Category: What do you think?

Navigating Faith: Living with an Unbelieving Spouse

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JEFF TURNER

Living with an unbelieving spouse can be one of the hardest challenges a Christian may face. It might feel lonely or confusing, especially when faith is a core part of your life. But the Bible offers clear direction and encouragement for those in this situation.

In 1 Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul tells Christians not to leave their unbelieving husbands or wives. He explains that the believing partner brings a kind of spiritual blessing into the home. Paul writes, “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband” 1 Corinthians 7:14, ESV.

Doesn’t this tell us that God’s presence in the life of the believer has an effect on the entire household? His grace and blessing spill over, even reaching those who do not yet know Him. Instead of being influenced by the unbeliever’s lack of faith, the believer becomes a channel of God’s grace.

Some early Christians felt they had to leave their spouses in order to stay pure, but Paul corrects this thinking. He reminds them—and us—that God protects and sanctifies His people, even in difficult situations. In fact, a believer may be the very tool God uses to draw their spouse closer to Him.

Staying in a mixed-faith marriage, when possible, is not just about commitment; it’s about being a light in someone else’s life.

The Accuser and Our Unshakable Hope

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JEFF TURNER

The Bible gives many names to the devil. He is called the serpent, the dragon, the deceiver, the father of lies, and most often, Satan. But one of the most troubling titles is “the accuser.” According to Revelation 12, Satan stands before God day and night, accusing Christians—people who follow Jesus.

This is unsettling because it shows that Satan is not only crafty and intelligent but also fully aware of our failures. He brings these sins before God, hoping to turn Him against us. It’s a fearful thought to imagine someone constantly pointing out our wrongs to God.

But the Bible gives us a clear and powerful answer in Romans 8. There, the apostle Paul tells us that “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Paul later asks, “Who is it that condemns?” And the answer is, not Jesus—He is the one who made us right with God. And not God—His justice has already been satisfied by Christ’s sacrifice.

The story of Job shows Satan trying to accuse and test a faithful man. Yet even though Job suffered, Satan couldn’t break him. In the end, Job’s trust in God grew stronger.

Even though the devil never stops accusing, he cannot truly condemn us. That power belongs to God alone, and through Christ, we are safe. Consider, Romans 8:1 tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” That is our promise and our peace.

When Doubt Meets Faith: John the Baptist and the Identity of Jesus

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JEFF TURNER

Many people outside the church question who Jesus really is. Secular media and academics often search for the “historical Jesus,” as if the truth isn’t already clear. But one surprising question came from someone you wouldn’t expect—John the Baptist. In Luke 7, while he was in prison, John sent a message to Jesus asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

This might seem shocking, since John was the one who introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God, the one who would take away the sin of the world. He had seen the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus and heard the voice of God say, “This is my beloved Son.” Still, time passed, and what John expected didn’t happen. Jesus didn’t overthrow Roman rule or establish a visible kingdom. Instead, He travelled from place to place, teaching and healing—but not doing what many thought the Messiah would do. Meanwhile, John sat in a prison cell, facing death. This wasn’t the future he had imagined.

John’s doubt wasn’t rooted in disbelief, but in confusion and suffering. It shows that even strong believers can struggle when God’s plan looks different from their expectations.

The Bible reassures us that God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9). Like John, we may not always see the full picture, but we are still called to trust. Jesus’ answer to John was not a rebuke, but a reminder of the miracles and truth already being shown—a quiet but powerful proof of who He really is.

Is Your Faith as Strong as the Centurion’s?

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JEFF TURNER

In the Gospels, we rarely see Jesus surprised. Yet, there are two times when Jesus is said to be amazed. One of those moments happened when a Roman centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant. In Luke 7, the Bible says Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” This was a strong statement.

At that time, Jesus was travelling through Israel, healing the sick, casting out demons, even raising the dead. Crowds followed Him, but many people only showed shallow interest. They were impressed by His miracles but didn’t truly believe in Him. After Jesus rose from the dead, only 500 believers gathered in Galilee, and just 120 in Judea. This shows how few truly accepted Him.

Then came the centurion—a Gentile, not a Jew. He believed in Jesus’ power so deeply that he didn’t even ask Jesus to come in person. He just trusted that Jesus’ word was enough. This kind of deep, humble faith was rare, even among Jesus’ own people.

As believers today, we should ask ourselves: is our faith like the centurion’s—strong, humble, and trusting? Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” May our trust in Christ be the kind that moves His heart.

Why Calling Jesus ‘Lord’ Isn’t Enough

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JEFF TURNER

Many people call Jesus “Lord,” but not everyone who says this truly follows Him. In Luke 6:46, Jesus asks why people call Him “Lord” yet do not obey His teachings. He is not just speaking to those outside the faith, but to those who claim to follow Him while ignoring His commands.

This message becomes even clearer in Matthew 7. There, Jesus talks about people who say, “Lord, Lord,” and claim to do many things in His name. But Jesus responds by saying, “Depart from me. I never knew you.” These are not people who lack passion or religion—they are zealous, even emotional in their cries. Yet Jesus sees deeper. Their lives show no true obedience.

Jesus explains that only those who do the will of God will enter the kingdom. Words are not enough. There is a big difference between someone who only claims to believe and someone who lives out that belief. One builds on sand; the other on rock. When trouble comes, only the house on the rock stands.

This message reminds us that real faith means doing what Jesus says. James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” True salvation shows in a life of obedience.