Pastor Stephen Dedman

But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Are your actions fully lining up with the truth you profess to believe?

Context
In Galatians 2:14, Paul confronted Peter because Peter’s actions were not consistent with the truth of the gospel. Peter knew that salvation was by grace through faith, yet he began withdrawing from Gentile believers when certain Jewish believers arrived. His behavior created a message that contradicted the gospel he preached.

Application
It is possible to know the truth and still fail to live consistently with it. Our words may say that we trust God, but our actions may reveal fear. We may speak about grace while withholding grace from others. We may preach faith while allowing the opinions of people to control us.

The gospel should not only be something we believe; it should shape the way we live. God calls us to walk in a manner that is “in line with the truth of the gospel.” This means allowing our convictions, relationships, attitudes, and decisions to reflect what we say we believe.

Truth For The Day
The truth of the gospel should shape both what I believe and how I live.

Pray
Lord, help me to live consistently with the truth of Your gospel. Show me where fear, pressure, or the opinions of others are causing me to compromise. Give me the courage to walk in truth and to reflect Your grace in both my words and actions. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Where do you need to place your hope in God today?

Context
Paul wrote Romans to encourage believers to live out their faith in a world filled with difficulty and uncertainty. In this short verse, he reminds us that hope, patience, and prayer are essential for the Christian life. Biblical hope is not wishful thinking, it is confident expectation rooted in the promises of God.

Application
We all face seasons when the future feels uncertain. We may wonder when circumstances will change or when prayers will be answered. But hope reminds us that God is still working, even when we cannot see it. Our situation may be difficult, but our God is faithful. While we wait, we can choose joy, remain patient, and continue praying.

Hope does not deny the reality of our struggles; it looks beyond them to the faithfulness of God. What you are facing today is not the end of your story. God is still present, still working, and still keeping His promises.

Truth For The Day
Our hope is not in our circumstances but in the God who holds our future.

Pray
Lord, when life feels uncertain, help me to trust You. Give me joy in hope, patience in difficulty, and faithfulness in prayer. Remind me that You are working even when I cannot see it. My hope is in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Is there something the Holy Spirit has been convicting you about that you need to surrender to God today?

Context
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples shortly before His crucifixion. He was preparing them for His departure and promising that the Holy Spirit would come. The Spirit would have a vital ministry, not only guiding believers, but also convicting the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Conviction is God’s loving way of opening our eyes to what is wrong and turning our hearts back toward Him.

Application
We often think conviction is something negative, but the Holy Spirit’s conviction is actually an expression of God’s grace. He reveals sin so we can confess it, exposes what is wrong so we can make it right, and reminds us of coming judgment so we will take eternity seriously.

When the Spirit convicts you, don’t ignore Him or make excuses. Listen. Confess. Turn around. God does not expose our sin to destroy us; He reveals it so He can restore us.

And when we share Christ with others, we don’t have to convince people through clever arguments. Our responsibility is to faithfully speak the truth. The Holy Spirit is the One who changes hearts.

Truth For The Day
The Holy Spirit convicts us because God loves us enough to lead us toward repentance and truth.

Pray
Lord, thank You for the ministry of Your Holy Spirit. Give me a sensitive heart that listens when You convict me. Help me recognize sin, turn from it, and walk in righteousness. Give me courage to share Your truth with others and trust You to work in their hearts. Keep me from resisting Your voice. May my life be continually shaped by Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.