Steven Wales

What is the Worst Sin? Isaiah 14:12-15.

Contrary to popular belief, all sins are NOT equal. In fact, the Bible ranks sins. Some are far worse than others. But is there one sin that is the worst of them all? If there is, it is probably the devil’s first sin: pride. WHAT PRIDE IS NOT— Pride is not simply knowing your strengths. Continue reading “What is the Worst Sin? Isaiah 14:12-15.”

What are Your Goals? What Are You Chasing? 2 Kings 17:15.

Did you know there is a connection between the pursued and the pursuer? One will take on the traits of the other. Remember playing tag? All the children darting this way and that? Remember being “IT” and trying to anticipate the moves people would use: you tell yourself, if he pivots left, I’ll be ready,Continue reading “What are Your Goals? What Are You Chasing? 2 Kings 17:15.”

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS. Micah 7:18-19; 2 Kings 17:8-26.

I read good news and bad news this morning: In Micah 7, the prophet praises God for His mercy: “Who is a God like You, removing sin and passing over rebellion? … He does not hold on to His anger forever, because HE DELIGHTS IN FAITHFUL LOVE. He will have compassion on us. You willContinue reading “GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS. Micah 7:18-19; 2 Kings 17:8-26.”

HOLINESS. Micah 6:6-7.

Close your eyes and imagine. Imagine a world WITHOUT JESUS. Imagine that you are going to HELL unless you can make up for your sins. What will it take? What does it take to please God? Micah suggests several answers: “Should I come before Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Would the Lord beContinue reading “HOLINESS. Micah 6:6-7.”

Let Jesus Wash You Clean—Again and Again, Forever. Micah 7:19.

Hogs like to wallow in the mud. The muddy places they frequent are called “hog wallows.” But we are not hogs. People like to be clean. We shower every day, sometimes two or even three times. We wash our hands so often we stop counting. We have one type of soap for hands, another forContinue reading “Let Jesus Wash You Clean—Again and Again, Forever. Micah 7:19.”

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS. Micah 4:3-4.

The ability to resolve conflicts is a gift. Being a peacemaker does not mean compromising everything. Peacemakers have integrity—they won’t yield the key point, but they will yield pride and anything else that might get in the way of peace. Ronald Reagan never compromised on SDI, but was able to make peace with Mikhail GorbachevContinue reading “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS. Micah 4:3-4.”

Don’t Let Prosperity Make You Weak. Micah 4.

I made a bumper sticker today. It has a picture of hiking boots and says, “We will walk in the name of our God forever and ever.” Micah 4:5. When I read the verse, it got me thinking of the great stickers in the tee shirt shops along the Appalachian Trail. But I’ve never seenContinue reading “Don’t Let Prosperity Make You Weak. Micah 4.”

Birth Announcements. Isaiah 9:6-7.

When birth announcements arrive in the mail, husbands across America get in trouble for not paying attention: “How tall is he?” “I don’t know.” “What does he weigh?” “I don’t know.” “You don’t know much, do you?” “I know they put him in a Dallas Cowboys jersey for the picture.” Some birth announcements take aContinue reading “Birth Announcements. Isaiah 9:6-7.”

FEAR GOD OR FEAR EVERYTHING ELSE. Isaiah 8:12-13.

Oswald Chambers wrote, “When you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” It’s not easy to have faith that strong—but it is true: “Do not fear what they fear; do not be terrified. You are to regard only the Lord of Hosts as holy. ONLYContinue reading “FEAR GOD OR FEAR EVERYTHING ELSE. Isaiah 8:12-13.”

CAN YOU SEE WHAT GOD IS DOING? Isaiah 5:11-13.

God’s children suffer because they miss God’s work. But why are we blind to God’s activity? Because we focus on our appetites. “Woe to those who rise early to drink beer, who stay up late drinking wine. At their feasts they have music and wine. They DO NOT PERCEIVE the Lord’s actions, and they doContinue reading “CAN YOU SEE WHAT GOD IS DOING? Isaiah 5:11-13.”