Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: bible

Encountering Others

Encouragement

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭6‬

Sometimes we encounter people who do not share our same beliefs and values. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, encourages us to be wise in our attitude and actions toward nonbelievers. Let’s reflect on these two verses and discover the wisdom they offer.

Walk in wisdom: As followers of Christ, our actions should reflect His character and love. We are called to be intentional in the way we conduct ourselves, especially when interacting with those who do not share our faith. We must be wise in our actions, showing kindness, compassion, and respect to everyone we encounter.

Make the most of every opportunity: We must strive to make a positive impact on others. Each interaction, whether big or small, can be an opportunity to reflect God’s love and share the hope we have in Christ. We must be alert and prayerful, asking God to open doors for us to share His love and truth.

Let your speech be full of grace: Our words hold tremendous power. They can either build someone up or tear someone down. They can encourage or discourage, bring peace or cause strife. As followers of Christ, we should speak with kindness, empathy, and humility, seeking to bridge gaps and foster unity.

Seasoned with salt: The words we speak should be seasoned with grace, wisdom, and truth. The world needs Christ’s message of redemption and love. We need to be intentional with our words.

As we strive to live out these verses, our ultimate goal is to honor and glorify God in all that we do. By walking in wisdom, making the most of every opportunity, speaking graciously, and seasoning our speech with salt, we can be vessels of God’s love and truth in a world in need.

Pray

Lord, grant me wisdom to interact with those who do not know You. Help me to make the most of every situation to share Your love and truth. Use me as a vessel of Your transformative power to impact others for Your glory.

Life Is A Mystery

Encouragement

As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭11‬:‭5‬

Life is a mixture of mystery and wonder. It presents us with countless questions and circumstances that often leave us searching for answers.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, the wise author Solomon invites us to embrace the uncertainty of life and recognize the profound work of God in everything. Today’s verse is a gentle reminder of the limitations we have as human beings and the awe-inspiring power of the Creator.

As we journey through life, we strive to understand the why and how of every that happens. We desire to make sense of the troubles we face and search for clarity and control. However, the wisdom that Solomon gives to us in Ecclesiastes encourages us to release our need for absolute understanding and surrender ourselves to the divine mystery of God.

God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are beyond our comprehension. Though we may not always understand the events of our lives, we can trust that God is at work in the midst of it all.

Instead of being consumed searching for answers, we need to cultivate a spirit of faith and trust. We find peace in the knowing that our Heavenly Father is sovereign over everything, and His purposes are perfect, even when they are far from our understanding.

As we draw closer to God, our perspective expands, and we begin to appreciate the beauty of His great works. When we are faced with uncertainty, let us be reminded that His plans are beautiful and purposeful.

Pray

Lord, I confess that I often seek answers and understanding when faced with the mysteries of life. Help me to surrender the need for control and choose to trust in Your perfect plan. Help me embrace the mystery and find peace in knowing that You are at work in every aspect of my life.

He Is Holy

Encouragement

And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
Isaiah 6:3

The repetition of the word “Holy” three times is significant. In Hebrew, repeating a word three times is a way of emphasizing importance. So when the angels proclaim that God is “Holy, Holy, Holy,” they are emphasizing the utter perfection and purity of His nature. There is no one like God, and nothing compares to Him.

As we meditate on this verse, we are reminded of the greatness of our God. He is the Creator of the universe, and everything in it belongs to Him. He is completely separate from sin and evil, and His ways are perfect. He is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.

But this verse also reminds us of our own sinfulness. When Isaiah saw the Lord, he was overwhelmed by his own unworthiness. He cried out, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5)

When we encounter the holiness of God, we become aware of our own sinfulness. We see that we fall short of His perfection, and we are humbled before Him. But the good news is that through Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven and made clean. When we confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness, He cleanses us and makes us holy.

So let us worship our holy God with reverence and awe. Let us acknowledge our own sinfulness and turn to Him for forgiveness. And let us live our lives in a way that brings glory to Him, knowing that the whole earth is full of His glory.

Pray

Lord, You alone are worthy to be praised. I trust in You only. Help me to become more holy.