Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Salvation

Three Blessings

Encouragement, Salvation, Trust

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16:11‬

There are many mysteries concerning the things of God.  But there is one thing that is for certain.  He wants to reveal Himself to us and He desires for us to know Him in a close relationship.

David reveals three blessings for those who trust in the Lord.  First, David not only found the path of life, he also found the path that leads to eternal life.  David didn’t come up with his own path of life, God revealed it to him.  

David knew he was a sinner and that God was holy.  David knew God had a special purpose for him.  

The next blessing is the fullness of joy.  David knew God was the One who supplied his joy.  David had many ups and downs but he never lost the source of his joy. He searched the Lord to find true joy and contentment.  

The third blessing is within the pleasures of life.  David didn’t seek God for physical pleasures but for spiritual pleasures.  He trusted God for eternal pleasures that awaited him in Heaven.

As you meditate on this verse today, understand that the path of life is made known by God, the fullness of joy is found only in the presence of God, and eternal pleasures are for those who fully trust in Him.

Are you seeking God for the things of this world or for the things that are eternal?

Pray

Lord, I seek You to know You and to serve You.  You are all that I need and all that I desire.  Thank you for loving me and saving me.

A New Year

Salvation

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.
Romans 7:18

It’s a new day and a fresh new year! The question at hand is, “What does God desire to accomplish in and through me this year?”

Many people are asking God what they can do for Him, but more importantly we should be asking God what He wants to accomplish through us. This life is much more than just what we can do for God. It’s about what He can do in and through us.

God does not need us, but He chooses us. He desires to use people to display His image and glory. People need to see the love of God in us so they can know Him.

Paul says that nothing good dwells in us, that which is in the flesh. The flesh is never good enough to please God. It’s only through the righteousness of Jesus that we are found righteous before God.

So instead of striving to do something good for God, let’s allow God to do something good in and through us for His glory.

Set your mind on the things of God.

Pray

Lord, I praise You for taking away my sin. Help me to keep my sinful nature dead and the new nature alive in You. Thank You for doing a good work through me.

Wise Men Seek Jesus

Salvation

And when they [the wise men] had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11

Wise men still seek Jesus! Isn’t that a fascinating quote? Looking back 2,000 years ago, there were some wise men seeking the truth.

When they saw the star in the East, they followed it until it brought them to the place where the young Child, Jesus, was living. They risked their lives to get to Jesus, but they had a longing to see Him.

They came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold, symbolizing His royalty; frankincense, His deity; myrrh, His death. Although an unusual gift for a young child, myrrh was used to embalm the dead.

Of course the myrrh foreshadowed Jesus’ death and burial. We are not sure if the wise men actually understood it but God appointed it. It was just something else for Mary to ponder in her heart.

When the wise men saw Jesus they fell down and worshipped Him. They knew they had met the God-Man, the Messiah. And they gave their best gifts.

We don’t have to risk our lives nor do we need to travel through deserts to find Jesus. All we have to do is open our hearts and let Him come in. It was no accident that the wise men found Jesus. It’s also no accident that you found Jesus.

God has a specific way of bringing people to Jesus. Will you be the light (the star) that leads someone to find Jesus?

Pray

Lord, use me to bring people to You. Let every word and action be pure and holy. Forgive me of my sins and restore my joy and fellowship with You.