Category: What do you think?

Understanding Jesus’ Spiritual Presence in Our Lives

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FLOYD ROGERS

If someone asked you today where Jesus Christ is, according to the Bible, what would you say? Scripture teaches that Jesus is in heaven, seated at the right hand of God the Father. That is His position now. But where does that leave those who believe in Him? Physically, we remain on earth, living our daily lives. However, there’s a deeper spiritual truth to remember.

The Bible makes it clear that for those who follow Christ, He lives within them, and they are also in Him. This means that wherever Jesus is, believers are united with Him in spirit. Though we walk on earth, our spiritual position is in heaven alongside Christ. Ephesians 2:6 supports this by saying, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”

Our identity is not limited to what we see around us. Spiritually, we share in Christ’s heavenly place, and His presence is with us wherever we go.

The Power of Perseverance in Tough Times

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FLOYD ROGERS

Do you have perseverance in your life? Perseverance means staying strong when life gets hard. It’s easy to feel upset or to complain when things don’t go our way, but perseverance refuses to quit. It keeps moving forward, even when the path is rough.

When you face disappointments — like missing out on a job promotion — you have two choices. You can give up, walk away, and let frustration take over, or you can keep working and trusting that better things are ahead. A person who chooses perseverance shows strength of character. They don’t back down because of trouble.

Those who live faithfully and seek God’s guidance will discover His true purpose for their lives. God gives direction and strength in ways people might never expect. But it’s important to have good intentions and a pure heart along the way. Through this process, God shapes perseverance within us, and that perseverance builds character, which leads to hope.

And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

Romans 5:3-4

Jesus Unites Jews and Gentiles

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AMY TURNER

When Jesus gave His life, He removed the division that once separated Jews and Gentiles. This division was caused by the law, which acted like a wall, keeping the two groups apart. But through His death, Jesus fulfilled the law and took away its power to judge. By doing this, He brought both groups together and created something new—a united body, His church.

Ephesians 2:15 explains that Jesus ended the hostility caused by the law, making one new man out of two, and in this way, brought peace. This peace is not only between people, but also between us and God.

As believers, we must remember this unity, especially when we disagree on matters that are not essential to our faith. The church is meant to be a place of peace, not conflict. Christ made us one people through His sacrifice, and we should live in a way that reflects that peace.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.

Romans 12:18

James says God doesn’t tempt, but Matthew says the Spirit led Jesus to be tempted; what’s going on here?

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DAVID INGRAM, SR.

James 1:13 tells us that “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. But Matthew 4:1 says Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Do these scriptures contradict?

The answer is no, though at first glance it might seem like they do. Let’s unpack them carefully in context.

James 1:13 (NASB) says: “No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.”

This verse is speaking about the nature of God Himself — that He is perfectly holy, incapable of being enticed by evil, and that He does not actively tempt people to sin. The Greek word here can mean to test, to tempt, or to entice to sin, but context determines the nuance. In James, the emphasis is on temptation with an evil intent, to cause someone to stumble.

Matthew 4:1 (NASB) says: “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Here, it says Jesus was led by the Spirit into a situation where temptation would occur — but notice, it is the devil who tempts, not God. The Holy Spirit’s role was to bring Jesus into the wilderness for a period of testing as part of His messianic mission, but not to entice Him to sin. It was a proving ground, much like how God allowed Job to be tested by Satan in the Old Testament — not to cause sin, but to reveal character and fulfill a divine purpose.

And though Jesus is fully divine, He was also fully human. Hebrews 4:15 (NASB) — “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.”

Pain with a Purpose: How God Can Use Suffering to Shape Us

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Floyd Rogers

Suffering is not useless. It may feel heavy and difficult, but it can serve a purpose. God may allow pain in our lives, not by accident, but with careful thought. He never gives more than we can handle. He knows exactly when and how to allow it. He can use pain like a tool—like sanding wood, or pruning a tree—removing parts of us that do not reflect His Son, Jesus Christ.

For those who have accepted Jesus as their Saviour, He lives within them. His goal is to shape us so that His life is seen through ours. This shaping process can be uncomfortable, even painful. But through it, God can work to make us more like Christ.

We may not understand why we suffer, but we can trust that God does. Suffering may not be punishment, but God preparing us.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28