Where did the devil come from? Who is he and how much power does he have? Some of the answers are found in Ezekiel 28. “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God, and were covered in every kind of precious stone…Continue reading “SATAN’S BACKSTORY. Ezekiel 28:12-19.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
PRIDE GOETH BEFORE THE DESTRUCTION … OF SATAN. Ezekiel 28:12-19.
Every day you see it: someone proud fails. It happens in “karma” videos, sports, academics, celebrity gossip, politics, and movie plots. It’s happened to all of us—your confidence becomes cockiness and you fail. Maybe you stare in the mirror telling yourself how great you look, and suddenly acne breaks out like a rash of boils.Continue reading “PRIDE GOETH BEFORE THE DESTRUCTION … OF SATAN. Ezekiel 28:12-19.”
SABER RATTLING. Ezekiel 21:3-5.
The term “saber rattling” is one of those phrases you hear on the news or perhaps in a college classroom. It sounds sophisticated, but probably confuses half the audience. But you can figure it out using context clues. What is a saber? It’s a sword. Why rattle a sword? As a threat. Dictionary.com offers thisContinue reading “SABER RATTLING. Ezekiel 21:3-5.”
LIFE IN THE FISH BOWL. Ezekiel 24:16,18.
Imagine a goldfish, swimming around a glass bowl all day, his every move on display. No privacy. Pastor’s families live in a fish bowl: everything they do is watched by the church—watched and judged. It is not easy. Being in ministry means living selflessly. When you “put on the collar” people see you differently. YourContinue reading “LIFE IN THE FISH BOWL. Ezekiel 24:16,18.”
Pray: ‘I Am Willing to Be Made Willing!’ Ezekiel 23:27
When Israel sinned, God sent judgment, promising “They will cut off your nose and ears.” Ouch. Result? “So I will put an end to your indecency and sexual immorality.” Ezekiel 23:27 If we can’t stop our sins, God can stop them with His judgment. After all, if you were disfigured by the loss of bothContinue reading “Pray: ‘I Am Willing to Be Made Willing!’ Ezekiel 23:27”
No “Take-Backs.” Ezekiel 20:32.
As children, we have all experienced a friend giving us something, then snatching it back. Even as adults, we sometimes open Christmas presents only to be suddenly told the gift had the wrong name on it and was intended for someone else. When you give, it is important to “count the cost,” to do theContinue reading “No “Take-Backs.” Ezekiel 20:32.”
YOU REAP YOUR OWN HARVEST. Ezekiel 18:2-20, 31-32.
Farm kids live off their daddy’s harvest: the children eat what the parents plant. But as they grow, children take on more responsibilities and begin to reap their own harvest. This is a picture of our lives. God spoke to Ezekiel about one of Israel’s popular sayings: “The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’sContinue reading “YOU REAP YOUR OWN HARVEST. Ezekiel 18:2-20, 31-32.”
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WHO IS THE ULTIMATE? Ezekiel 14:13-16.
Adolf Hitler is the go-to guy. He is everyone’s “favorite.” We keep the name ‘Hitler’ in our back pocket as an example of the worst person who ever lived. His name comes up this way in conversations every day: “Well, if you had Hitler on the one side and Ghandi on the other—” “My EnglishContinue reading “SAINTS AND SINNERS: WHO IS THE ULTIMATE? Ezekiel 14:13-16.”
WHEN GOD REDEEMS YOU AND MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL, DON’T FORGET WHERE YOU COME FROM. Ezekiel 16:4-14.
For some of us, humility is as simple as remembering how your life began. I remember being the hyperactive misfit who could not behave and in some classrooms was ostracized by both teachers and students. No matter what I might achieve in life, I will never forget where I came from—and I will not forgetContinue reading “WHEN GOD REDEEMS YOU AND MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL, DON’T FORGET WHERE YOU COME FROM. Ezekiel 16:4-14.”
LUST = IDOLATRY. Ezekiel 16.
Over the years, I have heard several news reports about babies that have been found in dumpsters. Someone taking out the trash lifts the heavy lid and hears the muffled cry of a baby. Can you imagine that? The babies were adopted and went on to have good lives—but what an origin story! Imagine knowingContinue reading “LUST = IDOLATRY. Ezekiel 16.”
Household Words: 