People are afraid of holiness. But I praise God for holiness. His holiness means that He is GOOD and KIND and LOVING. God loves because He is holy, and He is holy because He is TRUE. You can’t separate those. Praise God. I have friends who say there is no hell. On what basis? SomethingContinue reading “THE TRUTHHOLYLOVE Romans 3:4.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
CAUSE AND EFFECT. Revelation 14:8.
The Bible contains multiple genres: laws, songs, architectural plans, poetry, prophecies, biographies, dreams, letters, and more. It also contains statements that read like Scientific Law. You remember Newton’s “What goes up, must come down.” Science includes hundreds more: “To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” “Energy can be neither created nor destroyedContinue reading “CAUSE AND EFFECT. Revelation 14:8.”
IS THE WORLD MEDIOCRE? Romans 1:19-21.
Did God give us a hum-drum, mediocre world? Does He get an A or maybe a B or a C? Is our reaction to the world “meh”? Or have we grown accustomed to a world of STAGGERING beauty? I walked outside this morning at dawn. Golden sunlight was blazing sideways, setting on fire every bladeContinue reading “IS THE WORLD MEDIOCRE? Romans 1:19-21.”
WHEN HE GIVES YOU WHAT YOU CRAVE. Romans 1:24-28.
Sometimes God gives people exactly what they ask for. Often He says no to our silliest, most immature prayers. Ticket sales prove that millions more hope to win the lottery than actually do. But sometimes when you push God long enough, He finally gives you what you have been foolishly craving. Like the proverbial fatherContinue reading “WHEN HE GIVES YOU WHAT YOU CRAVE. Romans 1:24-28.”
Let Not Many of You Become Teachers. Romans 2:17-24.
Could you become a pastor for the wrong reasons? Karl Vaters of CHRISTIANITY TODAY argues that you could.[1] “People become pastors for so many wrong reasons. They like the status. They like speaking in public. They like arguing theology. They come from a long line of ministers. The list goes on.” The trouble with enteringContinue reading “Let Not Many of You Become Teachers. Romans 2:17-24.”
THE SOCIAL DILEMMA. 2 Corinthians 13:1.
Just when television was about to replace the newspaper, the computer came along and replaced them both. Before the phrase “broadcast news” could dethrone “the press,” “the media” made both terms obsolete. In the beginning, everyone was excited: the internet would be a “democratizing force,” because EVERYONE could have a microphone and get their messageContinue reading “THE SOCIAL DILEMMA. 2 Corinthians 13:1.”
THOU SHALT NOT BRAG? 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.
Paul writes about bragging in chapters 11 and 12 of his second letter to the church at Corinth. Most people believe all bragging is bad. But Paul says, “Boasting is necessary” 2 Corinthians 12:1. That’s unexpected: BOASTING IS NECESSARY. But the next words are, “It is not profitable.” This is a complicated subject. But understandContinue reading “THOU SHALT NOT BRAG? 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.”
Do You Need Answered Prayers or Do You Need Grace? 2 Corinthians 12:9
Paul writes that God brought him to heaven and showed him amazing things no other mortal has seen. Then, to keep the apostle humble, God sent him a thorn in his flesh. No one is sure what that thorn was, whether illness, temptation, or constant persecution. But Paul asked God to remove the thorn. “AndContinue reading “Do You Need Answered Prayers or Do You Need Grace? 2 Corinthians 12:9”
HOW’S YOUR CHRISTIAN RESUME? Philippians 3:4-6; 2 Corinthians 11:22-27.
What if you had a Christian Resume? Could you fill up a page with things you have done for God, ways you have served the church, scripture you have read, verses memorized? People you counseled or comforted? Money you donated? What about sacrifices made—you held your tongue when you wanted to say something cruel? YouContinue reading “HOW’S YOUR CHRISTIAN RESUME? Philippians 3:4-6; 2 Corinthians 11:22-27.”
BAD THOUGHTS. 2 Corinthians 10:5.
Bad thoughts can best be compared to: I would choose “all of the above.” In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul’s definition of bad thoughts includes not only temptations to commit bad ACTIONS, but also bad BELIEFS. But is a wrong belief that poses no temptation really a problem? YES! Bad beliefs lay the groundwork for badContinue reading “BAD THOUGHTS. 2 Corinthians 10:5.”
Household Words: 