Category: What do you think?

Holding to the True Gospel

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RICHARD CORDER

In his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul warns believers not to be led away from the truth of the gospel. In Galatians 5:7–12, he expresses deep concern for Christians who had once walked faithfully but were being influenced by false teachers. These teachers, called Judaizers, were convincing the Galatians that faith in Christ was not enough for salvation. They taught that following the laws of Moses, including circumcision and certain rituals, was also necessary. Paul saw this as a serious threat to the purity of the gospel.

Apostle Paul  Creative Commons George E. Koronaios

Paul reminds the believers that they began their spiritual journey well. They had accepted the message of salvation through faith in Christ alone. Yet someone had come among them and persuaded them to believe a different message. Paul makes it clear that this persuasion did not come from God. To add human works to the message of grace is to change the gospel completely. The message of salvation through Jesus Christ cannot be mixed with rules and rituals. Christ’s death and resurrection are sufficient for forgiveness and eternal life.

I think it’s important to mention here: I am speaking about salvation through works. There are Messianic Christians today who believe that to follow the law is to avoid sin, but not something that leads to salvation. To be clear, avoiding sin doesn’t save. Faith as a gift from God saves. But this doesn’t mean we should go ahead and sin. I don’t want to get off topic, but I want to be very clear what the Messianic Christians believe. Is this what Paul was talking about?

Paul’s concern is not only for the Galatians but for all believers. He knows that small errors can grow into serious problems. He warns that “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Just as a small amount of yeast spreads through dough, even a small distortion of the gospel can corrupt the entire message. History shows that this has often happened when people have questioned or altered the truth of God’s word. For that reason, Paul calls for faithfulness to Scripture and careful study so that believers will not be deceived.

Nothing But The Blood – HeartCry Worship

Even though Paul speaks firmly, he does not lose hope. He tells the Galatians that he trusts the Lord will help them return to the truth. His confidence is not based on their strength but on God’s ability to guide those who truly belong to Him. However, Paul also warns that the person leading them astray will face judgment. False teachers, motivated by pride or sin, will one day answer for their actions before God.

Paul also addresses accusations made against him. Some claimed that he preached one message to Jews and another to Gentiles. He denies this, explaining that he never taught that the law could save anyone. For Jewish believers, keeping certain customs was a matter of culture, not salvation. For Gentiles, such practices were never required. Paul’s message was the same for all: salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ alone. The cross is offensive because it tells people they cannot save themselves, but Paul refuses to soften that truth.

Finally, Paul expresses a strong wish against the false teachers who were disturbing the Galatian churches. His words are sharp, showing how seriously he viewed their actions. These men were spreading lies that could destroy the faith of many. Paul’s language may sound severe, but it reflects his passion for the gospel’s purity. He saw that false teaching was not just an error, it was an attack on the truth that saves.

Paul’s warning remains important today. Many still try to add human effort to God’s grace or twist the message of salvation to fit their own ideas. Believers are called to guard the truth carefully and to know Scripture well so they are not easily misled. The gospel of Christ does not need improvement or addition. It stands complete as the good news that brings freedom from sin and peace with God.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Ephesians 2:8

Living with a Clear Purpose

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CONNIE WILLIAMS

A well-defined purpose brings clarity to every decision we make. If a business’s goal is to always have the lowest price, then every choice would be measured against that purpose. If something did not help the company stay the lowest-priced company, it would be rejected.

The same principle applies to every area of life, especially our spiritual lives. A clear sense of purpose gives direction and stability, just as light cuts through darkness. The Bible teaches that followers of Christ are engaged in a spiritual battle, not against people, but against evil forces that seek to destroy faith and purpose. In Ephesians 6, Paul describes six spiritual tools that help believers stand strong. One of them is “having your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” Like sturdy shoes for a soldier, this readiness helps believers stand firm and move forward with confidence.

In Paul’s time, Roman soldiers wore thick boots with metal studs on the soles. These gave them firm footing during battle and protected them from sharp objects hidden on the ground. Paul used this image to show that Christians need spiritual stability too. Our “boots” are not made of leather. They are made of a willingness to share the good news of Jesus Christ. This readiness to share the gospel strengthens us and keeps us steady when life becomes difficult.

Paul’s teaching in Ephesians connects directly to Isaiah 52:7, which speaks of those who bring good news: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings.” The same verse appears again in Romans 10, where Paul reminds believers that people cannot believe in Jesus unless someone tells them about Him. Sharing the message of salvation is not the job of pastors alone. It is the responsibility of every believer. Our readiness to share Christ’s peace is both a weapon in spiritual warfare and a core part of our purpose on earth.

Every person was created by God for a reason. Many people, both religious and non-religious, sense that life must have meaning, yet they search endlessly for what it is. The Bible says we are not accidents or products of chance. God told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” God had a plan for Jeremiah before his birth and He has a plan for each of us too. Every life is intentional, designed by God for a purpose.

That purpose is not simply to live comfortably or to achieve personal goals. Our purpose is to take part in God’s plan and to help others come to know Him. God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” He is patient, “not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.” Jesus Himself said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” If that is God’s purpose, then our purpose must be to help fulfill it.

God’s work often involves partnership. While He could act alone, He chooses to work through people. He told Noah to build an ark, Nehemiah to rebuild the wall, and the disciples to spread the gospel. Before returning to heaven, Jesus told His followers, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” The central mission for every believer is to share the good news with others wherever they are.

