Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Trust

What Is Man

Trust

What Is Man

What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
Psalms 8:4

God Cares For You

It is so important that we always remember how much God loves us.  It is easy for someone to start thinking that God does not care or that He is not concerned with our circumstances.  God is fully aware of what is happening in your life, even at this very moment.  God has you in mind.  The good and bad things that happen in our life are not by accident and show that God wants to be included in every area including the small things.

When we visualize the great work of God’s creation we can’t help but ponder how small we are in comparison.  King David is reflecting on this concept as he pens this song.  It is amazing how God takes such great interest in the human race.  It amazed David that the Lord of the universe would even think about man.  But that is where God makes sure that a way for His people is established and offered and it’s through Jesus Christ.

Throughout the entire Bible we see stories and promises related to mankind and how God wants to be part of our lives.  However the problem occurs when we do not let God in our daily routines.  Starting every day with a fresh word from God will help us develop an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.  An intimate relationship with Jesus helps us to overlook our problems and view them with a mindset that God is working everything together to bring about His perfect will and way.

Prayer

Pray and thank God that He has considered you as a special part of His creation.

One Spirit

Faith, Salvation, Trust

One Spirit

But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:17‬

Our Identity

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned against God there has been a separation from mankind and God.  After Adam sinned he was afraid. Genesis 3:10 says, “And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.””  Adam was afraid because he realized he was naked.  On that day Adam, due to his sin, was stripped of his identity in God.  Thankfully we can have the identity again with God through Jesus and His accomplishment on the cross.

Paul reveals in 1 Corinthians 6:17 that believers are joined so closely to Christ that we become “one spirit with Him.”  Paul is comparing our oneness with Christ to the oneness that takes place in marriage between a man and a woman.  Even in marriage we keep our individual identities while at the same time two people become one flesh.  A similar thing happens when we place our faith in Jesus Christ.  However our oneness with Jesus goes far deeper than human marriage as it produces eternal results.

We all inherit the sinfulness of Adam.  We are all born lost and separated from God.  But we can do something about it by placing our faith in Jesus and become one with Him.  As a believer you are adopted into the family of God to never be separated again.  Paul says in Galatians 3:29, “and if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”  If you are in Christ and Christ is in you, you are saved and redeemed.  No longer do you need to be afraid.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for making me a new creation in Christ Jesus.  I know that I am in Him and He is in me.

The Judgment Seat

Encouragement, Trust

The Judgment Seat

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Standing Before Christ

There are many things that motivate us as Christians to live a life that is pleasing to God.  Possibly one of the most important is the fact that one day we all will give an account of our life to Christ.  We will not have to report what we did or did not do because Jesus knows all things.  Neither will there be any reasons to give excuses for our life here on Earth.  As the Scripture says, we will receive what is due for what we did while we were in our mortal bodies.

Paul was motivated by this truth and desired to please God with all his might.  The idea of standing before Christ gave him an expected urgency to obey the small still voice of God.  The Holy Spirit guides us to do the will of God.  That is why Paul says that it is important be controlled by the Spirit of God and no other thing or person.  Paul’s ministry was pleasing to the Lord.  He was not perfect but he strived to live everyday for the Lord.  His actions and words were living proof that Jesus was His master and Lord.

The promise that we receive as true Believers in Christ is found in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  The blood sacrifice of Jesus paid for our sin once and for all to give us eternal life in Heaven but we will still stand before Christ to receive our just reward for the things done good and bad.

Prayer

Lord, Thank you for dying on the cross for me and my sins.  Give me strength to live courageously for You as I strive to please only You.