Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

All Praise To God

Encouragement, Trust

Where there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?
Luke 17:18

Luke 17:11-19 tells the story of a marvelous miracle of Jesus healing ten men from the dreadful disease of leprosy.  Luke tells that there were ten healed physically, but only one was healed spiritually.  Jesus used this event to open the eyes of the spiritual blinded especially the priests.

Leprosy was associated among the people as a curse on mankind.  Lepers were the most miserable people.  Their physical pain was awful enough but they also endured complete isolation from family and friends.  

By law they were considered outcasts and remained so until their death because there was no cure.  And that is where we find these ten men, standing afar off, as Jesus passed through their village. As soon as they saw Him, they lifted their weak and raspy voices and cried out for mercy and help.  

Luke doesn’t tell us that Jesus heard them but rather He saw them.  With great compassion and mercy Jesus sent them to the priests in order to fulfill the Levitical law of healing.  And as they walked toward the temple they were all healed of the deadly disease.

Verse 15 is the climax of the story.  One of them, when he saw he was healed, returned and worshiped Jesus.  With thanksgiving in his heart and praise in his voice, the Samaritan received the spiritual blessing of salvation because of his faith.  The other men didn’t consider Jesus as God.  They were healed but not saved.

We should always be thankful for our physical blessings but we certainly show our gratitude to Jesus for saving our souls.  We do so through faithfully worshipping and serving Christ and showing compassion and forgiveness to all people.  If the only blessing we received was salvation, it is enough.  All other blessings are extra benefits.

Is there something God has done for you and you didn’t praise Him for it? Take a moment and praise Him.

Pray

Lord, I thank You for giving me spiritual insight.  I confess You as my Savior and I worship You only. I give You glory and honor for who You are.

Servant Of All

Encouragement

‘And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”’
Mark 9:35

Jesus had to have a teaching moment with the disciples. When the Scriptures say that He sat down, it meant business. Jesus had something important to say.

The disciples where disputing among themselves who would be the greatest. Jesus could have easily said He was the greatest but He didn’t. Jesus never put attention upon Himself.

Jesus wanted to teach them the importance of servanthood. He was actually giving a challenge. And the challenge is for us as well.

In the world, a man of great power is distinguished by how many servants he has serving him. But Jesus taught them to be servants to others. Being last and least of all was a choice.

It’s easy to get caught up in the world system of power and recognition. Some would even call it egotistical. A person can get so caught up in being served and honored that he/she loses the sense of being humble.

Jesus was not abolishing ambition. He was simply challenging the disciples to be self-controlled servants. To recognize others as equally important and to never look down on another person as being lesser of a person.

Do you view yourself as a servant? Take a moment today and do something for someone else that shows you know how to be a servant. Pick up someone’s trash. Step aside and let someone go before you while in line. Or maybe go a step further and look around for someone who is in need and supply their need. Be careful though, it may cost you something of great value!

True servanthood will cost you something. Make it count.

Pray

Lord, help me to recognize others as equally important. Help me to never look down on someone else as lesser of a person. Let someone come into my path that needs something I can offer them.

God’s Presence

Encouragement, Trust

And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭33:15‬

There are many people today who are not concerned about the presence of God.  They are not concerned if God is with them personally or in their church.  It is alarming to know how many people claim to be Christian but are not concerned with God’s presence.  

Moses was concerned with God’s presence.  He didn’t want to go into the Promise Land if God was not going with them.  Moses said he would rather stay in the wilderness with God rather than be in a land flowing with milk and honey and be without the Him. Moses couldn’t imagine living life without God’s presence.

We should be praying daily that we are aligning our life with the way that God desires for us to live.  We make life choices everyday but are we seeking God’s way?  Too many times we exclude God from our lives.  We often make the mistake of doing things that we think we should and never ask God if it is what we should be doing.

God’s presence is powerful and brings peace into our lives.  Without God’s presence we will face many turmoils and disturbances that will cause us to lose sight of God’s big picture.

Do you sense the presence of God where you are right now?

Pray

Lord, mold me to make me what You want me to be.  Plant my feet on solid ground and move me to where You want me to be.