It is amazing what God can do through the darkness!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
(Matthew 27:31 (NIV))

The events of the long night and morning were over. Jesus had been arrested, beaten, falsely accused and judged, and then sentenced to die a horrible death. The only thing left of God’s plan was the actual crucifixion. Think on those events as you read this, for many will be reading it at the time of day that things actually unfolded.

How are you spending your morning? Is it filled with reverence and thanks for what Jesus endured? As you pour yourself another cup of coffee, does the impact of Jesus’ suffering bring you to tears or do you even think of it at all? As you head to that meeting, do you reflect upon just how things would be if Jesus had not had His meetings with Pontius Pilate? When you feel the burdens of the day come crashing in around you, do you stop to think of the burden that Jesus bore as He carried His cross?

It is so easy to get lost in the trivial details of our own lives. We think that they are so important. We think that if we don’t close that next big sale, the world will fall apart. We think that if our children don’t get into that private school, their lives are over. All that we bear is the burdens and sins from our own lives. Imagine having the weight of the sins of the world hoisted upon you. Imagine the world being so engrossed in the usual activities that your sacrifice becomes trivialized. Imagine taking on the burden anyway because you love the people of the world.

Stop to think just what Jesus went through so that you can have grace and salvation. Retrace His steps as He carries His cross to Calvary. Put yourself in His place as the nails pierced His hands. Imagine how He felt looking down through history as He looked upon you at this very moment in time. He suffered and died for you and I. He did it willingly so that we may have grace and mercy.

Spend the day embracing His sacrifice, feeling His pain and emotions. Look upon your life as He looked upon it. Jesus felt that His sacrifice was worth everything that He endured. He felt that you and I were worth whatever price He had to pay.

Today, Good Friday, stop and thank God for His Son, Jesus, and His willingness to go to the cross for you and I. This day is a day of agony and fear, but through the fear we have a shining ray of hope – the resurrection on Easter morning!

It may look dark, but hope is coming!

It is amazing what God can do through the darkness!

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

What does the world think of you?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
(John 15:18 (NIV))

It is easy to forget this fact when you look at when we celebrate His birth, but we are at the time of year when we remember His crucifixion and His resurrection three days later.

Think about His crucifixion and what led Jesus to the cross.

It is true that God’s love led Jesus to the cross.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
(John 3:16-18 (NIV))

It was God’s plan, but it was brought about by hatred from the enemy and from the world. It was hatred that saw Jesus arrested. It was hatred that saw Jesus scourged. It was hatred that saw Jesus crucified.

It was love that kept Him on the path set out before Him. It was love that enabled Him to suffer and die so that He could overcome the power of sin and death. It was love for a creation that rejected Him that allowed Him to turn that hatred and rejection into the very thing that would overcome the power of sin and death.

It was the plan of redemption from long ago.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
(John 1:1-5 (NIV))

As believers, we tend to overlook the fact that the world hated Jesus. We definitely overlook the fact that because we profess a faith in Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, the world also hates us as well.

I don’t care what the world thinks of me!

I don’t belong to the world!

I belong to Jesus!

What about you?

What does the world think of you?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

Have you accepted what Jesus did for you?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

“We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
(Matthew 20:18-19 (NIV))

In the next few days leading up to the crucifixion on what we now call Good Friday and to the resurrection on what we now refer to as Easter, we need to remember what happened in Jesus’ life during these days!

He knew what was coming and He went into it willingly!

He laid down His life for us.

Even though He was, and is, the Son of God, He paid the ultimate price for us willingly. He could have avoided the cross, yet He went through the torture and agony because of His great love for us.

As Easter Sunday draws closer, remember the agonizing death that Jesus went through so that we could celebrate His resurrection and our salvation. It is so much more than a church service, a family dinner, and Easter eggs. It is the culmination of the promise of redemption paid for at the cross and redeemed with an empty tomb.

It is the reason that we have hope!

Have you accepted what Jesus did for you?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

Why do you think Jesus came?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
(John 12:27 (NIV))

It was for this very reason that He came!

If you profess a faith in Jesus, what are you actually professing?

Are you professing that He simply came to spread love? Are you professing that He simply came to feed the hungry and heal the sick? Are you simply professing that He was a good man, or are you boldly professing that Jesus was and is the Messiah, the King of kings, and Lord of lords?

Are you professing that you truly understand the meaning of the cross?

Are you professing that through the sin of one, all were condemned?

Are you professing that you, as a part of this sinful, fallen world, are a sinner in need of a Savior?

Are you professing that you fully embrace His crucifixion as a necessary part of the plan to restore this sinful, fallen world to a right relationship with the Father?

Are you professing that you have accepted the gift of God’s grace freely given through the cross to restore you to that right relationship?

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
(Romans 5:15 (NIV))

If you only see Jesus as a good man, then the crucifixion is just evidence of society trying to keep people down. If you see Jesus as the only begotten Son of God, then you see the crucifixion and the resurrection as God’s love reaching out to pay the price and rescue us from our sins.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16 (NIV))

The choice has been, and always will be, yours to make. How you see Jesus will determine your answer. Personally, I choose to put my faith in His words, in His explanation.

