Pastor Stephen Dedman

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Be An Example

Encouragement

‘Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. ‘
1 Peter 5:2-3

Peter knew the importance of being an example for Christ. Jesus told Peter to feed and tend to His sheep. Most importantly, Peter was to have a heart like Jesus, a willingness to give up his own life for the sake of others and to care and nurture to the needs of others. That is the characteristic of a spiritual leader.

Peter seemed to remember what Jesus told him to do in John 21:15-17. Here is what it says… ‘When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. ‘

Do you know what our society needs today? We need more Christian leaders. We need men and women alike that have a heart like Jesus to step up and lead in a spiritual capacity. Our world is in desperate need of leaders that will care for the spiritual and physical needs of others.

Sadly, we have community leaders that try to profit off the needs of others. They rally support for people to give money to programs that help feed hungry people but most of the money goes into the pockets of the administration.

Peter says in our Scripture verses for today, “Be examples”. Be an example to your friends, coworkers, family members, or to your church. Good leaders lead out of example. How good of an example are you setting for others today? Be an example of Christ and for Christ.

Pray

Lord, give me a heart like Yours. Help me to see and hear people like You see and hear them. Help me to live holy and righteous so that I can set an example to others.

The Word Is Truth

Faith, Trust

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
John 17:17

Just before He was taken away from His disciples, Jesus prayed the most beautiful and profound prayer known to man. With suffering and death on His mind, He prayed to the Father for His disciples who He loved so dearly. He prayed that they would be sanctified in the truth, set apart and made holy unto Him.

Sanctification is a specific act of the Holy Spirit. Once a sinner is saved by grace, the ongoing process of becoming holy takes place in the heart of the believer. It’s an ongoing process that is completed once we are in the presence of God in Heaven. Until then we are increasingly conformed in the likeness of Jesus Christ. It’s a life long process.

Everyone who trusts in the Lord for salvation is sanctified the moment they receive the Holy Spirit into their heart. But every believer must go through the process of maturing in their faith. Day by day we progress into the image of Jesus Christ Himself.

We are enriched with truth through the power of the Word of God. The truth of God sanctifies us and separates us from evil. As we meditate and on the Word of God and study its powerful promises, the truth is planted in our hearts. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we trust our heavenly Father to complete a good work that He started in us on the day of salvation.

Have you allowed the Word of God to work in you? The work we do for Jesus is because of our faith in Him. We steadily and boldly work towards being the person God has called us to be. It’s not an easy to be a Christian but it is rewarding. Set yourself apart from the world today and proclaim the goodness of our Lord in your words and actions.

Pray

Lord, thank You for choosing me. You loved me before I loved You. You have set me apart for Your good work and I am up for the challenge.

How To Honor God

Encouragement

‘But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. ‘
I Samuel 2:30

When we honor God, He honors us. But just the same, those who disrespect God will be treated as least in His Kingdom. It is fair to say that how we respond to God will determine how God responds to us.

God had to deal justly with Eli, the priest. Although he had served and honored God for many years, his sons were evil. Eli knew the standard of God’s righteousness and holiness but he chose to honor his sons and not God.

Eli revealed his heart when he failed to honor God before the people of Israel by the way he dealt with his sons wickedness. He allowed them to continue in sin.

God is not pleased when you praise Him on Sunday but not on Monday. It does not bring honor to God when you accept the standard of wickedness and sin from your family, friends and co-workers.

God expects us to honor Him completely and consistently. Just because we work or play around sinful people does not mean that we conform their ways. We must honor God by standing up for what is right and holy.

You may not be the popular person for excusing yourself when you around filthy conversation or jokes. You may even be mocked when you tell others to stop the nonsense. But that is what God expects from those who completely honor Him.

Pray

Lord, I will honor You with my whole heart. I will stand up against wickedness and stand strongly for the things that bring praise and honor to Your name. Father, forgive me for caving into the temptations of this world.