Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: bible

Study The Truth

Faith

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
II Timothy 3:16-17

Sadly, many people in the world today are not searching for truth. People find comfort in what they already believe to be true. Many are afraid to have their beliefs challenged due to the fact that it may deny what they actually believe.

There was a time when people believed the world was flat until someone challenged their belief and proved it to be round. It was once believed that the Sun orbited around the Earth.

The Word of God is our source for truth and wisdom. Wise people find every opportunity to study the truth of God’s Word. The power of God’s Word causes faithful people to trust in it’s truthfulness.

Why is it important that we be consumed in the Word of God? Because God reveals His truth and wisdom through every word, dot, and tittle. The Scriptures reveal everything we need to know.

If we never turn to the Word of God we will never understand what God desires to teach us. Consuming ourselves in the Word allows God to speak to us and allows the Spirit of God to change our lives.

If you were to be honest right now, would you say that you are a student of God’s Word? Do you find comfort and peace when you search the Scriptures for truth?

Pray

Lord, I desire to be in Your presence. Use Your holy Word to speak truth into my life. Give me the desire to meditate upon Your Word everyday.

Hands And Feet Of Jesus

Encouragement, Salvation

“Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”
‭‭John‬ ‭4:34‬

What are your top priorities today? Is it making it to work on time, making sure the kids behave, or completing a task that has been lingering for some time?

Whatever it is, it has your attention and your focus. Your focus becomes your priority and your priority becomes what you do.

Throughout the Gospels we can read and understand the focus and priorities of Jesus.  We also see the priorities of His disciples.  Jesus was more concerned with the spiritual needs of people and the disciples were most concerned with their physical needs.  

Many examples throughout the gospels prove that Jesus’ focus was on people knowing and believing Him. Everything Jesus did pointed people to God. The disciples were learning from Jesus what the most important priorities should be.

In the beginning verses of John 4, Jesus met with a Samaritan woman at the well.  The disciples left to go get some food and came back to give some to Jesus.  When they asked him to eat He said these words, “My food is to do the will of God and to do His work.”  Again while Jesus’ mind was on spiritual matters the disciples were thinking about feeding the flesh.  Jesus was giving the woman at the well eternal life while the disciples were more interested in being fed and satisfying themselves.

Jesus entrusts us to do His work.  We are the hands and feet of Jesus and need to be concerned with the spiritual needs of others as much as we are trying to meet their physical needs.  Sometimes we neglect sharing the truth with those who need it and concentrate on making sure they have something to eat.  

We should always make sure that we are giving the “bread of life” to those who are lost and hungry.  Giving someone something to eat and not offering them Jesus is missing out on a great opportunity to witness.  We need to be about our Lord’s business and make new disciples.

Pray

Lord, send someone in my direction and allow me time to share the truth of Jesus Christ with them. Let my priorities prove that my love for you is authentic.

The Ultimate Demonstration Of Love

Encouragement, Trust

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.  God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
1 John 4:16

What is perfect love?  It’s a love that is full and complete and needs no improvement.  A love that is at its maximum.  It’s a love that everyone longs for but no one will ever find outside of a relationship with God.

Perfect love is demonstrated through the person of Jesus Christ.  John 13:1 says, “when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”  

Jesus loved perfectly.  His love was full and complete all the way to the cross.  He loved with grace and compassion and forgiveness.  This is the kind of love people are looking for.  A love that has no end.

It’s easy for us to love when we are loved in return.  However, it’s difficult to demonstrate love for someone who does you wrong.  This is what separates perfect love from all other love.  

Jesus loves those who curse Him and blaspheme His name.  He died for those people as well.  Jesus demonstrated His love for the entire world through selfless sacrifice.  And that same love abides in the heart of every Believer.

As Christians we are to love as Christ loved.  We are called to demonstrate love to those who love us and to those who hate us.  Our ability to love comes from the love of God that is in us.  We are to love one another because God is the source of love and perfect love puts God on display.  Love is evidence of salvation.

Pray

Lord, give me a heart that is like Yours. Help me to love like You love. Your love overwhelms my soul and renews my spirit.