Category: What do you think?

The Judgment Seat and the Value of Our Works

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JEFF TURNER

In 2 Corinthians 5:10, Paul teaches that every believer will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to be repaid for what was done in life, whether good or bad. This does not mean Christians will face God’s punishment. Scripture is clear that Jesus took the full penalty for sin through his death, bearing the judgment we deserved. Consider Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

The word “bad” in this passage comes from a term meaning useless or without value. At this future judgment, worthless deeds, those with no eternal importance, will be set aside. These are not sinful acts, but activities that hold no lasting spiritual impact.

What will remain are the righteous works God has produced in us. These will form the basis of our eternal reward. This truth calls believers to focus on what matters for eternity, investing time and effort in works that honour Christ rather than in things that will pass away.

…each one’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.

1 Corinthians 3:13–14

Fear Fades When We Follow God’s Path

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FLOYD ROGERS

Choosing to follow God’s direction helps remove fear from our lives. While we may feel a bit uneasy at first, especially when facing something unfamiliar, that nervousness isn’t true fear. It’s often just emotion. Deep down, we trust that God will come through, even if we’ve never faced a situation like it before.

When we take the first steps in line with God’s will, it may seem hard. There might be hesitation. But if we continue forward, that fear begins to shrink. Each step brings more confidence, and eventually, the fear fades completely. As we walk in the direction God has set for us, we begin to recognise His plan and peace.

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

The Mystery Now Made Known

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AMY TURNER

In Colossians 1, Paul speaks about a mystery that was hidden through past ages but is now shown to God’s people. This mystery is not something strange or impossible to understand, but truth that was once concealed in the Old Testament and has now been opened in the New.

The Old Testament gives many promises about God, humanity, and redemption. It even points ahead to the Messiah. Yet, details about His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection, and His return to heaven were only seen in a shadowed way by those who came before. Hebrews 11 explains, they trusted in what was coming but did not witness it fully.

Paul says that this includes the incarnation of Christ, the disbelief of Israel, the rise of lawlessness, the unity of Jews and Gentiles in the church, the return of Christ for His people, and Christ living within believers as the hope of glory. These are all called mysteries because they were veiled before but are now clear.

to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27

When Fear Reveals a Lack of True Faith

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JEFF TURNER

Revelation 21:8 lists several traits of those who do not belong to Christ, including unbelief, immorality, idolatry, lying, and fear. In this context, fear does not simply mean having doubts about one’s salvation. It can also mean cowardice. It can mean shrinking back from standing firm in faith.

Jesus illustrated this in the parable of the soils in Matthew 13. Some people gladly receive the word, but because their faith has no deep root, trouble or persecution causes them to turn away. Others hear the word, yet the worries of life and the pull of wealth choke their spiritual growth, leaving them fruitless.

This kind of fear shows itself in those who avoid hardship for the sake of the gospel. They may appear to believe for a time, but their response to trials reveals otherwise. Such people eventually depart because they were never truly part of the family of faith.

They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be evident that they all are not of us.

1 John 2:19

Trusting God’s Timing and Direction

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FLOYD ROGERS

Choosing to follow God’s way means living with purpose, not reacting on emotion or impulse. It requires us to act only when God leads, rather than pushing ahead on our own schedule. Consider Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. ” Waiting is not always easy—it can take inner strength and patience to stay still when we feel ready to move.

Obedience to God involves trusting that His timing is right, even when it feels slow. Often, doing nothing until He gives direction is the hardest thing to do. He will supply whatever is needed to carry out His plan. It may not include what we want, or think we need, because God sees the big picture more than we.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19