When I was a boy my parents planted peach trees. For years, they bore only leaves and a bit of shade. Finally, they bore fruit. Fruit trees are like that—they don’t bear much fruit during the first years. We don’t either. But as we get older, God gives us the capacity to bear spiritual fruit:Continue reading “FRUIT. John 15:8,16.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
TRUTH BOMBS. John 14:3-6; 18:37-38.
Jesus was an amazing speaker—not only because of the things He said, but also because of the things He did not say. The Gospels reveal a master at work. For example, at some point Jesus cobbled together the following thought: ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.’ But He did not just blurtContinue reading “TRUTH BOMBS. John 14:3-6; 18:37-38.”
GOD IS YOUR FATHER. John 14:18.
I have friends who do not expect God to speak to them, Christians who believe God spoke in Bible times, but does not speak today. They argue that because the Bible is now a complete book, Christians can find everything they need in the Bible and do not need to hear from God. I disagree.Continue reading “GOD IS YOUR FATHER. John 14:18.”
SATAN MADE A TERRIBLE BLUNDER. “Then Satan Entered Judas.” Luke 22:3.
Carman, one of the most dramatic showmen in Christian music, recorded an unforgettable song that tells the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection: “THE CHAMPION.” This was 1985 and there is a ROCKY-feel to this upbeat, synthesizer-backed ballad that pictures Jesus and the devil in the boxing ring together. Satan arrives, proud and ready forContinue reading “SATAN MADE A TERRIBLE BLUNDER. “Then Satan Entered Judas.” Luke 22:3.”
Signs and Wonders. Mark 13:21-23.
When crowds debated whether Jesus was a good man, one common-sense argument stood out: “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” John 9:16. That makes sense, right? Do bad men heal blind eyes or make the lame walk? Do bad men raise the dead? Nicodemus said the same thing directly to Jesus: “No oneContinue reading “Signs and Wonders. Mark 13:21-23.”
When Jesus Talks About the End Times, He Talks About Stewardship. Matthew 24:3-8.
During the final days of Jesus’s ministry, His disciples approached Him alone. They had questions about the future. (Don’t we all?) They said: “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24:3. Do you remember His response? Jesus did notContinue reading “When Jesus Talks About the End Times, He Talks About Stewardship. Matthew 24:3-8.”
No Small Parts. Matthew 25:23.
Actors like to say, “there are no small parts, only small actors.” It’s a great bit of encouragement: do your best, even if you have a small part, or no part. If you’re an extra in the crowd scenes, be the best extra you can be. If you’re riding the bench, do it well. IfContinue reading “No Small Parts. Matthew 25:23.”
“WHERE THE CARCASS IS, THERE THE VULTURES WILL GATHER” Luke 21:34-35.
A peculiar thing happened the day we lost Secret. The magnificent Thoroughbred had been sick for weeks. I saw from the window that morning that her eyes were bloodshot. Then while we talked to the vet, she collapsed. A few minutes later there were buzzards sitting quietly in every tree, where there had been noneContinue reading ““WHERE THE CARCASS IS, THERE THE VULTURES WILL GATHER” Luke 21:34-35.”
BE ALERT! Do You Want Your Mind Dull or Sharp? Luke 21:34-36.
Jesus warns us to be alert. He says don’t be caught unprepared. Don’t be caught in the dark with no oil for your lamp (charge up that flashlight!). Don’t be like a homeowner who did not know when burglars would come. If you are the manager of the house, don’t be asleep when the OwnerContinue reading “BE ALERT! Do You Want Your Mind Dull or Sharp? Luke 21:34-36.”
Are You Alert to the Things of God? Luke 21:28.
While talking about His second coming, Jesus said to be watchful, to pay attention. “Be on your guard so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, or the worries of life, or that day will come unexpectedly—like a trap” Luke 21:34 Clearly, partying, drinking, and the like can cause you to miss whatContinue reading “Are You Alert to the Things of God? Luke 21:28.”
Household Words: 