Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

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. 

Remember The Lord

Encouragement

“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭8:18‬

It’s a disturbing thought that someone could actually forget about where God has brought them from. But we are just like the Israelites. We need to be reminded that we cannot live without the power of God. 

The Lord blesses us because He loves us. He extends an over abundance of grace and mercy even when we don’t deserve it. He shows favor and forgiveness when we haven’t earned it. 

The Lord does not operate on the same scale as humans. He does not do good things for us just because we do good things for Him. Neither does he withhold good things just because we have done bad things. 

God wants us to remember who He is even when we are in a season of dryness. When our life seems to appear that He has removed His blessings, He hasn’t. 

If life was always rainbows and roses we would not need God and we would forget the need for God. This is what the instructions where about when Moses was telling the Israelites to never forget that He is the One who supplies our every need and blessing. 

It is God who gives the abundance of everything. He should never be forgotten. God should never be viewed as a endless gift giver. He should be lifted up and honored at all times. We can never give back what He deserves. 

Have you considered all that God has done for you?  Have you shown thankfulness and gratitude towards God’s everlasting love?  His love will never end and His blessings prove it. 

If you think that God is not blessing you, you need to evaluate all that He has done for you and you will change your mind.

Pray

Lord, I need you every hour of the day. I depend on you for my next breath. Thank you for your endless love for me.