Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: daily devotional

Faith That Pleases God

Encouragement

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Hebrews 11:5

There are only a few verses in the Bible that mention a special man by the name Enoch. Genesis 5:18-24, Hebrews 5:6-7, and Jude 1:14-15 are the only passages of Holy Scripture that reference Enoch and his close walk with God.

The most interesting thing about Enoch is that he pleased God so well that he did not die but was taken up to heaven.

Enoch is described as a man of faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Faith brings glory to God and faith in Jesus is what saves a person from sin.

Enoch is a beautiful picture of the church that is to be raptured up by Jesus Christ. Just as Enoch was raptured up before the judgment of the flood waters, so the church will be raptured up before the judgment of God is poured out on the earth in the seven years of tribulation.

We may not know the day or hour that Jesus will come but we need to walk in daily fellowship with God so we are prepared for such an event. Jesus will come in the clouds with a loud trumpet sound and everyone will know it.

In the meantime it is faith that pleases God the Father. It is faith in His Word and walking in close fellowship with Jesus that pleases God. One day we will be talking to Jesus in prayer and all of a sudden He will appear in the sky and we will meet Him in the air and forever be in His presence.

Does your faith today please God?

Pray

Lord, thank You for sending us Jesus to take away our sins. Help me to live by faith alone. Help me to be strong in my weaknesses and increased by faith.

Comfort Me, Lord

Encouragement

Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.
Psalms 107:28-29

What do you do when you are in distress? Psalm 107 describes five stories of people who were in distress and God rescued them. Each story has a common theme of redemption.

Verse 28 says the sailors cried out to the Lord when they were in distress. That is the first thing we should do when we find ourselves in the middle of a storm. God not only calmed the waves, but He brought them to safely to land. (vs. 30)

We often sail in stormy waters. We need God’s help when we are in circumstances that are beyond our control. This is when we can witness what only God can do.

It’s good for us to endure struggles and distress. It shows us how small we are and how big God is. Distresses prove to us that we need God to help us.

There are people who think they can go through life without the help of God. It is so sad to witness people who will not call on God for help. We need not to hesitate to cry out to God in our distress.

Jesus calmed the waves on the Sea of Galilee for the disciples. He spoke and the wind and waves obeyed. It is amazing to watch how God can speak to nature and it listens.

Praise God for helping you in your time of distress. Rejoice in knowing that as a child of God we have a Father who will take care of us and place us safely on dry ground. Can you give thanks to God for His goodness and mercy?

Pray

Lord, I call upon Your great name. You have the power to give me peace and comfort in the time of my distress. Comfort me in Your word.

Experience His Fullness

Encouragement

For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
John 1:16

John chapter 1 introduces us to the humanity of Jesus Christ, which means Jesus was God in human flesh.  He is eternal God who became part of creation.  God came to this earth to live among mankind in human flesh.

The Apostle John declares to us the Word became flesh and dwelt with mankind.  John is writing in first person because he saw Him, touched Him, and heard Him.  John wants us to know that Jesus is the living God.

In verses 14-18 John wants us to know about Jesus’ glory and grace. These two words help us to understand the person of Jesus.  When we receive His grace we can then see His glory.  

It takes grace for our spiritual eyes to be opened that we may see Him for who He is.  That is why the world does not know Him.  The world cannot know Jesus because they have not experienced His grace.  In essence, unbelievers are spiritually blind.

John says in verse 16, “because of His fullness we have received grace upon grace.”  The fullness that John is speaking of is the fact that Jesus fulfilled the law and became the spotless Lamb that permanently took away our sin.  The Old Testament sacrifice was only temporary but the fullness of Jesus is everlasting.  It is because of this fullness that we all receive grace upon grace.

Are you experiencing unending grace through Jesus Christ?  God wants us to experience His grace and see His glory now before we ever get to Heaven.  He wants to reveal Himself to you.  Take time today to look for His grace and enjoy life.  Paul said it best, “His grace is sufficient!” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Pray

Lord, thank You for Your grace. Your grace is all that I need. Help me to understand the fullness of Your never ending grace and love.