Category: What do you think?

A Future Without Sorrow and Pain

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AMY TURNER

Revelation 21:3-4 offers a message of hope for those who follow God. It speaks of a future time when God will live among His people, bringing an end to death, sorrow, and pain. Every tear will be wiped away, and the hardships of this life will be left behind.

For Christians, the promise is not that life on earth will be free of trouble, but that their journey leads somewhere greater. Life here is often filled with heartache, grief, and suffering, but faith assures believers that these struggles are temporary. One day, all wounds will be healed, and every sorrow will be replaced with peace.

Our comfort is found in what lies ahead, not in present circumstances.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Romans 8:18

Finding Peace in the Shadow of the Shepherd

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AMY TURNER

Psalm 23:4 reminds us that even when we walk through dark and frightening places, we do not have to be afraid because God is with us. The psalm speaks of green hills and sunlight, but also of valleys where danger and death seem near. Sheep often panic when they see shadows or hear sudden noises, and some are tempted to run. Yet others remain calm because their focus is on the shepherd standing nearby.

These sheep are not free from fear, but their trust in the shepherd lessens the weight of the valley’s shadow. In the same way, when we face fears in life. Even the fear of death itself, we can find comfort by staying close to Jesus, our shepherd.

I’m not saying we won’t face dangers. I’m saying God is in control and knows what’s best for us even when we can’t see it.

Faith That Shows Through Actions

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JEFF TURNER

The second chapter of James raises a question that some people struggle with. James 2:21 asks if Abraham was made right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. A few verses later, James says that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. At first glance, this might seem to suggest that salvation comes through what we do.

However, the wider message of the Bible makes it clear that salvation is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, so no one can take credit for it. This teaching appears throughout the New Testament and aligns with what the prophet Habakkuk wrote: “The just shall live by faith.”

So what did James mean? The key lies in understanding that James is not contradicting the message of salvation by grace. Instead, he is showing that real faith produces visible results. Abraham’s willingness to obey God, even in offering his son, revealed the depth of his faith. His actions were evidence of an inward change. His acts were the result of his faith.

The way we live proves whether our faith is genuine. True faith will always lead to faithful living.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:12-13

Jesus Offers What the Temple Could Only Symbolize

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AMY TURNER

In Matthew 12:6, Jesus makes a statement that deeply unsettled the religious leaders of His day. He told them, “Something greater than the temple is here.” This was a bold claim, especially considering how important the temple was to the Jewish people. It was not only an impressive building, but also the centre of worship, sacrifice, and the symbol of God’s presence among His people.

The temple was the place where offerings were made to seek forgiveness, and it held the Holy of Holies, the most sacred space, believed to be where God’s presence rested. Yet Jesus declared that He Himself fulfilled all these purposes in a greater way. He provides forgiveness and brings people directly into God’s presence through Himself.

Through Christ, what the temple represented is now fully and personally available to those who believe in Him.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6

The Good News of the Christian Faith

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AMY TURNER

At the centre of Christianity is a message called the gospel, which simply means good news. This message is not just positive or uplifting; it is true. The heart of this news is that Jesus Christ gave His life for our sins. His sacrifice was not something anyone could earn or achieve, but it was freely given through God’s grace.

This gift of forgiveness and salvation is not meant to be kept private. Christians are called to share it with others. In the New Testament, Jesus gives a clear instruction: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15).

The Christian faith, then, is both a gift received and a message to be shared. It reminds believers of the hope they have in Christ and calls them to pass that hope on to others.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16