Tag: Southern Gospel Radio

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.

God’s Choice: The Unlikely Disciples of Jesus

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JEFF TURNER

When we look at the twelve disciples Jesus chose, it’s clear they weren’t the kind of men most people would expect to change the world. They weren’t famous, powerful, or educated. Some were fishermen, one was a tax collector, one was known for his extreme political views, and one even turned out to be a traitor. Still, these are the men Jesus selected to carry out his mission.

In Luke 6:13 we see Jesus and the 12 followers he picked to be his apostles. There’s nothing spectacular in the way the choice was made, and the men themselves were quite ordinary. They didn’t have formal religious training. They weren’t leaders in society. They were regular people who worked with their hands—simple and humble.

But isn’t that the point? Their influence can’t be explained by their own abilities. The power that changed the world came from God working through them. It was never about who they were, but about what God did through them. Consider, 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.”

Why did God choose them? We may never fully understand. But we do know this—He often chooses those who seem unimportant in the eyes of the world so that all the glory goes to Him. These men, just like Jesus from Nazareth, were doubted and dismissed. Yet through humble obedience, God used them to do something amazing.

Trusting God’s Wisdom: Overcoming Doubt

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AMY TURNER

When someone needs wisdom, the Bible encourages them to ask God for it. James 1:6 reminds us that when we do ask, we must believe fully, without hesitation. If we doubt, we are compared to a wave in the sea—moved around by the wind, without direction or steadiness.

God is generous and kind. He gives wisdom freely to those who ask. He does not make us feel ashamed or embarrassed for needing help. However, there is a warning: if we question the wisdom God gives, especially just because it doesn’t match what we expect, we become confused and uncertain in all parts of our lives.

This kind of doubt is not about whether God will give us wisdom, but whether we trust the wisdom He provides. When we pray, we should accept God’s answer as the best guidance, even if it doesn’t make complete sense at first.

Proverbs 3:5 supports this truth: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” God’s wisdom is higher than ours, and believing in it leads to a steady and peaceful life.

Biblical Insights for Working Moms: Prioritizing Home

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JEFF TURNER

In today’s world, it’s common for young mothers to take jobs outside the home. Many do this to help meet financial needs, especially when money is tight. Others may have different personal reasons. Still, the Bible gives clear direction. In Titus 2:4-5, Paul encourages young women to love their husbands and children, to live wisely and purely, and to be busy at home, kind, and respectful to their husbands.

This guidance isn’t meant to be harsh or rigid, but it does give priority to the home. While it doesn’t say a woman can never work outside the house, it does show that her main focus should be her family—supporting her husband, caring for her children, and creating a home filled with peace and spiritual focus.

Of course, life doesn’t always go as planned. A woman may lose her husband through death or divorce, or the family may face sudden financial hardship. In such cases, she may need to work to provide for her household. But even then, the long-term goal remains—to make the home a place where love, faith, and family are at the centre.

Scripture sets the standard, but God also sees each person’s situation with compassion and wisdom.

Understanding the Walls and Gates of Heaven

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JEFF TURNER

When people imagine heaven, they often think of calm, beauty, and safety. These are true ideas. But it may be surprising to hear that the Bible describes the New Jerusalem—a city in heaven—with walls and gates. In Revelation 21, the Apostle John shares a vision of this holy city. It is large and magnificent, surrounded by strong walls and 12 gates. This makes us wonder: why would heaven need such features?

There is no evil or sin in the New Jerusalem, nor anywhere in the new heaven and new earth. Everything is pure and righteous. So, the walls are not for protection from danger, because danger simply doesn’t exist there. Instead, the walls and gates mark the city as something special. They show that this is the central place of God’s glory.

The New Jerusalem is more than just a city—it is where God’s throne is. From there, His glory shines out, lighting the city’s golden streets and sparkling through its jewels and pearl gates. This beauty spreads across the eternal creation. Revelation 21:23 tells us, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light.” This city is the heart of heaven, and from it, God’s glory fills all eternity.