Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Trust

Pursuing Godliness

Encouragement, Trust

“For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”
‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭4:8‬

In ancient Greek and Roman cultures physical exercise was very popular. Most adult men participated in competitive sports and would devote themselves to staying fit. Paul writes to the young pastor, Timothy, and says that the same work and commitment that people put towards physical exercise should be put toward pursuing godliness.

The word godliness means to have the character and attitude of God. It is a task to be godly but it is attainable. It is a worthy goal, much more worthy than the potential attainments of physical exercise. It takes effort, strength, and determination to achieve godliness which is comparable of how an athlete trains to be the best.

Spiritual development and physical development share some similarities. Both require exertion and proper nutrition. Feeding our mind, heart and soul is just as important, if not more, than feeding our body. Jesus was tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread but replied, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”‭‭ (Matthew‬ ‭4:4)

Do you exercise towards godliness? Do you put forth an excellent effort to keep yourself pure and holy? It takes a great deal of strength and will power but it’s worth the effort. God is very pleased when we reflect the image of His character and attitude.

Pray

Lord, I pray Your Word feeds me and satisfies me more than anything else. Help me to know You more so I can be who You want me to be.

An Everlasting Love

Encouragement, Trust

“The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31:3‬

This is a beautiful passage of Scripture. It is primarily directed towards the people of Israel and how God has loved them with an everlasting love. It states that the Lord will certainly fulfill His promise to regather His chosen people back into their promised land.

It is a reminder that His love for them is everlasting. The Lord chose the people of Israel to be His special people.

He redeemed them from Egyptian bondage and provided for them while wandering in the wilderness. Even in times of rebellion and unbelief, God never rejected them. Although there were times of discipline, He always restored them to a position of honor because He loved them so much. 

This is the love story told all through the Bible. It’s His Story of how He loves His special people unconditionally. No one can ever fathom how much love He has for us.

There may be times when you may feel that you are not loved, but be certain that God loves you. His love for you is everlasting just like the Israelites. We may go through times of rebellion and unbelief, but God never turns His back on us. No one will ever love you like God loves you. He doesn’t just say it, He proves it everyday. 

Pray

Lord, I love you. I am thankful for your unending love for me. As I show love toward others, let them sense your love.

Are You Questioning God?

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:1

Knowing God and His love is much more important than knowing why God is allowing something to happen in our life. Something amazing happens when we are faced with a difficult situation that challenges our faith. Sometimes God does not reveal the “why” but He does reveal Himself and His love.

The life of Job is a great example. Throughout Job’s suffering and questioning, God never revealed why He allowed Job to be tested but He did reveal His love to Job. Would you rather know the “why” or would you rather experience more of God’s love?

There are many times in our life that we tend to question God. “Why is this happening?”  “Why me, God?”  “Why us?” It’s a very natural question for for us to ask. Questioning God is not a sin. Doubting God is a sin, but asking God, “why?”, helps us to better understand the suffering or difficult situations we encounter. But is asking “why?”, the best response?

God allows us to endure hardships and trials for us to grow closer in our relationship with Him. God wants us to know Him and understand what He can do for us. When we better understand who God is, the better response we have to our sufferings. When we realize how much God loves us, there is no need to question Him.

If you are questioning God today, you should stop asking “why” and start asking “what”. “Lord, what is it that you are teaching me? What can I learn from this situation? What do you have in store for me?” This will change our perspective of what we are facing.

Pray

Lord, what do you need to teach me today? I want to know you more everyday. Help me to understand your ways and your thoughts.