Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: daily devotional

No More Excuses

Encouragement

But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8:22‬

Jesus encountered a disciple who wanted to follow Him but needed to go home and take care of some business first.  Regardless of the situation, Jesus commanded an immediate response and obedience.  Jesus knew the heart of this man and what was happening in his personal life.  

The man had good intentions but wanted to collect his inheritance. Jesus was basically saying you can’t have one foot in the mission field and one foot in the world. Jesus wants His followers to be all in.

Jesus is not saying that we are to neglect our families and friends but instead He is prompting immediate action.  Either this man was being greedy and waiting for his part of the inheritance or this man valued his family more than Christ.  Regardless, Jesus instructed the disciple to follow Him right then.

Many of us have excuses of why we can’t serve the Lord to the fullest right now.  We may only get one opportunity for certain tasks and if we don’t immediately obey we will miss out on a great blessing.  The Lord wants us to be available to be used by Him on His timing.  Don’t get caught up in the luxury and power of this world only to miss an opportunity to serve the Lord.

What excuses are you using to keep from whole-heartily serving Christ? What would Jesus say about your excuses?

Pray

Lord, You have my heart and soul.  Show me where I need to be in complete obedience to your plans for my life. Help me to not use any excuses for not serving You.

God Loves You

Encouragement

The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31:3‬

This is a beautiful passage of Scripture. It is primarily directed towards the people of Israel and how God has loved them with an everlasting love. It states that the Lord will certainly fulfill His promise to regather His chosen people back together as a chosen people.

It is a reminder that His love for them is everlasting. The Lord chose the people of Israel to be His special people. 

He redeemed them from Egyptian bondage and provided for them while wandering in the wilderness. Even in times of rebellion and unbelief, God never rejected them. Although there were times of discipline, He always restored them to a position of honor because He loved them so much. 

This is the love story told all through the Bible. It’s His story of how He loves His special people unconditionally. No one can ever fathom how much love He has for us. 

There may be times when you may feel that you are not loved, but be certain that God loves you. His love for you is everlasting just like the Israelites. We may go through times of rebellion and unbelief, but God never turns His back on us. No one will ever love you like God loves you. He doesn’t just say it, He proves it everyday. 

Pray

Lord, I love you. I am thankful for your unending love for me. As I show love toward others, let them sense your love. 

God Never Changes

Encouragement

“For I am the Lord , I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”
Malachi 3:6

We need to realize an amazing truth about God. He will never change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. (Hebrews 13:8) 

Because God will never change, we can seek Him for stability. It brings us great comfort to know that because God never changes, His promises never change. What God promised thousands of years ago remains the same today. 

The same power that God displayed throughout the Bible is the same today. That should bring us peace and comfort. We trust that God is with us no matter what is going on in our life.

The world around us is changing quickly. It seems like everyday something new is being invented or discovered. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with technology. 

One thing we should never change is the Word of God. The Word is what it is and does not need to be changed. The method of how we share the Word of God may need to change but the message of God’s Word is perfect and final.

You may not realize it but you have changed over time. Your looks, hair, or style may change slowly over time. Some changes need to be made if you are not as close to God as you should be. 

What can you do to make your life more like Christ? Do you need to change anything to look more like Jesus?

Pray

Lord, allow me to see who I am before You. As I look into the mirror I want to see You. If there is anything that I need to change to make me more like You, please show me.