Category: What do you think?

The Call Against Idleness in Christian Life

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AMY TURNER

Christians are called to live with purpose and faithfulness. In 2 Thessalonians 3:6, believers are warned to avoid those who choose to live in idleness and ignore the teachings passed down from the apostles. This is not just a suggestion, but a clear command given in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The message is simple: faith is not meant to be passive. God expects His people to stay active, doing good works and following His will while waiting for Christ’s return. Rather than wasting time in laziness or empty talk, believers should be found carrying out the work of God.

In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

James 2:17

Moving from Doubt to Trust in Jesus

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AMY TURNER

The story of Thomas in John 20:25 shows us something important about belief. Thomas said he would not believe Jesus had risen unless he could see and touch the wounds himself. This moment doesn’t reject the need for proof—it shows the struggle between doubt and faith. Thomas had heard the other disciples say Jesus was alive, but he still held back. He wanted certainty before trust.

Jesus did not ignore Thomas’s doubt. Instead, He came to him and offered exactly what Thomas asked for: real, physical evidence. But Jesus also urged him to go beyond needing proof. “Do not disbelieve, but believe,” He said. Doesn’t this show us that faith isn’t about ignoring reason; it works with it. Faith also asks for a heart that is open, not just a mind full of questions.

Sometimes, the problem isn’t that we don’t have enough proof. It’s that we aren’t ready to let go and trust.

Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen

Hebrews 11:1

Becoming a New Creation in Christ

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FLOYD ROGERS

Paul spoke of being “crucified with Christ,” meaning his old life was gone, and he now lived a new one through Jesus. He explained that when a person follows Christ, they become a new creation, no longer controlled by their past ways. The Spirit of God now lives within them, offering strength to resist sin.

Paul believed that as long as he stayed firmly rooted in faith, depending on what Jesus did on the cross, sin might still attempt to tempt him, but it would not win. His victory came not from personal strength, but from trusting in the power of the cross each day.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Making Difficult Choices in Discipleship

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JEFF TURNER

The call to follow Jesus has always been serious, often asking people to make difficult choices. In Luke 9, Jesus invites a man to follow Him. The man responds by asking to first go and bury his father. At first glance, this seems like a reasonable request. But when we look deeper, we see something else happening.

In this situation, the man’s father was not yet dead. What he truly meant was that he wanted to stay home until his father eventually passed away, so he could receive his inheritance. Only after securing his future wealth would he be ready to follow Jesus.

Jesus’s reply was firm: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:60). This was not a denial of grief or family duties. Instead, it was a clear message about the urgency and seriousness of discipleship. When Jesus calls, it requires immediate action and full trust that He will take care of the rest.

Following Christ means placing Him first, above personal plans and material security. It calls for faith that God will provide when we choose to obey Him completely.

But [a]seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.

Matthew 6:33

Exploring God’s Mercy in Healing Stories

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AMY TURNER

The Bible tells us of a remarkable healing that unfolds differently than others. In Mark 8:24, a blind man is brought to Jesus in the town of Bethsaida. Rather than healing him immediately in front of the crowd, Jesus takes the man outside the village to a quieter place. There, Jesus uses an unusual method — placing spit on the man’s eyes — and asks what he can see.

The man responds that he sees people, but they look like trees walking around. His sight had begun to return, but it wasn’t yet clear. Then Jesus places his hands on the man’s eyes a second time, and his vision is fully restored.

I think this shows us how God’s help can come in stages if it serve’s God’s plan for us. It wasn’t that Jesus failed the first time, but rather that the healing was done progressively. Why? The Bible doesn’t tell us. Perhaps to meet the man’s personal need or to teach a lesson about patience and trust in God’s timing. Not every answer to prayer arrives instantly, yet every step is an expression of mercy.

The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end,
For His compassions do not fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23