Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: salvation

Spiritual Leadership

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

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. 

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. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. And each time Peter responded yes. Jesus was giving him an opportunity to recover from denying Him. But also Jesus was teaching an important lesson that people need to be led spiritually and it takes a living heart to do it.

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.

Sanctified

Encouragement

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

Keeping today’s verse in context, Jesus was praying the most 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 won’t be completed until 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.

You Are Chosen

Encouragement

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession…
1 Peter 2:9

The Apostle Peter describes how we are important and special to God.  He says we were chosen.  Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you…” (John 15:16)  

From the very beginning we see that God chooses His own. God chose Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, Peter, and Paul and even you.  God chooses you based on His mercy and grace not according to performance.

We are a royal priesthood.  Priests had privileges with God that others didn’t have.  They were instructed to live in holiness and pureness.  They were to speak different, dress different, and act different because they represented God. Today, Christians represent God.

We are a holy nation.  God made a great promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:2 when He said, “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”  Today, we are part of that holy nation.

And last but not least, we belong to God. We are a people for His possession. That means God will protect, provide, sustain, and sanctify us.  God will bless you and make you great as well.  It’s great to belong to God!

Pray

Lord, I am so blessed that You love me. Thank You for redeeming me and making me whole. Thank You for choosing me.