Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

Be Gracious To Others

Encouragement, Faith, Salvation, Trust

And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:54‬

Have you ever been so angry that you wanted God’s wrath to be poured out on someone? We need to be careful with this type of attitude.

As Jesus made His final trip into Jerusalem to face the cross, He wanted to minister to a village of Samaritans but the people would not welcome Him.  Jesus sent a few men ahead of them to find a place to stay but they couldn’t find one.  

The city of Samaria wanted nothing to do with Jesus.  When James and John discovered this, they wanted to see the village go up in flames.  They thought the people should be destroyed because they rejected the Messiah.

James and John were nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” because of their bodacious attitudes. (Mark 3:17)  They were brothers and close friends to Jesus and expected people to believe in Jesus as Messiah.  However, we all know that Jesus is rejected by many.  

Even today we witness people rejecting the message of Jesus but we should never want to see them consumed with fire because of their hardened hearts.  Instead we should pray for them and for their hearts to be softened to receive the gospel of Jesus.  Jesus rebuked James and John for their judgmental attitude.

Again in Acts 8:5, Philip (one of the twelve disciples) went back to Samaria to preach the Gospel and great things happened as they received the Word of God.  We should never give up on those who reject the gospel of Jesus.  

We should be consistent with sharing the love and good news to those who are ignorant to the truth.  Calling down judgment and wrath is not the right perspective.  God’s ultimate plan was carried out as they finally accepted Jesus and believed.  But what if they were destroyed before they ever believed?

Prayer

Lord we want to see Your great work done here on earth and we want to witness your power and grace. Help me to have a soft heart and a compassion for others.

The Throne Of Grace

Encouragement

‘Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’
Hebrews 4:16

There is a feeling that we all experience at some point in our lifetime and that is the state of helplessness. It is a feeling that makes us think that there is nothing we can do. It comes when we have exhausted all resources.

Helplessness can actually be a good thing. When we turn to God in our helplessness, great is the reward. Actually God will allow us to get to that point so that all we can do is turn to Him. So many people in the Bible were helpless and they turned to God for help. (Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Job… just to name a few.)

Some things are just out of our control. The feelings that occur when we are in a state of helplessness are sometimes expressed through stress, discouragement and anger.

It’s in times like these that people feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and angered because there is nothing they can do about their situation. I am sure you can remember a time when you endured a circumstance that made you feel this way.

God gives us grace when we are in time of need. It’s in these times that only God can help us. It’s in these times that we are desperate for God to help us. Are you desperate for God?

Pray

Lord, help my helplessness. Help me to turn to You for all things. Give me grace that will get me through any situation I face.

A New Opportunity

Encouragement

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
II Corinthians 5:17

Don’t you love the fact that God offers us second chances? And third chances! And so many more chances.

We need more than just second chances. But at the same time we can’t keep making the same mistakes over and over again. We need the grace of God, but we cannot continue in sin.

God gives us the opportunity to come to Jesus Christ for forgiveness. Forgiveness gives us a fresh start and a new beginning. The Christian life is life of hope. In Jesus, everyday is a new beginning.

True forgiveness allows us to put the past in the past. The only way to receive true forgiveness is through Jesus Christ. Today’s verse narrows in on the word “if”. If anyone is in Christ, he or she is made new.

Are you resting in the promise of newness in Christ? Do you seek the opportunity to refresh yourself in the person of Christ everyday? Everyday is a new chance to start fresh and to let go of the past things that kept us from glorifying God.

Make today count. Let everything be made new in and through Christ. Set your mind on the things of Christ that can create new blessings of opportunity.

Pray

Lord, thank You for giving me a new day and a new opportunity to seek forgiveness and repent of my sins. You have saved me from a death in Hell and given me life in Christ. Let me make the most of it today.