Pastor Stephen Dedman

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Are you taking advantage of the access Christ has given you or are you trying to handle life on your own?

Context
Paul is explaining what Jesus accomplished through His death on the cross. Sin had separated humanity from God, but Christ broke down that barrier. Those who were far from God have been brought near through Jesus. Now, both Jew and Gentile can come into the presence of God, not because of their background, goodness, or religious works, but because of Christ.

Application
Ephesians 2:18 reminds us that prayer is not approaching a distant or reluctant God. Through Jesus, we have access to the Father.

Think about that: the God who created everything invites you to come to Him. You don’t need to earn your way into His presence. You don’t have to clean yourself up first. Because of Jesus, you can come boldly, honestly, and confidently.

When you’re afraid, you can come to Him. When you’re confused, you can come to Him. When you’ve failed, you can come to Him. When you don’t know what to do, you can come to Him.

Truth For The Day
Because of Jesus, I a never without access to my Father.

Pray
Lord, thank You for making a way for me to come into Your presence through Jesus. Thank You that I don’t have to earn Your attention or approach You in fear. Help me to come to You honestly and confidently in every situation. When I am weak, remind me that You are near. When I am uncertain, help me trust You. Teach me to make prayer more than a last resort and to live every day aware of Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What area of my life needs to come more into agreement with what God’s Word teaches?

Context
Paul wrote to Titus, a young pastor serving on the island of Crete. The churches there needed strong leadership because false teaching and ungodly living were threatening the health of the church. Paul tells Titus that his responsibility was not simply to teach what was true, but to teach truth that produces a godly life.

Sound doctrine is more than knowing the right answers about God. Biblical truth should shape the way we think, speak, behave, and treat others.

Application
It is possible to know Scripture without allowing Scripture to change us. We can attend church, listen to sermons, and understand biblical doctrine while still living according to our own desires.

Paul reminds us that truth and life belong together. What we believe about God should affect how we live for God.

Ask yourself: Does my life match what I say I believe? If we truly believe that Christ has saved us, then our lives should increasingly reflect His character.

We don’t live godly lives to earn salvation. We live differently because we have been saved by grace.

Truth For The Day
Sound doctrine should produce a sound life.
The truth we believe should become the life we live.

Pray
Lord, help me not only to know Your truth but to live it. Shape my thoughts, words, choices, and actions so that my life reflects the gospel I believe. Give me the courage to follow Your Word even when it is difficult. May the truth I profess be evident in the way I live. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Are you allowing your circumstances to determine your joy, or are you allowing Christ to determine it?

Context
Paul commended the believers in Thessalonica because they had received the gospel during a difficult season. Their faith was not built on comfortable circumstances. They faced affliction, yet they continued to follow Christ and demonstrated a supernatural joy that could only come from the Holy Spirit.

Application
It is easy to follow Jesus when life is going well. The real test of our faith comes when obedience becomes difficult. The Thessalonians show us that hardship does not have to steal our joy.

Notice that Paul did not say they received the Word without affliction. They received it in the much affliction. Their circumstances were painful, but their joy was deeper than their circumstances.

Christian joy is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of Christ in the middle of trouble. When we surrender our circumstances to God and allow the Holy Spirit to work within us, we can experience joy even when life isn’t joyful.

Truth For The Day
Your circumstances may change, but the joy of the Holy Spirit does not have to.

Pray
Lord, help me to follow You faithfully even when life is difficult. When affliction comes, remind me that my joy does not have to depend on my circumstances. Fill me with the joy of the Holy Spirit and help my life point others toward You, especially when I am walking through difficult times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.