Category: What do you think?

An Invitation to Find Rest in Troubled Times

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AMY TURNER

You’re not alone. Some people today carry heavy burdens, whether from stress, worry, or the pressures of daily life. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus speaks directly to those who feel overwhelmed. He invites anyone who is weary and weighed down to come to Him for rest. This is not a rest from every difficulty, but a deep peace for the soul.

Jesus asks us to take His yoke, a symbol of partnership and guidance. By doing so, we walk with Him and learn from His example of gentleness and humility. He assures us that the load He places on us is not crushing, and the path He leads us on does not bring hopelessness.

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Psalm 55:22

The Shepherd Who Restores the Soul

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AMY TURNER

Psalm 23:3 says, “He restores my soul.” After showing that God meets our physical needs, this verse points to something deeper. Life wears down the heart and mind. We face demands that stretch us thin, pressures that push us to fit in, and battles both inside and outside ourselves.

Short breaks, hobbies, or time with friends can give some relief, but they only return us to our own limited strength. What we truly need is not just a refill of energy, but a complete renewal. Restoration is different from recharging. It brings us back to the person God meant us to be.

Only the Shepherd can do this work in us. His power shapes and strengthens us in ways nothing else can.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16

Understanding Order in Church Gatherings

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JEFF TURNER

In 1 Corinthians 14:34, Paul says that women should remain silent in church. This is an often argued verse today. So, let’s look closely at the context and see if it helps clarify the meaning.

Paul’s instruction was tied to the issue of order during worship. The church in Corinth had misused the gift of speaking in tongues, which was a real spiritual gift in the New Testament. It had become chaotic, and Paul wrote to help the church restore structure and discipline. He gave specific rules to guide how gifts, especially the gift of languages, should be used properly in worship.

Part of that guidance included limiting who could speak during services. Paul refers to the same principle in 1 Timothy, where he says that women should not teach or lead in church gatherings. Instead, they should seek answers at home, asking their husbands if they had questions.

This was not about value or worth, but about roles and preserving order in worship. These instructions were not based on culture alone but were grounded in the design for church life.

But all things must be done properly and in an orderly way.

1 Corinthians 14:40

The Eternal Choice Between Mercy and Judgement

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AMY TURNER

The Bible speaks clearly about the reality of eternal life and judgement. In Revelation 20:15, it says that anyone whose name is not found in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire represents hell, a place of final separation from God. The passage reminds us that every person faces one of two final destinations: either eternal life with God or eternal separation from Him.

Importantly, this choice is not based on human achievement or personal worthiness. No one can earn their way to heaven by good deeds or accomplishments. Instead, entry into heaven comes only through God’s grace and mercy, offered freely to those who accept it. It is given to those who recognise their need and trust in the gift of life through Jesus Christ.

The message is simple yet serious: heaven is a place for those who have received mercy, not for those who rely on their own strength.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

The Complete Healing of Jesus

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AMY TURNER

In Mark 7:37, people expressed their amazement at Jesus, saying He did all things well, even making the deaf hear and the mute speak. A man who could not hear and could barely talk was brought to Him. Hearing loss had also limited the man’s speech, as often happens when someone cannot hear their own voice.

Jesus could have restored only the man’s hearing, allowing him to learn speech over time. Instead, His compassion matched His power. In one moment, both the man’s ears and his ability to speak were restored. He spoke clearly right away.

This act revealed more than a miracle of physical healing. It shows us the fullness of His mercy. It may not happen when we want. It may not happen how we want. But it will be complete.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.

John 10:10