Category: What do you think?

Elevate Your Thoughts: Embracing God’s Standards

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

FLOYD ROGERS

The way a person thinks shapes the direction of their life. The mind acts like a guide, a warning light, and a decision-maker all at once. Every choice made and every action taken comes from thoughts formed in the heart and mind. Because of this, each person is responsible for what they allow themselves to think about.

God holds His people accountable for both their thoughts and the way those thoughts lead them to live. It is important to protect the mind by being careful about what is seen, heard, and accepted. Not everything the world offers is suitable for those who belong to God.

Since God’s Spirit lives within believers and Jesus is part of their lives, worldly ways and influences no longer fit with who they are. Believers are called to a different, higher standard of thinking and living.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2

Did Jesus say he would remove all of your struggles?

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

FLOYD ROGERS

Some people think of Jesus as someone they can hand their troubles to and then walk away, hoping He’ll simply take their problems away. They believe that through prayer, fasting, or certain actions, they can leave their burdens with Him and be free of them. But when did Jesus tell us he would remove our struggles while we stand aside?

Doesn’t the Bible teach that we are called to surrender our whole selves to Him? We should accept His authority and place our lives fully under His care. When we do this, we come under His yoke — a symbol of submission and partnership. In this relationship, Jesus carries the true weight, while we walk alongside Him in obedience.

This kind of surrender isn’t harsh or cruel. In fact, it’s a blessing. To submit to God’s will is to belong to a master who only desires what is good and beneficial for us.

But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

Romans 6:22

Why Christians Embrace the Cross as a Symbol

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

AMY TURNER

Throughout history, different faiths and belief systems have chosen symbols to represent what they stand for. Christians, however, chose one of the most unlikely symbols: a cross. In ancient times, the cross was a tool of public shame, suffering, and death. It seems unusual that followers of Jesus would cling to such a painful image when they could have chosen a manger, an empty tomb, or a dove, each carrying their own powerful meaning.

Yet, the cross lies at the heart of Christian belief. It was on the cross that Jesus carried the weight of humanity’s sin. As recorded in John 19:16-17, Jesus was taken away to be crucified, carrying his own cross to a place called Golgotha. The Apostle Paul once declared that he would boast only in the cross of Jesus Christ, for it stands as the place where God’s holiness meets human failure.

To some, the cross is foolishness; to others, it remains a sacred mystery. It is where divine mercy covers human wrongdoing. As we remember the crucifixion, each person should pause and consider: What does the cross mean to you?

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Embracing God’s Unchanging Love

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

FLOYD ROGERS

There’s a simple affirmation I often share with God and myself, sometimes more than once a day, and usually before my feet touch the floor in the morning. I quietly thank God for letting me walk in the light of His love. This has nothing to do with whether the sun is shining outside. It’s about something deeper — the steady, unchanging love of God.

I can be sure of this because Christ lives in me, and I am in Him. God has promised to be my heavenly Father, and His love never shifts or fades. No matter what happens, whether I’m awake, walking through my day, or resting at night, I remain surrounded by the warmth of His love. This truth is firm and unchanging.

What matters is that we remember our identity in Him.

nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:39

Finding Strength in Burdens

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

FLOYD ROGERS

In life, everyone faces struggles and burdens that can feel too heavy to carry. But God offers a way to endure those difficulties without being crushed by them. This doesn’t mean the problems will vanish or that you’ll never think about them again. It means you’ll be able to live through them, reflect on them, and even speak about them without feeling overwhelmed by their weight.

God promises to give strength and peace in the middle of life’s hardest moments. He invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest. As Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This rest is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of calmness, confidence, and quiet strength in the face of it.

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

Psalm 55:22