Category: What do you think?

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

Jesus Our Eternal High Priest

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JOHN COPIC

Old lithograph (1894) depicting the high priest offering incense on the altar.
The High Priest in Jerusalem
By Henry Davenport Northrop.
License: Public domain

In the Old Testament, the high priest held a very serious and dangerous role. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, he entered the most holy place in the temple to offer sacrifices for his own sins, the sins of his family, and the sins of the people. This task could cost him his life if he failed to follow the exact instructions. The high priest had to be a man, capable of understanding human weakness, and he could not take the position on his own, he had to be appointed by God. His work showed the need for forgiveness and pointed to the larger plan of salvation.

Jesus Christ is now described as our great high priest. Unlike the priests of the Old Testament, He does not offer repeated sacrifices. His one sacrifice on the cross was enough to atone for the sins of all who trust Him. Because of this, Christians can now come boldly to God’s throne, knowing they will find mercy and grace in times of need. Our offerings to God, praise, worship, acts of kindness, and giving, are considered spiritual sacrifices, made acceptable through Christ.

Christ’s priesthood is unique because He was fully human and yet without sin. He experienced temptation and human struggles but remained perfect. This allows Him to understand our weaknesses and to intercede for us. He is both compassionate and powerful, able to save completely those who come to God through Him.

Copyright 2009 Kirk Ward Music Words: Isaac Watts Additional Chorus: Kirk Ward Music: Kirk Ward

The Old Testament high priest had to deal with his own sin before he could serve the people. Jesus, being sinless, perfectly fulfills all the requirements of a priest. He was appointed by God, not by human decision, and His priesthood is eternal, following the order of Melchizedek. This distinguishes Him from any human priest and ensures that His work will never need to be repeated.

Jesus’ earthly life showed His obedience, His suffering, and His compassion. He faced real struggles and sorrow, especially in Gethsemane, where He experienced deep anguish while carrying the sins of humanity. Even in suffering, He obeyed God fully. This experience qualifies Him to be a merciful and faithful high priest, able to intercede for those who trust Him.

Because of Jesus, believers have direct access to God. The veil of the temple, which once separated the people from God, is now removed. Christians no longer need a human mediator, because Christ is the eternal high priest who represents us before God. By trusting in Him, we can experience mercy, grace, and the hope of eternal life.

Through Jesus, the new covenant is complete. He has secured salvation, reconciled humanity to God, and provided a way for us to approach God freely. His priesthood, sacrifice, and intercession give believers confidence and hope for both this life and the life to come.

Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25

Living the Life God Has Made for Us

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AMY TURNER

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 4:24 that we are called to live as a new person, created to reflect God’s own holiness and goodness. This is not something we can achieve on our own. God has made us right with Him through Jesus, and our new self is His work, given to us through grace.

But this new life is not passive. We are invited to take part in it every day. God commands us to live in the way He has shaped us, and this involves active choices. We grow in our new life by the decisions we make, the desires we follow, the habits we develop, and the obedience we offer to God. Even when we fail, returning to God with a repentant heart is part of living in this newness.

Every step in this journey, every effort to live rightly, comes from God’s grace.

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it

Colossians 3:10

A battle between good and evil in every heart

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DON HEBERT

From the earliest pages of Scripture, the story of humanity is marked by conflict. I’m not speaking of a conflict between nations or powers, but between good and evil. When God told the serpent in the garden that there would be hostility between his offspring and the offspring of the woman, He was declaring both a curse and a promise. Evil would remain active in the world, but hope would come through a Redeemer who would crush the serpent’s power. This struggle between righteousness and wickedness has continued throughout all history and continues in every life today.

The book of Psalms, particularly Psalm 37, offers wisdom for people who find themselves in the middle of this conflict. I understand it to teach that the righteous and the wicked live side by side, yet their paths lead to very different ends. While the wicked often appear strong, confident, and successful, their prosperity is temporary. God reminds His people not to envy or worry about them. Their success will fade like grass under the sun. Those who trust in God, however, will endure and inherit peace that cannot be taken away.

When people wrong us, it is natural to feel fear or anger. We may lose sleep or feel bitterness grow in our hearts. Yet God’s word says, “Do not fret because of evildoers.” Worry and anger can draw us into the same sin that we despise. Instead, the faithful are called to trust the Lord, do good, and find joy in Him. When we delight in God, our desires begin to change, and He gives us hearts that long for what is right.

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Evil often strikes hardest when it comes from people we least expect. Sometimes even those who claim faith let us down. The pain of betrayal or injustice from within the community of believers can be especially heavy. But Scripture does not ignore this reality. It calls evil what it is and promises that God sees and acts. He is not silent. Though the wicked may plot against the righteous, God laughs at their plans because their downfall is certain. Those who harm others will one day face the results of their own actions. Their cruelty and deceit will turn back on them.

