Pastor Stephen Dedman

For we walk by faith, not by sight.
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What area of your life is God asking you to trust Him with instead of relying only on what you can see?

Context
In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul reminds believers that this world is not our permanent home. He speaks of the hope of eternity, the promise of a glorified body, and the confidence we have because of Christ. Although we cannot yet see everything God has prepared for us, we live with the assurance that His promises are true.

Application
Most of us prefer to walk by sight. We want clear answers, guaranteed outcomes, and visible proof that everything will work out. But the Christian life rarely unfolds that way. God often calls us to take the next step before revealing the entire path.

Walking by faith means choosing obedience even when the destination is unclear. It means believing God’s Word over our fears, His promises over our doubts, and His presence over our feelings. Every step of faith deepens our dependence on Him and strengthens our testimony to others.

Truth For The Day
Faith is trusting God’s promises even when you cannot yet see His plan.

Pray
Lord, thank You for being faithful even when I cannot see what You are doing. Help me to trust Your promises more than my circumstances. Give me the courage to obey You one step at a time, knowing that You are guiding my path. Strengthen my faith, calm my fears, and remind me that Your plans are always good. May my life reflect confidence in You rather than confidence in what I can see. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Does the way you treat others reflect the sacrificial love that Christ has shown to you?

Context
In Ephesians 4 and 5, Paul encourages believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling in Christ. After explaining the riches of God’s grace and salvation, he shifts to practical Christian living. Believers are to put away sinful attitudes and actions and instead imitate God by demonstrating His love. Paul points to Jesus as the ultimate example, whose sacrificial death on the cross perfectly displayed God’s love for humanity.

Application
Love is more than an emotion, it is a choice to put others before ourselves. Christ didn’t simply tell us He loved us; He demonstrated it through His sacrifice. As followers of Jesus, we are called to reflect that same selfless love in our homes, churches, workplaces, and communities. Loving others often requires forgiveness when we’ve been hurt, patience when we’re frustrated, and kindness when it’s undeserved. Every act of Christlike love points people to the Savior who first loved us.

Truth For The Day
The greatest evidence of a life transformed by Christ is how we love others.

Pray
Lord, thank You for demonstrating Your incredible love through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Help me to walk in that same love each day. Give me a heart that is quick to forgive, eager to serve, and willing to put the needs of others before my own. May my words, attitudes, and actions reflect the love of Christ so that others may see Him through my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And the Lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.”
‭‭Judges‬ ‭16‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Is there an area of compromise in your life that is slowly weakening your walk with God?

Context
Judges 16 records one of the most tragic chapters in Samson’s life. God had set Samson apart from birth to be a Nazirite and to begin delivering Israel from the Philistines. The source of his strength was not his hair but his relationship with God and his commitment to God’s calling. Yet Samson repeatedly flirted with temptation, especially through ungodly relationships. In this verse, the Philistine rulers secretly approach Delilah with a large sum of money to discover the secret of Samson’s strength so they can overpower him. While Samson is unaware of the plot, the enemy is carefully planning his downfall.

Application
Satan still works much the same way today. He studies our weaknesses, exploits our compromises, and uses subtle temptations rather than obvious attacks. Rarely does a believer fall overnight. Spiritual failure is often the result of small compromises that weaken our fellowship with God over time.

As followers of Christ, we must be careful not to become comfortable with sin. The enemy delights in convincing us that one compromise won’t matter, one secret sin won’t hurt, or one wrong relationship won’t affect our walk with God. But every compromise dulls our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

Truth For The Day
Small compromises can lead to great defeats, but wholehearted obedience keeps us close to the God who is our true source of strength.

Pray
Lord, help me recognize the subtle compromises that can pull my heart away from You. Give me discernment to see temptation before it takes root and the courage to walk in obedience, even when it is difficult. Keep my heart fully devoted to You, and remind me that my strength is found in Your presence, not in my own abilities. Thank You for Your grace that restores those who turn back to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.