Steven Wales

TRUTH CLAIMS. John 1:1-3.

Every religion or philosophy claims truth. Even those who believe in nothing insist their view is right. Agnosticism pretends to make no truth claims but merely to demand proof from others. Yet devotion to skepticism is a truth claim of its own, taking the rash words of Doubting Thomas at his lowest moment and erectingContinue reading “TRUTH CLAIMS. John 1:1-3.”

The Family of JESUS. John 1:29-31.

Being born in a stable allows the lowliest of people to know that Jesus understands their hut or dirt floor or jungle situation. And Jesus was rumored to be a bastard child—a heavy burden in most cultures. But Jesus was from a good family. Mary was a descendant of David’s son Solomon, and Joseph wasContinue reading “The Family of JESUS. John 1:29-31.”

THE TRINITY. John 1:32-34.

Is the Trinity in the Bible? Historically, some have argued Christians are pantheists because we do not worship “One God,” but three. But Christian scholars call God “Three-in-One.” The point is, God’s very nature is RELATIONSHIP. Nothing is more important than relationships. God possessed relationships before there was anything outside Himself. Critics point out thatContinue reading “THE TRINITY. John 1:32-34.”

NOT AN EASY LIFE. Luke 2:34-35.

When I was a child, I decided everyone gets an equal amount of hurt and happiness—that our pleasures and pains balance out. My parents told me I was crazy. Both of them went on about how much worse some people had it. What if no one loved you? What if you were paralyzed? What ifContinue reading “NOT AN EASY LIFE. Luke 2:34-35.”

PARENTING FAIL. Luke 2:44-52.

Every parent has them: moments of failure you wish you could get back. I’ve made mistakes. Still, there are fails I have not committed. For example, I have never lost one of my kids … like, you know, Mary and Joseph. The “Holy Family” lost Jesus! The Godly couple that was chosen to raise theContinue reading “PARENTING FAIL. Luke 2:44-52.”

Mary pondered these things in her heart. Luke 2:18-19

One interesting line in the Christmas story is the conclusion in Luke 2:19: Mary treasured these things and pondered them in her heart. What does that mean? This line comes after Luke narrates the well-known events of Luke chapter 2: Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem to pay taxes, she gave birth, laid Him inContinue reading “Mary pondered these things in her heart. Luke 2:18-19”

CARNAL KNOWLEDGE: Sex is not an Action But a Knowing. Luke 1:34.

The phrase “carnal knowledge” has a negative connotation, being a euphemism for sex. But literally it means knowledge of the flesh. The Bible always speaks of sex in terms of KNOWLEDGE. “Adam knew his wife, and she conceived a son,” for example. In our culture, people speak of sex as a happening, an event. ItContinue reading “CARNAL KNOWLEDGE: Sex is not an Action But a Knowing. Luke 1:34.”

BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE. Luke 1:6-7; Romans 8:18.

Consider the elderly parents of John the Baptist. They did not deserve to be barren: “They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commands of the Lord. And they had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years” Luke 1:6-7. I watched a 40-minute videoContinue reading “BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE. Luke 1:6-7; Romans 8:18.”

DIFFERENT GOSPELS FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES. Luke 1:1-4; John 1:1-5.

What a contrast between Luke and John. One is all business, the other all poetry. One writes like a lawyer, lining up each piece of evidence in perfect order. The other takes a more creative approach, speaking in figurative language. “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration ofContinue reading “DIFFERENT GOSPELS FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES. Luke 1:1-4; John 1:1-5.”

PARENTING IS SACRIFICE. Luke 1:38; 2:35.

God uses children to make us less selfish. Because what can yank you out of your self-absorption faster than a fussy baby or a screaming child? All parents make sacrifices for their children. But God calls some parents to unusual and difficult sacrifices. Mary was engaged when the angel Gabriel showed up and said, “Hail,Continue reading “PARENTING IS SACRIFICE. Luke 1:38; 2:35.”