Everyone works hard, right? No matter the religion or culture, there are hard-working people everywhere. But what is their motive? Most work out of a sense of duty, like a legal obligation. Most are “slaves” in effect, to the boss, the bank, or whoever. But Christians serve as sons and daughters. For example, my motivesContinue reading “WHY DO WE WORK? Romans 8:15-17.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
THE ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN. Revelation 12:10-11.
In the book of Job, the devil appears before God to slander Job. God taunts him, “trash talking” if you will: “Have you seen my servant Job? What a faithful man” Job 1:8. And the devil accuses Job of being faithful because God has blessed him. So God lets the devil destroy Job’s blessings. ThenContinue reading “THE ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN. Revelation 12:10-11.”
NO CONDEMNATION. Romans 8:1.
What is Christianity to you? Rules and guilt? Yuck. No wonder you’re not excited about it! Judaism was about rules—613 rules. Jesus rescued us from rules. If church or faith or conversations about God leave you thinking about rules, then your faith is still in elementary school. Let’s graduate: Jesus delivers you from rule-following—and HeContinue reading “NO CONDEMNATION. Romans 8:1.”
Daydreaming About Romans 8:28.
As a little boy I was sensitive, artistic, bored, and bullied. I was in trouble ALL the time. But I had amazing parents—and a wild imagination. And there was this one crazy daydream that stuck with me, a theme I came back to constantly: I imagined that I was the center of my own “SECRETContinue reading “Daydreaming About Romans 8:28.”
YOUR MIND IS A GARDEN. Romans 12:2.
YOU are the gardener. Pull up the weeds—the bad thoughts, and PLANT good, BIBLICAL thoughts, Romans 12:2. You will reap what you sow, that is, you will harvest what you plant. So plant God’s truth in your mind, so that you will harvest a great future with God. Here are some thoughts to plant inContinue reading “YOUR MIND IS A GARDEN. Romans 12:2.”
Do You Have Afflictions? Romans 5:2-5.
Are you suffering from afflictions? We all do. This year I have suffered with allergies, a twisted ankle that took months to heal, an apparently arthritic elbow that has bothered me for over a year and only seems to get worse. Things on the job have been unusually difficult due to a recent merger, andContinue reading “Do You Have Afflictions? Romans 5:2-5.”
Each Biblical Plague Rebuked a Specific Egyptian Idol. Exodus 12 and 13.
When Moses returned from Midian–the 80-year-old prophet who had been raised in Pharaoh’s palace, then fled a murder charge at the age of 40–the Hebrews were pleased. At first. But then Pharaoh told his task masters to make the Hebrews build bricks just as before, but with no straw supplied to them. The bricks wereContinue reading “Each Biblical Plague Rebuked a Specific Egyptian Idol. Exodus 12 and 13.”
ROMANS CHAPTER EIGHT. Romans 8.
Hey! Stop whatever you’re doing and read Romans 8! Is that not the richest passage, filled with amazing promises for your life? No condemnation. The Spirit gives peace. In Christ, we conquer sin. The coming glory outweighs present problems. God helps us, even fixing our prayers. God causes good to come in all things. IfContinue reading “ROMANS CHAPTER EIGHT. Romans 8.”
My Favorite Verse. Romans 8:28
I suppose most of us have a favorite Bible verse. Since high school I have considered Romans 8:28 my favorite. “For we know that God causes ALL THINGS to work together for good in the lives of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” I love the reassurance—no matter what happens,Continue reading “My Favorite Verse. Romans 8:28”
MADE TO WORSHIP, MADE TO SERVE. Romans 6.
God gave us two deeply rooted drives: We are (1) driven to worship and (2) driven to serve. Everyone worships—some worship God, some worship idols, money, dreams, or themselves. Similarly, everyone serves. Some serve God, some serve their appetites. The Bible uses another word for “serve” and that is “SLAVE.” You can be a slaveContinue reading “MADE TO WORSHIP, MADE TO SERVE. Romans 6.”
Household Words: 