Tag: Faith

Faith that Says Yes

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BOB RICHMOND

Faith is not built in times of comfort. It grows when God leads us into something greater than we can handle. Every major work that has ever honoured God required His power to succeed. From the temple David longed to build, to the ministry buildings and churches of today, all of them began when people trusted God with what seemed too big for them.

When David realized that God had chosen Solomon to build the temple, he did not turn away in disappointment. Instead, he prepared everything he could and encouraged the people to give toward a vision he would never see completed. He praised God before the congregation, reminding them that all power, wealth, and glory belong to the Lord. What David understood is still true: nothing we have is really ours. God owns everything, and we are only managers of what He places in our care.

Faith starts by recognizing God’s ownership. When we hold tightly to our possessions, we act as if God forgot about us. But He never has. Jesus said that if God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers, He will care for us too. Putting God first does not place us in danger. It brings us under His care.

Many people hesitate to trust God because they want to see the outcome before they act. But that is not faith. Abraham left his home without knowing where he was going. He trusted that God’s promise was enough. Peter stepped out of a boat to walk on the water, not because it made sense, but because Jesus said, “Come.” Both men saw what God can do when someone says yes.

Faith also relies on God’s power. We are not asked to accomplish great things on our own. God works through His people when they surrender their abilities, time, and resources to Him. When we trust God, He multiplies what we give. .

Throughout history, people have risked everything for what they believed was right. The early founders of nations and countless others acted in faith, trusting that freedom and truth were worth the cost. In the same way, every church, missionary, and believer who steps forward in faith participates in something eternal.

J. Hudson Taylor: Pioneer Missionary

Even the poorest believer can give something to God. Scripture shows that when people offer what little they have, God blesses and provides for them. The widow who shared her last meal with Elijah saw her food never run out. Hudson Taylor, a missionary who gave his last coin to a hungry family, found that God supplied his needs the next day. These stories are not about loss. They are about trust.

Faith is not only about believing in God’s power but also rejoicing in His provision. When we give what He asks, we open the way for Him to show His faithfulness. David rejoiced that God allowed him to give toward the temple, knowing that everything came from God in the first place.

Saying yes to God in faith may look different for each person. For some, it may be trusting God with finances; for others, it may mean surrendering future plans or stepping forward in service. Whatever the case, God asks for a simple yes. He does not require us to see the full picture, only to trust Him with the next step.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6

The Change That Comes With Faith

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AMY TURNER

When a person puts their trust in Christ, something real takes place within them. The outside may look the same, but the inside has been made new. The Bible teaches that in Christ, the old self is left behind and a new life begins. This does not mean that temptations disappear or that old struggles instantly vanish. It means that a different kind of life now exists, one that is guided by the Spirit instead of by darkness.

Through Christ, believers gain new strength and new desires that influence the way they think, speak, and act. What was once impossible, things such as growing in faith and maturity, are now possible because of His presence.

This change is not yet complete. There will come a time when the work of renewal is seen fully. Scripture reminds us that when Christ returns, His people will finally be like Him, free from the brokenness of the past and complete in His likeness. Until then, Christians live in the assurance that they are already made new, even while they continue to grow.

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

Christmas in the Shadows: Millions of Christians Celebrate in Secret

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JEFF TURNER

For millions of Canadians, Christmas is a public and joyful time. Streets are filled with lights, churches welcome everyone to services, and families gather freely. Around the world, however, there are Christians who experience Christmas very differently. In many countries, celebrating the birth of Jesus can lead to arrest, prison, or even death. As a result, countless believers are forced to celebrate Christmas in secret, if they can celebrate at all.

Those living in high-persecution areas often keep their Christmas joy hidden. Singing carols, decorating a tree, or attending church can be dangerous. For these believers, faith is something practiced quietly, behind closed doors, where safety comes before celebration.

In some countries, Christmas is completely banned. North Korea is one of the harshest examples. The government sees Christianity as a direct threat to its leadership. All Christmas worship and holiday displays are illegal, and even owning a Bible is considered a serious crime. Since 2016, citizens have been ordered to honour Kim Jong-suk, the dictator’s grandmother, who was born on December 24, instead of celebrating Christmas. Any attempt to recognize the birth of Jesus can result in severe punishment, including forced labour or worse.

In Somalia, public Christmas celebrations have been illegal since 2015. The country’s ministry of religion has instructed police and national security forces to actively stop Christmas events. Christians who attempt to gather openly face danger not only from authorities but also from extremist violence, making Christmas a time of fear rather than joy.

Other countries allow Christmas only under strict legal limits. In Brunei, public Christmas displays have been banned since 2014. The government says the ban is meant to protect Muslims from being influenced away from Islam. Christians are allowed to celebrate privately in homes or churches, but public celebrations are forbidden. Muslims who take part in Christmas activities, such as wearing Santa hats or joining festivities, can face up to five years in prison. It is also illegal for Christians to share their faith with Muslims.

In some places, Christmas is permitted only if the government tightly controls it. In China, celebrations are limited to government-approved churches and groups, and the rules vary by region. People under the age of 18 are legally banned from attending church services, including those held at Christmas. Churches are also pressured to include communist ideology in sermons and worship, reshaping religious messages to match state values.

In Iran, Christmas gatherings are allowed only in registered churches and approved areas. Unregistered house churches, especially those made up of converts from Islam, are often raided. In November 2025, two Christian converts were sentenced to two years in prison after authorities broke up a Christmas planning meeting. Church services are not allowed to be held in Farsi, the country’s main language. Instead, they must use minority languages such as Armenian or Assyrian, a rule designed to limit the spread of Christianity.

