Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: cross

A Life Of Humility

Faith

‘For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?’
I Corinthians 4:7

The Apostle Paul addressed the Corinthians prideful hearts by asking three questions. (1) Who makes you differ from someone else? (2) What do you have that you did not receive? (3) Why do you boast as if you had not received it?

These questions should make us think about our own life. Do I give God credit for all that He has done for me and given to me? Do I possess a humble spirit? Am I grateful in all things? Am I content?

The christians at the church in Corinth thought of themselves as being successful due to their wisdom and courage. The problem was that their definition of success was all wrong. They considered their success as part of their own doings.

The only true success a person can have is obtained through the works of the Cross at Calvary. If we boast in anything else we possess a prideful heart. We are who we are because of who we are in Christ. Without Jesus we are nothing!

If we are going to possess a spirit of humility it must be based upon our relationship with Jesus. Let’s measure our success through how much we give and not how much we make. Our selfless, sacrificial service toward others proves that our hearts are in the right place.

The remedy for pride is spending more time in worship to God and realizing what Jesus has done for us.

Pray

Lord, give me strength to overcome pride. Help me to recognize if I have a prideful spirit. Keep me humble through the power of the Cross.

The Spirit Of Love

Encouragement

‘On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’
Matthew 22:40

An expert of the law decided to try and trap Jesus by asking Him what is the most important commandment of the law. Jesus responded that the first is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. The second is of the same essence: love your neighbor as yourself.

In summary, the spirit of the Bible is love. If we love God we will love others. If we love others it is because the love of the Father is in us.

The Bible is a love story that begins with man rebelling against God, but God kept pursuing him ultimately to a cross. The very thing that separated man from God is what actually brought God to man. It’s all about love and it’s an unending love.

The Ten Commandments can be divided into two sections. The first five commandments deal with our relationship with God and the last five deal with our relationships with others. But they all go hand-in-hand.

Once we establish a right relationship and fellowship with God it will show by the presence of this love for God in our relationships with others. As Jesus brought all the commandments down to two, we can clearly see that it’s the spirit of love.

Jesus came so that we may visualize the love of God. And there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13). This is the example of true love.

We can do many things right but if we do not love we have missed the whole point. The better we understand the love of God the better we obey the word of God. And the better we obey the word of God the better we show the love of God.

Pray

Lord, help me to understand Your great love for me and let me reflect Your love in my life. Thank You for loving me even when I don’t deserve it. Give me the the spirit of love that others will see who You are.

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.