Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: bible

The Lord Of Peace

Encouragement

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.
‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬

The Lord of peace is not only able to give us peace but is also the source of peace. When we are going through difficult times, we often try to find peace through our own efforts, but this verse reminds us that true peace comes from God. It is only when we turn to Him and trust in Him that we can experience the peace that surpasses all understanding.

This verse also emphasizes that peace is not limited to certain times or circumstances. We can experience peace in all times and in every way. Whether we are going through a difficult season, facing uncertainty about the future, or even in moments of joy and celebration, we can always turn to God for peace.

Finally, the verse ends with a beautiful prayer for God to be with all of us. This prayer reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles and that God is always with us, providing us with the peace and comfort we need. As we trust in Him, we can experience His peace and find strength to face whatever challenges come our way.

Todays verse is a beautiful reminder that peace is not something that we can achieve on our own, but rather it is a gift from God. Do you have His peace in all situations of your life?

Pray

Lord, thank you for the gift of peace in my life. Help me to trust you to experience peace in all circumstances. Let the peace I have be shown to others.

It Was Planned From The Beginning

Encouragement

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:4-5

Throughout history, God had been preparing the world for the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. When the set time had fully come, He sent His Son to be born of a woman and to live among us, fulfilling the law and providing a way for us to be redeemed.

Jesus’ birth was not a random event or a coincidence. It was all part of God’s plan from the beginning. His birth fulfilled prophecies that had been made hundreds of years earlier, such as Isaiah’s prophecy that a virgin would give birth to a child who would be called Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14).

Jesus’ birth was also significant because He was born under the law. This means that He was subject to the same laws that govern all of humanity, and He fulfilled all the requirements of the law perfectly. As a result, He was the only One able to redeem those who were under the law, freeing them from the curse of sin and death.

God’s plan for salvation was not an afterthought or a last-minute decision. It was part of His plan from the beginning of time, and He sent His Son to redeem us at just the right time. Let us be grateful for the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf and let us live our lives in a way that honors Him and brings glory to God.

Pray

Lord, I know You have always considered me even from the beginning of time. You brought forth Your only Sone so I could have peace and life with You in Heaven. Thank You for saving me and giving me eternal life.

His Way Is Better

Encouragement

For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭2:13‬

Today’s verse reveals a profound truth about our human condition and our relationship with God.

God is the source of all life, goodness, and blessing. He is the “spring of living water” that satisfies the deepest longings of our souls. However, instead of turning to God and trusting in His provision, we often try to find fulfillment and satisfaction in other things.

Sometimes we dig our own cisterns, hoping to capture and contain the blessings we desire. But these cisterns are broken and cannot hold the life-giving water we crave.

The first sin that Jeremiah identifies is the sin of forsaking God. We turn away from Him and seek our own way, thinking that we can find fulfillment and happiness apart from Him. But the truth is that we were created to be in relationship with God, and apart from Him, we will never find true joy.

The second sin is the sin of self-reliance. We try to meet our own needs and desires through our own efforts, thinking that we can create our own blessings. But no matter how hard we try, we can never create anything that can truly satisfy our souls. Our efforts are like broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

The message of this verse is to repent. Only God can satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts, and we must turn to Him and trust His ways. We must forsake our own ways and rely on Him alone.

Remember the truth of Jeremiah 2:13 and turn to God, the source of living water, to satisfy our souls.

Pray

Lord, help me to always trust You. Let my heart and mind align to Yours. Forgive me for trying to live life without You.