Paul teaches that husbands and wives can be witnesses to unbelieving spouses and should not seek to divorce them: “If a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife…. But if the unbeliever leaves, letContinue reading “Divorce and Abuse.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
How Does God Describe the Exodus?
If you had to describe the Exodus, what phrases would you use? Miraculous Deliverance? God Rescues His People? God’s Grace in Action? If I were a cynical newspaper-headline writer from Ancient Egypt, I might describe it this way: God describes the Exodus differently. He performed ten amazing miracles. He sent plagues to prove He wasContinue reading “How Does God Describe the Exodus?”
Family.
How often do we say, “the apple does not fall far from the tree”? Or we call a child “a chip off the old block”? Family friends are forever telling children “you’re just like your dad” or “you remind me of your mom.” It’s more than physical features. Children learn behavior from their parents. TheyContinue reading “Family.”
God is Not a Cruel Taskmaster.
Long ago I was warned “the law is a jealous mistress.” It’s true: lawyering can consume your life. I know lawyers who work seven days a week and never take vacations. Things could be worse. Millions in Asia work 16-hour days in sweatshops for a few dollars a day. Prisoners in communist nations suffer terribly. Continue reading “God is Not a Cruel Taskmaster.”
Busy & Rich or Lazy & Poor? Try Moderation.
Some are obsessed with accumulating wealth. Others seem determined to do as little as possible. God wants a balance. We work for God—and we rest for God. He should be our focus. When the Israelites left Egypt and marched into the desert, they composed the largest exodus in history—between 1 and 5 million people! ImagineContinue reading “Busy & Rich or Lazy & Poor? Try Moderation.”
The Role of Old Testament Law in Health.
Jesus redeemed us from the law. However, Old Testament laws continued to serve an important purpose, because many of them protect people from dangers science would not discover for centuries. Here are examples in addition to the recently mentioned hand washing and burying of “night soil”: “All FAT belongs to the Lord. This is aContinue reading “The Role of Old Testament Law in Health.”
None of These Diseases. Exodus 15:26.
If you have ever tried to read the Bible, you have probably made it as far as Leviticus. Genesis and Exodus are pretty easy: lots of great stories. But Leviticus is a book short on stories and long on laws. The same is true for Numbers and Deuteronomy—there are stories mixed in, but much ofContinue reading “None of These Diseases. Exodus 15:26.”
When Your Children Ask You… Exodus 13.
God is greatly interested in the way we teach our children. Are you? Have you ever thought about how important that is? President Ronald Reagan put the idea into words: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for,Continue reading “When Your Children Ask You… Exodus 13.”
Tell Your Son and Grandson. Exodus 10:1-2.
Who is responsible for teaching children about God—parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, teachers, preachers, reporters, writers, actors, celebrities, sports stars? Perhaps all of the above are responsible to one degree or another. But parents have primary responsibility—and grandparents may come in second. God repeatedly tells the Israelites to talk to their children and grandchildrenContinue reading “Tell Your Son and Grandson. Exodus 10:1-2.”
Trying to Change? Ask God to Change Your Heart.
It is hard to change on your own, to muster up will power and just CHANGE. It is tough. That’s why people like New Year’s Resolutions: the idea of a new year easily coincides with the idea of a new habit. But dates are arbitrary—a week later, January 7 feels just like the year before. Continue reading “Trying to Change? Ask God to Change Your Heart.”
Household Words: 