Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: daily devotional

Devoted To Scripture

Encouragement, Trust

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:13‬

How important is the truth of God’s Word to you? Do you value the time in which you read and study the Bible? It must be important if you’re reading this devotional.

Keeping within the context of this verse, Paul is giving advice to Timothy on leading the church as a pastor.  Even though this is directed to Timothy as a minister, it can be beneficial for everyone.  As Christians, everyone is to be a spiritual leader of some sort.

Paul instructs Timothy to devote himself to the public reading, preaching and teaching of the Scriptures.  The Scriptures are to be the central focus of our life.  We can find true success in life if we devote ourselves to the Bible.  

The local church should be a place where people can hear the Word of God spoken accurately and plainly.  In Nehemiah 8, Ezra read from the Scriptures from early morning until midday.  As he opened the Book, the people stood and listened intently.

There is great power in hearing the Word of God.  Romans 10:17 says, “so faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Are you devoted to the Word of God?

Prayer

Lord, Your Word is my central focus today.  Give me passion for Your Word as I desire to hear it and obey it. Help me to meditate on it and speak it to others.

What God Wants You To Do

Encouragement

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:39‬ ‭

One of the most difficult challenges we face as Christians is understanding what God wants us to do with our lives. Sometimes it seems as clear as day, and at other times, it may seem clear as mud.

Thankfully today’s verse provides insight as to what God wants us to do with our lives.

Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 10:39, “If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to Me, you’ll find both yourself and Me.” Sometimes we get confused with who is first in our life.  

If we focus on demonstrating our love for God by following His direction, loving others, and sharing the Christian message of hope, other parts of our life will come along. As the verse in Matthew 10:39 says, when we adjust ourselves to God’s standard, the confusion goes away.  When we are living our lives for the Lord’s sake we are right where we belong.  

It’s not about being someone special or doing something magnificent. It’s about placing yourself under the lordship of Jesus Christ.  It’s about placing the Lord’s work above all other things.

What are you doing today to put others first?

Pray

Lord, I know You have a plan for me. Help me to remember to align my plans to Your will and only then I can accomplish both.

Servant Of All

Encouragement

‘And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”’
Mark 9:35

Jesus had to have a teaching moment with the disciples. When the Scriptures say that He sat down, it meant business. Jesus had something important to say.

The disciples where disputing among themselves who would be the greatest. Jesus could have easily said He was the greatest but He didn’t. Jesus never put attention upon Himself.

Jesus wanted to teach them the importance of servanthood. He was actually giving a challenge. And the challenge is for us as well.

In the world, a man of great power is distinguished by how many servants he has serving him. But Jesus taught them to be servants to others. Being last and least of all was a choice.

It’s easy to get caught up in the world system of power and recognition. Some would even call it egotistical. A person can get so caught up in being served and honored that he/she loses the sense of being humble.

Jesus was not abolishing ambition. He was simply challenging the disciples to be self-controlled servants. To recognize others as equally important and to never look down on another person as being lesser of a person.

Do you view yourself as a servant? Take a moment today and do something for someone else that shows you know how to be a servant. Pick up someone’s trash. Step aside and let someone go before you while in line. Or maybe go a step further and look around for someone who is in need and supply their need. Be careful though, it may cost you something of great value!

True servanthood will cost you something. Make it count.

Pray

Lord, help me to recognize others as equally important. Help me to never look down on someone else as lesser of a person. Let someone come into my path that needs something I can offer them.