Steven Wales

IF THERE WERE A SECRET RECIPE FOR JOY, WOULD YOU FOLLOW IT? Hebrews 1:9

When I cook, I almost never use a recipe. I like to be creative and “let the spirit move me.” But I also cook things that are easy and that I am used to cooking (you could argue there is a recipe; I simply memorized it). But if you cook challenging meals for large groupsContinue reading “IF THERE WERE A SECRET RECIPE FOR JOY, WOULD YOU FOLLOW IT? Hebrews 1:9”

KNOW THE WORD AND DEFEAT YOUR ENEMY. Revelation 12:10-12.

Christians should not give the devil too much credit. It is usually silly to think the devil gave you a flat tire, or a late fee, or made you spill your lunch, or catch a cold. Most of our problems are natural things that happen in life. We need to expect the speed bumps andContinue reading “KNOW THE WORD AND DEFEAT YOUR ENEMY. Revelation 12:10-12.”

Two Causes of Stumbling. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Christians get tripped up two ways: (1) By our fleshly desires: lust, gluttony, pride, envy, laziness, unforgiveness, jealousy, etc., And (2) By the lies of the devil. But many of us do not take #2 seriously. Most of us figure that we are nobody special, so the devil would not waste his time on us.Continue reading “Two Causes of Stumbling. 1 Peter 5:8-9”

Do you get what you deserve? Are your good deeds always rewarded? 1 Peter 4:12-13

Are your good deeds always rewarded? Mine are not. Sometimes I work hard and still suffer. Does that happen to you? Sure it does. But the opposite happens too, doesn’t it? Sometimes we sin and fail but God is merciful and He gives us success anyway, right? If we could see the story arc ofContinue reading “Do you get what you deserve? Are your good deeds always rewarded? 1 Peter 4:12-13”

GODLY LADIES. 1 Peter 3:1-7.

Today my Bible reading brings me to Peter’s first letter, and chapter three discusses the role and behavior of godly women. What might those characteristics be? Can you guess a few by looking at godly women in your own life? Peter begins with advice on how godly wives may provide LEADERSHIP to their lost husbands.Continue reading “GODLY LADIES. 1 Peter 3:1-7.”

HAVE YOU HEARD OF APOLOGETICS? 1 Peter 3:15.

It’s not apologizing. Apologetics is “defending religious doctrines through systematic argumentation.” That is, apologetics is the practice of defending your faith with logic. Not everyone who is lost will need apologetics. But with some colleges pumping out skeptics every day, more and more nonbelievers are asking hard questions. The study of apologetics helps us answerContinue reading “HAVE YOU HEARD OF APOLOGETICS? 1 Peter 3:15.”

DO THESE SURNAMES MEAN ANYTHING? 1 Peter 1:18-19;2

(I wrote this devotional for my own children.) Do these surnames mean anything to you? Wales. Connolly. Kemp. Courtney. Fletcher. Walker. O’Leary. Thompson. Davis. McBride. Womack. McCoy. Middleton. Washington. Dixon. Tucker. Campbell. Pope. Childers. Puckett. Drinkwater. Simpson. Cox. Brickers. Carter. Anderson. Presley. Claiborne. Woodson. Smith. Dandridge. Dennis. These are ancestral names of my grandfather WillieContinue reading “DO THESE SURNAMES MEAN ANYTHING? 1 Peter 1:18-19;2”

IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME. 1 Peter 1:8-15.

Do you know what a blessing it is to live today? I don’t mean because of computers, or cars, or modern medicine, or space flight, radio, and the plastics revolution. Modern marvels have done nothing to change the relative hope or hopelessness of the human condition. Indeed, some think the modern world is more hopelessContinue reading “IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME. 1 Peter 1:8-15.”

ARE YOU A TERMITE OR A FIRE ANT? 1 Timothy 5:24.

Are you a termite or a fire ant? When termites grow wings, come to the surface, and take flight, the inexperienced may mistake them for winged ants. Ants may sting, but homeowners who have faced both ants and termites can tell you: ants are an easier problem than termites. If you’ve encountered fire ants, aContinue reading “ARE YOU A TERMITE OR A FIRE ANT? 1 Timothy 5:24.”

GODLY YOUTH. 1 Timothy 4:12; 6:11-12.

What is Paul’s advice to young Timothy about how to be a successful young disciple and pastor? Previously I discussed a passage about men who would be elders and deacons. Paul’s first letter to Timothy provides a similar list (3:2-14), then provides a list for older widows, for younger women, and even for slaves. FinallyContinue reading “GODLY YOUTH. 1 Timothy 4:12; 6:11-12.”