; it often begins with choices that open the door. Likewise, freedom requires a choice to turn toward God and to yield every part of life to His authority.

This helps explain why the early church eventually stopped emphasizing dramatic signs. As Scripture became available, believers no longer needed miracles to confirm the message. What they needed, and what we still need, is obedience to the truth God has given. The real battle is not won through a gifted person performing a ritual. It is won when an individual believer stands in the strength that God provides.

Every follower of Jesus has the Holy Spirit and the guidance of Scripture. These are the resources God has given for resisting evil and walking in freedom. No special ceremony is required. Each believer is responsible to take up the armor God has provided and to choose daily to live under His authority.

Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7


Living with grace in a community of imperfect people

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NELSON NOLAND

Life in community often reveals how easily people disagree, even about small matters. Many conflicts come from personal habits, background, or old convictions that feel important but are not matters of right and wrong. When people hold tightly to these non-essential issues, frustration and criticism grow. Yet unity depends on how we treat one another when we see things differently.

Ephesians 4:2-3 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. IRS Images, 2025

A person’s past shapes how they see certain choices. Some people feel strong freedom in areas that others find uncomfortable. One person may feel free to enjoy certain foods or activities, while another avoids them because of past experiences or a sensitive conscience. Neither person is better than the other. Both are learning and growing, and both belong to God.

Trouble comes when one side looks down on the other. The person who feels free may see the cautious person as overly strict. The cautious person may view the other as careless or worldly. When this happens, pride, fear, and criticism begin to replace love. But God does not build unity through rules or pressure. He builds unity through grace.

Grace reminds us that none of us came to God because we were good. We were welcomed through mercy. If God can accept imperfect people, then we can accept one another. No one matures overnight. Some struggles last years. God keeps working on each person, leading them at the right pace. Because of this, no believer has the right to treat another as inferior or to act as if they are the judge of someone else’s progress.

Have thine own way, Lord!
Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me
after thy will,
while I am waiting,
yielded and still.

We also remember that every believer answers to God, not to us. Each person lives before the Lord, and the Lord is the one who helps them stand firm. God is the master, not other people. He sees the whole story, the wounds, the habits, the fears, and the victories. When we try to control someone else’s growth, we forget that God is already doing the work.

Everything a believer does, whether eating certain foods, following certain traditions, or avoiding them, is acceptable when it is done with a clear conscience and a desire to honour Christ. What makes an action meaningful is not the thing itself, but whether it is offered to the Lord. This keeps us from policing each other. Instead of asking, “Are they doing it the way I prefer?” we ask, “Does this help them honour Christ in their own walk?”

We belong to God because Christ died and rose again. He is Lord over every believer, whether young in faith or mature. He leads both the strong and the weak. Remembering this changes how we see disagreements. When Christ’s glory is our focus, small arguments fade. His cross and resurrection make our personal preferences seem small and temporary.

Sometimes loving others means limiting our own freedoms. A mature believer may choose not to do something harmless to them personally if it would discourage someone who is still healing or learning. That kind of love sends a powerful message. It shows that people matter more than preferences.

Families, churches, and communities all include people who need extra patience. God often surrounds us with those who stretch us, not by accident, but for our growth. Unity is not built through winning arguments. It is built through humility, patience, and a willingness to care more about people than about being right in non-essential matters.

When we focus on what is central, Christ’s grace, his death, his resurrection, and his work in people’s lives, then we stop majoring in the minors. We choose peace over pride. We choose to let others grow at God’s pace. And we choose to treat each other the way God has treated us: with kindness, patience, and room to grow.

Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us, for the glory of God.

Romans 15:7