Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

Honor God

Encouragement

But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
I Samuel 2:30

When we honor God, He honors us. But just the same, those who disrespect God will be treated as least in His Kingdom. It is fair to say that how we respond to God will determine how God responds to us.

God had to deal justly with Eli, the priest. Although he had served and honored God for many years, his sons were evil. Eli knew the standard of God’s righteousness and holiness but he chose to honor his sons and not God. 

Eli revealed his heart when he failed to honor God before the people of Israel by the way he dealt with his sons wickedness. He allowed them to continue in sin.

God is not pleased when you praise Him on Sunday but not on Monday. It does not bring honor to God when you accept the standard of wickedness and sin from your family, friends and co-workers. 

God expects us to honor Him completely and consistently. Just because we work or play around sinful people does not mean that we conform their ways. We must honor God by standing up for what is right and holy.

You may not be the popular person for excusing yourself when you around filthy conversation or jokes. You may even be mocked when you tell others to stop the nonsense. But that is what God expects from those who completely honor Him.

Pray

Lord, I will honor You with my whole heart. I will stand up against wickedness and stand strongly for the things that bring praise and honor to Your name. Father, forgive me for caving into the temptations of this world.

You Are Chosen

Encouragement

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession…
1 Peter 2:9

The Apostle Peter describes how we are important and special to God.  He says we were chosen.  Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you…” (John 15:16)  

From the very beginning we see that God chooses His own. God chose Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, Peter, and Paul and even you.  God chooses you based on His mercy and grace not according to performance.

We are a royal priesthood.  Priests had privileges with God that others didn’t have.  They were instructed to live in holiness and pureness.  They were to speak different, dress different, and act different because they represented God. Today, Christians represent God.

We are a holy nation.  God made a great promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:2 when He said, “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”  Today, we are part of that holy nation.

And last but not least, we belong to God. We are a people for His possession. That means God will protect, provide, sustain, and sanctify us.  God will bless you and make you great as well.  It’s great to belong to God!

Pray

Lord, I am so blessed that You love me. Thank You for redeeming me and making me whole. Thank You for choosing me.

Your Choice To Follow

Encouragement

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15:5‬

Can you say you’re serious about following Jesus? Many people make a decision to place their faith in Jesus for salvation but few make a serious commitment to follow Jesus closely. 

Jesus doesn’t require you to follow him, it’s your choice. But when we whole heartily follow Jesus, we are part of the vine and we bear good fruit. People don’t have to wonder if you are a Christian because you reflect the light of Jesus Christ. 

Sometimes our words and actions do not reflect the life Jesus expects from his followers. This happens when we don’t put Jesus first. When we don’t take our walk with Jesus serious we allow the devil to step in. There’s no place for the devil when you’re filled with the Spirit. If you’re filled with the Spirit, where can the devil go? He has no place.

True followers are made in a day, but proven over a lifetime. We are matured and tested for as long as we live. If you genuinely treasure Jesus, God’s still working in your following. With His help, we will go wherever he calls, knowing that he knows best and anything we lose or leave behind will be repaid a hundredfold or more.

What’s keeping you from truly following Jesus? Is it your job? Is it a secret sin? Possibly a lack of knowledge? Make a commitment today to take your relationship with Jesus a priority. The first step is repentance. You must confess your sins. The next step is to yield. You can start by asking Jesus to guide and direct you today. I promise you will see a difference. It’s simple but not easy. You have to take the first step. 

Pray

Lord, I don’t want to just know of you. I want to be close to you. I want to feel you near me. Help me to remove anything that is keeping me from being a true follower.