Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: grace

He Is Holy

Encouragement

And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
Isaiah 6:3

The repetition of the word “Holy” three times is significant. In Hebrew, repeating a word three times is a way of emphasizing importance. So when the angels proclaim that God is “Holy, Holy, Holy,” they are emphasizing the utter perfection and purity of His nature. There is no one like God, and nothing compares to Him.

As we meditate on this verse, we are reminded of the greatness of our God. He is the Creator of the universe, and everything in it belongs to Him. He is completely separate from sin and evil, and His ways are perfect. He is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.

But this verse also reminds us of our own sinfulness. When Isaiah saw the Lord, he was overwhelmed by his own unworthiness. He cried out, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5)

When we encounter the holiness of God, we become aware of our own sinfulness. We see that we fall short of His perfection, and we are humbled before Him. But the good news is that through Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven and made clean. When we confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness, He cleanses us and makes us holy.

So let us worship our holy God with reverence and awe. Let us acknowledge our own sinfulness and turn to Him for forgiveness. And let us live our lives in a way that brings glory to Him, knowing that the whole earth is full of His glory.

Pray

Lord, You alone are worthy to be praised. I trust in You only. Help me to become more holy.

Strength And Confidence

Encouragement

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬

We have a powerful reminder of the amazing privilege we have as believers to come before God’s throne and receive His mercy and grace. Let’s consider what it actually means to approach God’s throne with confidence, and how we can access the mercy and grace.

In ancient times, approaching the king’s throne was a serious matter. It required great reverence and respect, and those who approached the throne were often faced with fear and trembling. But through Christ, we have the privilege of approaching God’s throne with confidence. Not because of anything we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us.

The verse also says that we can receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. This speaks to the fact that God’s mercy and grace are not just theoretical concepts, but practical resources that we can tap into in our daily lives. When we are struggling or in need, we can come before God’s throne and ask for His help. He promises to give us strength and confidence to face any challenge that comes our way.

You should be encouraged to approach God’s throne with confidence and receive His mercy and grace. Always remember that you are loved and accepted by Him, and that He is always ready and willing to help you in your time of need. And give thanks for the amazing privilege you have as a believer to come before His throne and receive His unfailing love and care.

Pray

Lord, I thank you for always giving me what I need to face my challenges and difficulties. Your love and grace encourage me to come before You with my struggles. I know You are always there for me.

A New Creation

Encouragement

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
II Corinthians 5:17

As a Christian, it is important to understand that when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are no longer the same person we once were. Our old self, with its sinful desires and habits, is gone, and we are made new in Christ. This new creation is not something we can achieve on our own, but it is a gift from God that is given to us when we accept His Son as our Savior.

This transformation is not just a one-time event but is a continual process as we grow in our relationship with Christ. As we spend time in prayer, read and study the Bible, and fellowship with other believers, we begin to understand more deeply the love and grace of God. This understanding leads to a desire to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

The new creation that comes through Christ is also about our relationship with others. As we grow in our faith, we begin to see others through the eyes of Christ. We begin to love them as He loves them and seek to serve them as He served people.

Becoming a new creation in Christ is a promise of hope. It reminds us that no matter what we have done or how far we have strayed from God, we can always come back to Him and find forgiveness and new life.

May we live each day with the knowledge that we are loved, forgiven, and made new in Him. And may our lives be a testimony to the power of God to transform us from the inside out.

Pray

Lord, I know that You are doing a transformational work in me. You have given me new life and eternal hope. Your grace gives me understanding of this transformation.