Pastor Stephen Dedman

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
‭‭I John‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Does your daily life reveal a growing desire to obey Christ because you love Him?

Context
The apostle John wrote his first epistle to strengthen believers in their assurance of salvation and to guard them against false teaching. Throughout the letter, John emphasizes that genuine faith produces visible evidence. In chapter 2, he explains that obedience is not what earns our salvation, but it is the natural result of truly knowing Jesus Christ. A transformed heart desires to follow the One who has redeemed it.

Application
In a world that often defines faith as merely believing certain truths or attending church, John reminds us that authentic faith is demonstrated through obedience. Keeping God’s commandments is not about legalism or trying to gain His acceptance. Instead, it is a loving response to His grace. When we love Christ, we seek to honor Him in our words, attitudes, relationships, and daily decisions. While none of us obey perfectly, a growing desire to please God is evidence that He is at work within us.

Truth For The Day
A life that increasingly reflects obedience to Christ provides assurance that we truly know Him.

Pray
Lord, thank You for saving me through Your grace. Help me to demonstrate my love for You through faithful obedience. When I stumble, remind me of Your mercy and lead me to repentance. May my life reflect a genuine relationship with Jesus, bringing glory to Your name in all I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Are you living as someone who has been made alive in Christ, or are you allowing your past to dictate your present?

Context
In Romans 6, Paul explains that salvation is more than receiving forgiveness, it is being united with Christ. Through faith, believers are identified with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. Just as a seed must be planted before new life emerges, our old sinful nature was crucified with Christ so that we might walk in newness of life.

This does not mean we are instantly free from temptation, but it does mean that sin no longer has dominion over us. Because Christ lives, we have the power to live differently. The resurrection of Jesus is not merely a historical event to celebrate; it is a present reality that transforms how we think, love, serve, and obey.

Application
When we struggle with old habits or discouragement, we must remember who we are in Christ. Our identity is no longer defined by our past failures but by our union with the risen Savior. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in every believer, enabling us to pursue holiness and live with hope.

Truth For The Day
Because you are united with Christ, your old life no longer defines you—His resurrection power gives you strength to walk in obedience each day.

Pray
Lord, thank You for uniting me in Your death and resurrection. Help me to leave behind the old ways of sin and to walk each day in the new life You have given me. Strengthen me to live in the power of Your resurrection and to reflect Jesus in all I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Is there an area of your life where you know what God has said but have been reluctant to obey?

Context
The religious leaders confronted Jesus, demanding to know by what authority He taught and performed miracles. Rather than answering immediately, Jesus asked them a question: “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” Their response revealed their hearts. Instead of seeking the truth, they calculated the political consequences of every possible answer. Fearing the people more than they feared God, they finally replied, “We do not know.”

Application
Jesus exposed a sobering reality: it is possible to know the facts about God while refusing to submit to His authority. The leaders were not confused by the evidence. John the Baptist had clearly pointed people to the Messiah. Their problem was not a lack of information but a lack of willingness to believe.

We can fall into the same trap. When God’s Word confronts our lives, we must decide whether we will accept His authority or justify our own desires. Faith is more than acknowledging truth, it is surrendering to it. The Lord is not looking for people who simply admire His wisdom; He is looking for those who will obey Him.

Truth For The Day
God’s authority calls for more than intellectual agreement, it calls for wholehearted surrender.

Pray
Lord, forgive me for the times I have resisted Your authority. Give me a heart that values Your truth above the opinions of others. Help me to trust Your Word, submit to Your will, and follow You with wholehearted obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.