In other regions, the main threat comes not from laws but from violence. In northern Nigeria, Christian communities are frequently targeted by ISWAP, an extremist group linked to the Islamic State. Kidnappings and executions are common, especially around major Christian holidays. These attacks create constant fear and make public Christmas worship extremely dangerous.

Despite all of this, many Christians continue to mark Christmas in quiet and personal ways. Some meet secretly in small groups. Others pray alone in their homes. Many remember the meaning of Christmas without decorations, music, or public worship.

For Canadians, these stories are a reminder that freedoms often taken for granted. For millions around the world, Christmas still comes, but it arrives quietly, behind closed doors, and at great personal cost.

Abraham the Father of All Who Believe

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JEFF TURNER

The Bible says Abraham is the father of the Jewish people because the nation of Israel came from his descendants. However, Romans 4 explains that Abraham is also the father of all who have faith, no matter their nationality. This is not about family bloodlines but about a spiritual connection.

In Genesis 15, Abraham believed what God promised, and God counted that faith as righteousness. This shows that salvation comes through trusting God, not by works or heritage. The righteousness Abraham received was not earned; it was given to him by God. This is called imputed righteousness. God credits His righteousness to those who believe.

Abraham was once a sinner who worshipped idols, yet he trusted in God’s promise instead of his own strength. In the same way, all who put their faith in God receive righteousness and become part of Abraham’s spiritual family.

Therefore, recognize that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.

Galatians 3:7

The coming of two miracle children

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JOHN COPIC

Luke wrote his gospel account with great care as a historian. God inspired him to record these events with accuracy and detail. The angel Gabriel appears in this narrative, the same heavenly messenger who spoke to the prophet Daniel in the Old Testament. Gabriel looked like a man in appearance, though he was clearly not human based on how he appeared and departed.

The priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were righteous people who followed God’s commandments. However, they had no children because Elizabeth could not bear children, and both were now advanced in years. The culture of that time wrongly believed that childlessness meant God was judging a person. This explains why Elizabeth felt shame about her situation. When she later became pregnant, she said God had taken away her disgrace among the people.

Mary and Elizabeth, IRS Images, 2025

Elizabeth was likely in her sixties while Mary was probably only a teenager, around fourteen or fifteen years old. Girls were often promised in marriage at this young age in that culture. The age gap between these two women was significant, with Elizabeth old enough to be Mary’s grandmother. God was preparing to work two miracles through these women from very different stages of life.

Gabriel came to the city of Nazareth in Galilee to visit a virgin named Mary. She was promised to marry a man named Joseph, who came from the family line of King David. This detail matters because the promised rescuer had to come from David’s descendants. The promise period, called betrothal, was more binding than modern engagement. It lasted about a year, during which the couple could not live together or have relations. Joseph could already be called Mary’s husband even though the wedding had not yet occurred.

Gabriel told Mary to rejoice because she was highly favored. God was with her. Mary felt troubled by these words and wondered what this greeting meant. The angel told her not to fear because she had found favor with God. She would become pregnant and give birth to a son named Jesus. He would be great and called the Son of the Highest. God would give him the throne of his ancestor David, and his kingdom would never end.

Mary asked a logical question about how this could happen since she had not been with a man. Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of God would overshadow her. The child born would be holy and called the Son of God. As proof that nothing was impossible for God, Gabriel told Mary that her relative Elizabeth had also become pregnant in her old age. Elizabeth was now six months along, even though people had called her unable to have children.

Mary submitted to God’s plan. She called herself the servant of the Lord and said let it happen according to God’s word. The angel then left her. Mary’s response showed faith and courage. She accepted what seemed impossible.

Joseph had to receive his own message from an angel in a dream, as Matthew’s gospel records. Without this divine message, Joseph would have assumed the worst about Mary’s pregnancy. He was a just man who planned to end the betrothal quietly to avoid bringing shame on Mary. The angel told him not to fear taking Mary as his wife. Joseph was not royalty in appearance, but royal blood from David’s line flowed through him. Jesus became legally his firstborn son with all the rights that came with that position, even though Joseph’s blood did not flow in Jesus.

Mary traveled quickly from Nazareth to an unnamed city in the hill country of Judea, probably a journey of two or three days. She went to visit Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby inside her moved suddenly. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She spoke loudly, saying Mary was blessed among women and the child in her womb was blessed. Elizabeth wondered why the mother of her Lord would come visit her. She said that when she heard Mary’s voice, the baby in her womb jumped for joy.

John was filled with the Holy Spirit even before birth. His movement in the womb was his first act of prophecy, recognizing the holy child that Mary carried. John’s entire purpose would be to point people toward Jesus as the promised rescuer. Even before his birth, he was already doing this work. His ministry began three months before he entered the world.

Elizabeth called Mary blessed because she believed what the Lord had told her. Both women carried miracle babies. Elizabeth gave birth to the last prophet of the old way, while Mary carried the one all those prophets had spoken about. The one who would bring in God’s kingdom. John would announce that people should turn from their sins because God’s kingdom was near. Jesus would declare that the kingdom of God had arrived and was among them.

These two women could encourage each other in what God had done for them and for all people. They shared faith in God’s promises. This same kind of mutual encouragement happens in churches today. Believers share common faith in what God has revealed, common experience of new life through Jesus, and common hope in God’s promises.

A blessed person is someone who knows God’s favor on their life. This favor only comes through trusting in Jesus and what he accomplished through his death. God is pleased with his son and pleased with all who trust in him for forgiveness of sins. Mary herself needed this savior, as she would later acknowledge. She was honored to bear the one who would save her and all who believe.