Sadly, some Christians make careful plans for their careers, families, and finances but give little thought to God’s mission. Yet this is the very reason we remain on earth. Just as a soldier focuses on completing his commander’s orders, followers of Christ are called to expand God’s kingdom and free those trapped in spiritual darkness. This calling is not a burden but a source of true fulfillment.

People often look for meaning in work, success, pleasure, or wealth, but these things cannot fill the emptiness inside. Many who seem to “have it all” still feel deeply unsatisfied. The writer of Ecclesiastes learned that achievements and possessions bring only temporary joy. Lasting fulfillment comes only through knowing God and living out His purpose.

When we live for God’s purpose, we find the meaning and stability our hearts long for. Sharing His message gives us direction, strengthens our faith, and protects us from the enemy’s attempts to distract and discourage us. Our lives gain eternal value when we dedicate ourselves to the mission God has given: To bring His peace to others.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

Gunmen Abduct more than 150 worshippers in attacks on Nigerian churches Sunday

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MUSA OKONKWO

KURMIN WALI, Nigeria — Armed assailants kidnapped over 150 worshippers in coordinated raids on three churches in northwest Nigeria on Sunday, according to Usman Danlami Stingo, who represents the Kajuru area in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

The attacks occurred in Kurmin Wali, a community in the Kajuru area of Kaduna state, while services were underway at an Evangelical Church Winning All congregation, a Cherubim and Seraphim church, and a Catholic church.

Stingo said 177 people were initially reported missing following the attacks. Eleven of those abducted later returned, leaving 168 people still missing as of Monday.

Police in Kaduna state had not commented on the incident, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Mass abductions by armed groups have plagued northwest Nigeria in recent years, with gunmen targeting schools, villages and places of worship for ransom.

A Heart That Remembers to Give Thanks

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AMY TURNER

In the Gospel of Luke, ten men suffering from leprosy called out to Jesus for mercy. Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priests, and as they walked away, they were healed. Their skin was restored, their pain was gone, and their bodies were made whole again. Yet only one of the ten turned back. He came to Jesus, shouting praise to God and falling at His feet in deep gratitude.

Consider how often people receive blessings without stopping to give thanks. The nine who walked away were healed in body but forgot to show appreciation. The one who returned understood that thankfulness matters as much as the gift itself.

In our daily lives, we receive countless blessings. We have health, food, work, friends, and moments of peace. Yet we sometimes rush ahead, forgetting to acknowledge the source of these good things. Even a small word of thanks, a short prayer, or an act of kindness can show that we recognize what we’ve been given. Gratitude should not be occasional; it should be a way of living.

Let’s not disappoint the One who gives so freely. Take time to turn back, as the healed man did, and say, “Thank you.”

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

Thessalonians 5:18

Learning to Love One Another

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DON HEBERT

Loving one another is not something that comes easily. It might seem natural at first glance. Consider, a baby often shows affection for their parents without being taught. But that kind of love is instinctive and emotional. The kind of love the Bible speaks about goes much deeper. It is not about feelings, but about choosing to give of ourselves for the good of others. That kind of love does not come naturally. Our natural instinct is to look out for ourselves, but true love must be learned and practiced.

We learn to love by seeing it lived out. Many of us can point to people who have shown us what love looks like. But for believers, the perfect example and teacher of love is Jesus Christ. He not only tells us to love but shows us exactly how.

In John 15, Jesus speaks to His disciples on the night before His death. He tells them, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” This message is so important that He repeats it more than once. When someone repeats a truth often, it means it matters deeply. Jesus wanted His followers to truly understand love, to know it, live it, and share it. The command to love others sums up everything He asks of us. It is not a suggestion or a passing thought; it is the heart of His teaching.

Jesus shows that love through sacrifice. He says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus spoke these words knowing He was about to die for those He loved. The truest form of love is to give up something valuable for someone else, and nothing is more valuable than life itself. His death was not just an act of kindness, it was a substitution. He took our place, dying the death we deserved so that we could live.

That love was not meant to stop at the cross. It calls us to follow His example. Most of us will never have to give up our lives for another person, but we are all called to give up our pride, comfort, and self-interest for the sake of others. Loving well always costs something. It may cost time, patience, energy, or forgiveness. Each act of love involves a small sacrifice of self.

Jesus also shows His love by calling us His friends. He says, “No longer do I call you servants… but I have called you friends.” This is a rare and beautiful truth. Many religions picture their gods as distant and demanding. But Jesus draws close. He shares His heart and plans with us. He lets us in. Real friendship involves honesty and trust, and Jesus offers both. He knows us completely yet still welcomes us near.

If Jesus calls us friends, we should treat others with that same care and faithfulness. True friendship means being honest, patient, and steady. It means staying when things are hard and being a safe person for others to trust.

Jesus also reminds us that we did not choose Him, He chose us. His love begins with Him, not us. He is the source of every good thing we have: our faith, our growth, our fruitfulness. He gives life like a vine gives life to its branches. Any good we produce comes from His power working through us. Because of this, we can never take pride in our place in His kingdom. Instead, we thank Him for choosing and equipping us to live with love.

Finally, Jesus loves us as our Lord. He is both our friend and our ruler. His commands are not meant to restrict us but to guide us toward what is good. In a world often marked by anger, division, and pride, this kind of love stands out. On our own, love fails. But in Christ, love grows strong and steady.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:11