For those who are mistreated or abused, Psalm 37 offers comfort and courage. God is not distant; He is involved in the details of our lives. He upholds the righteous and does not abandon them. Even when it seems that wrongdoers are in control, their power is brief. God’s justice may not always come immediately, but it always comes. The Lord upholds His people, protects their reputation, and brings truth to light in His time.

The psalm also gives guidance for how to live while waiting for God to act. The righteous are told to keep doing good, to turn away from evil, and to stay faithful. They are to be patient and calm, not taking revenge or giving in to hatred. God promises that the meek, those who trust quietly in Him, will inherit lasting peace. The righteous may have little compared to the wealthy wicked, but what they have is blessed and secure because God sustains it.

The passage makes a strong contrast between the two sides. The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are generous. The wicked seek to destroy, but the righteous seek to bless. The Lord loves justice and will not forsake those who belong to Him. Even when trials come, He provides for His people and keeps their steps steady.

The psalm ends with this message: the future of the wicked is destruction, but the future of the righteous is peace. The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord Himself. He is their protection in times of trouble. He delivers them because they take refuge in Him.

This promise was fulfilled most perfectly in Jesus Christ. He was wronged by evil men, yet He did not return evil for evil. Instead, He entrusted Himself to God, who raised Him from death and gave Him victory. Through Him, every believer can find safety and hope. Those who trust in Christ stand on the side of the righteous. Those who reject Him stand with the wicked.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21


Listening to God and Planting Seeds for the Future Church

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CHERYL QUIGG

Psalm 78 reminds God’s people to listen carefully and remember what He has done. The psalmist speaks about passing on God’s truth to future generations so that children yet to be born will know His strength and faithfulness. It’s not only about memory, but about responsibility. We need to teach, live, and show God’s word so it will continue to shape lives long after us.

Today, this call still matters. Many believers find it easy to focus on comfort, careers, and personal interests while the mission of the church slowly slips into the background. The truth of Psalm 78 calls the church to return to obedience, to listen again to the voice of God, and to make His name known through faithful living.

Some of us older folks like to remember “the good old days,” when pews were full and music filled the sanctuary. But simply wanting the past back is not enough. The deeper question is what changed in the hearts of believers. In so many cases, service and ministry have become less of a priority compared to other pursuits. The question for the church today is whether we still put God’s work first or if we have allowed busyness to take its place.

True growth in the church is not just about numbers. It is about fruit. It’s about the kind of fruit that shows a heart has been changed by God. The Bible tells us that the fruit of the Spirit includes love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not achievements but signs that God’s word has taken root in a believer’s life. Jesus said that His followers glorify the Father by bearing much fruit, showing that they are His disciples. A healthy church is one where lives are being transformed, not just where attendance increases.

But not all fruit is good. A heart that does not live in repentance cannot produce the kind of fruit that pleases God. True repentance means turning away from sin and letting the Holy Spirit bring new life from within. In Romans, Paul explained that believers were saved through Christ so they could bear fruit for God. This is the goal of every Christian life.

Churches measure attendance and activity, but numbers alone do not prove faithfulness. Ministry must be measured so that it stays focused on its purpose, but measurement should serve love, not pride. Every person represents a soul that matters to God, and every act of service should point toward helping people grow closer to Christ. The foundation of all this is the Word of God. Psalm 78 teaches that God’s word must be planted deeply, just like a seed in good soil.

Families play a major part in this work. Deuteronomy 6 teaches parents to talk about God’s commands throughout daily life. When sitting at home, walking on the road, lying down, and getting up, we should pass on our faith. This begins at home, not only in the church building. Many past ministries focused on excitement or large events but lacked teaching and follow-up. True discipleship must include steady guidance, helping people grow in understanding and obedience.

Spiritual growth also depends on community. Gathering for small groups or Sunday school builds connection, accountability, and learning. It gives people a place to belong, to share their struggles, and to be cared for.

No matter where, teaching God’s Word faithfully also requires preparation and humility. Those who lead must be learners themselves. Even experienced teachers should continue to grow, to stay sharp, and to stay true to Scripture. And as the church looks to the future, it must ask: are we planting seeds that will bear good fruit? Are we helping people grow in faith, obedience, and love? Are we investing time and energy into the next generation? The future of the church depends on how we answer these questions today.

Faithfulness begins with listening to God and planting His Word in good soil. Growth will come when His people live out the message they teach.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Romans 10:17