A cliché says God the Father is a mean, angry judge, but Jesus, the Son, is merciful. FALSE. God is ONE—and Jesus Himself said, “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30. God is both holy and merciful. (Four of the five verses that follow are the spoken words of Jesus.) “The Father, in fact,Continue reading “WHO IS THE JUDGE? John 5:22-23.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
THE BIBLE DOES NOT CAUSE CONDEMNATION, BUT REVEALS IT. John 3:17-18.
Some think the Bible is a harsh message of judgment and condemnation. It is not. The Bible speaks a truth that already exists. It’s like a weather forecast. If satellite radar shows a hurricane in the Gulf, we don’t blame the weatherman. We thank him for the warning and prepare. The Bible does not CAUSE theContinue reading “THE BIBLE DOES NOT CAUSE CONDEMNATION, BUT REVEALS IT. John 3:17-18.”
HE MUST INCREASE. John 3:26-30.
John the Baptist was a rock star. Crowds poured into the wilderness to see this wild man who preached a powerful message of repentance. When the Pharisees came, John confronted them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matthew 3:7. He also had the guts to rebuke HerodContinue reading “HE MUST INCREASE. John 3:26-30.”
Letter From a Pharisee. John 3:1-21.
Dear John, I, Nicodemus, thank you for your recent inquiry regarding my conversation with Our Lord. I am honored to be asked. I pray my report may be of some use to you as you draft your written account of Our Lord’s words and deeds while He walked among us. What a blessing to haveContinue reading “Letter From a Pharisee. John 3:1-21.”
Marriage and The Woman at the Well. John 4:18.
One of the greatest evangelists in the Bible may be the unnamed “Woman at the Well.” In the fourth chapter of John, Jesus had a conversation with a Samaritan woman—a remarkable moment, because “Jews do not associate with Samaritans” John 4:9. Jesus was nice to her, they talked quite a bit, and she left andContinue reading “Marriage and The Woman at the Well. John 4:18.”
PURPOSE. Matthew 12:39-40.
People who change careers many times may be struggling to find purpose. Same goes for young people who begin a course of study but lose interest before completing it. “I’ll be an EMT. No, a teacher. No, farmer. No, actor. No, maybe….” —They lack purpose. Do you know anyone who’s changed majors 4, 5, orContinue reading “PURPOSE. Matthew 12:39-40.”
NESTS AND MANSIONS. Matthew 8:20, 22-24.
On vacation, my daughter would rather reach a single vacation destination, make that location what the military calls a “forward operating base,” then travel daily to sites in all directions, before returning to spend another night in her new home away from home. Her mother agreed. Of course, some journeys require you to move everyContinue reading “NESTS AND MANSIONS. Matthew 8:20, 22-24.”
CELEBRITY. Matthew 4:23-25.
Have you ever walked into a store and been dogged by the sales staff when you wish they would leave you alone? If you’re like me, you want to browse the store a bit, get a feel for products and prices, and maybe you’ll try something on or maybe you’ll walk out and hit theContinue reading “CELEBRITY. Matthew 4:23-25.”
A PROPHET WITHOUT HONOR. Luke 4:24.
Jesus was mocked and even hated in Nazareth. They said, “Is this not the carpenter’s son? We know Him and all His brothers and sisters. Where did He get this wisdom and these miracles?” They scorned Him. And He confronted them: “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in hisContinue reading “A PROPHET WITHOUT HONOR. Luke 4:24.”
WHO ARE YOU–DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE? Luke 4:18.
Some KNOW who they are and what defines them: “My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life orContinue reading “WHO ARE YOU–DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE? Luke 4:18.”
Household Words: 