Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

Devotional For July 24, 2023

Encouragement

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬

The Apostle Paul carefully explains that the righteousness of God is not attained through our good works or efforts, but through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a righteousness that comes from God Himself and is made available to all who believe.

Living by faith is an ongoing journey of trust and dependence on God’s love and grace. From the moment we place our faith in Christ, we embark on a life-long experience of growing in God’s righteousness.

The phrase, “through faith a righteous person has life,” comes from the Old Testament book of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:4). Both Paul and Habakkuk affirm the significance of living a life that is grounded in faith.

Living by faith requires surrendering our desire for control and humbly acknowledging our need for God’s guidance. It involves trusting God, even when circumstances seem uncertain or challenging. As we walk by faith, God’s righteousness transforms our hearts, minds, and actions.

In our journey of faith, there will be moments of doubt and struggles. Yet, when we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), we find the strength to persevere. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are continually being conformed into the image of Christ, reflecting His righteousness to the world around us.

Today devote yourself to trusting in God’s righteousness and walking in obedience to His Word. As you grow in faith, you will experience the abundant life that comes from knowing and following Jesus Christ.

Pray

Lord, help me to live by faith and be guided by Your Spirit. Strengthen my faith as I face doubts and difficulties. Transform me daily into the likeness of Your Son, that I may reflect Your righteousness to those around me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Devotional For July 23, 2023

Encouragement

The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does.
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭8‬:‭11‬ ‭

Have you ever been swayed by the opinions and fears of those around you? Have you been talked out of doing something because someone said you wouldn’t be successful? Negative thought can control your actions.

When God set Isaiah apart to be his spokesman, He told him, “Don’t think like everyone else does.” God wanted the actions of Isaiah to be led by His instructions and insight.

As followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard of thinking. Our minds are to be guided by the truths of God’s Word and not by public opinion. We must always resist the temptation to get entangled in fear-driven narratives and be led by the promises of God.

Paul writing to the Philippians said, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬)

If we want to fix our thoughts so that we don’t think like everyone else, we have to think about the things that are excellent and worthy of praise. We must have the mindset of Christ.

Are your thoughts true and honorable? Do you have admirable and lovely thoughts? Is your mindset the mindset of Christ?

Pray

Lord, help me to take captive all of my thoughts. When the devil makes me think evil, help me to overcome such negativity. Strengthen my faith so my mind and actions will be controlled by Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Devotional For July 22, 2023

Encouragement

As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬

As followers of Christ, we are called to safeguard and uphold the purity of the Gospel message, resisting any deviation or distortion of the Gospel that may arise from false teachings or worldly influences. What is our role in doing so?

  1. Reject False Teachings: We must discern and reject any teachings that stray from the core message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. We must be diligent to examine the beliefs and doctrines we encounter, ensuring they align with the teachings of the Bible.
  2. Stay Rooted in God’s Word: In order to identify false teachings, it is vital to be well-grounded in the Scriptures. Regular study and meditation on God’s Word will equip us with discernment.
  3. Guard the Gospel: The Gospel is the cornerstone of Christianity. We are entrusted with safeguarding this precious message and passing it on faithfully to generations to come. We must resist the temptation to modify it to conform to our society or personal preferences.
  4. Avoid Compromise: The world may pressure Christians to compromise in our beliefs to be accepted or avoid conflict. Compromising the Gospel is not an option. Instead, we are called to stand boldly for Christ and His teachings.
  5. Seek Unity in Truth: When we all hold firm to the truth of the Gospel, we can stand together as a strong and unified community, bearing witness to God’s love and grace.

Are you anchoring yourself in God’s Word? Are you boldly proclaiming the truth of the Gospel? There is someone needing hope and redemption and you might just be the one who reveals the need of salvation to them.

Pray

Lord, thank You for giving me illumination to the truth of Your Word. Help me to boldly protect against false teachings. Give me discernment to recognize when teachings do not align to the Bible. In Jesus’ name, amen.