What about you?

Why do you think Jesus came?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

Have you taken up your cross?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
(Mark 8:34 (NIV))

Easter is rapidly approaching. The day that we praise, for it is the yearly celebration of the resurrection of the crucified Jesus. It is something to celebrate. It is the culmination of all of the promises, for without the resurrection, the cross means nothing. Without the empty tomb, we are all guilty sinners without any hope.

Have you ever thought about why Jesus said that we must deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him?

The world thinks that following Jesus is a joke. They look upon those who proclaim a faith in Jesus as less than intellectual, as someone stuck in childlike fantasy.

Following Jesus is not always the easy thing to do. We have influences from all realms of society that mock us and try to get us to do things that we know are not right. We are to stick to the path laid out before us as believers. We are to not only accept the grace and mercy, but show this same grace and mercy to others.

Think about Jesus on the cross. Was it socially acceptable to do what He did? Was it politically correct to preach and teach as He did? Was is in His best interests as a human to be seen with tax collectors, adulterers and sinners of all types?

Jesus denied Himself in ways that we can only imagine. He said and did things that He knew would anger the Sanhedrin. He kept the company of those who were social outcasts. He did all of this without any regard for His well-being. He even went to the cross without any resistance.

This was the ultimate act of denying yourself. He placed others first.

We are to do the same. We are to seek the lost and offer them a path to grace. We are to see the hungry and feed them. We are to feel the pain of a lost world and pray. We are called to do things beyond ourselves.

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
(John 13:35 (NIV))

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
(John 15:13 (NIV))

Think of the love that Jesus showed for all of creation when He took up His cross.

Have you taken up your cross?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

Are you truly confident in the Lord?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
     whose confidence is in him.
(Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV))

In just a few days, we will celebrate the day that proved we can trust in the Lord.

In just a few days, we will celebrate the resurrection of our risen Savior, the Lord Jesus!

It will be a day that will see people who usually don’t go to church gracing the doors. We, as believers, must do all that we can to invite people to church. We must do all that we can to share the love of Jesus with those who are in need of a savior.

The world has so many distractions. The world has so many things that can cause trouble, fear, and anxiety. Placing your trust in Jesus can overcome all of the worldly troubles. Placing your trust in Jesus can change your eternal destination. Placing your trust in Jesus can give you peace. This profession of faith brings so much. It will bring blessings to those who believe.

They will be like a tree planted by the water
     that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
     its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
     and never fails to bear fruit.”
(Jeremiah 17:8 (NIV))

Are your roots deep? Are your leaves green? Are you bearing fruit?

As believers, we must have the confidence to share the good news. We must have the confidence to lead others to trust and follow Jesus.

Are you truly confident in the Lord?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

Are you able to be a solid rock of faith?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
(Luke 22:34 (NIV))

Most people think of this as a denial, a betrayal and a crucifixion event. True, the original words depict an event that happened some two thousand years ago, yet, we should face the fact that we deny Jesus on a daily basis.

Can you honestly say that you take every opportunity to present Jesus to everyone that you meet? I know that I have trouble doing or saying what should be done when I am offered an opportunity to show the love of Jesus to someone who needs it. This, too, is a form of denial.

Would we be able to accept these words if they were spoken to us, especially when we know that our action, or lack of action, could actually be considered denial? We all want to think that we will respond just as Jesus wants us to respond. We like to put ourselves in the shoes of Peter. We like to think that we would be able to do better than the “rock” upon which Jesus built His church. If the “rock” did not have the strength and stability to avoid denial, then how can we do any better?

We must consider that Peter was told these words before the betrayal, crucifixion and the resurrection. After the resurrection, Peter was indeed the “rock” that Jesus called him to be. What made the difference? Peter was given a faith that knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Jesus was who He claimed to be. He had seen it all transpire, and the events made no sense from a physical perspective. He saw with the eyes of faith. Peter never again denied Jesus.

Perhaps it takes a faith changing event to achieve that in our own lives. Perhaps it takes an inward change. I know that in order to be a “rock,” you must have solid faith and a solid foundation.

If given the opportunity today, would you be guilty of denying Jesus or would you stand firm in your faith?

If you think that you don’t have these opportunities, then you need to take a very serious look at your faith. If you think that you don’t have these opportunities, then you are swayed by society. You are blown around like a leaf in the wind. You faith is not solid like a rock!

Are you able to be a solid rock of faith?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

Have you turned back?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
(John 6:66 (NIV))

People turned away even when Jesus walked the earth!

Jesus even predicted this, but many did not understand.

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
(Matthew 13:3-9 (NIV))

Do you understand?

Where did your faith get planted? Is your faith planted along the path, or in rocky places? Is your faith fighting the thorns for its life?

Or, is your faith firmly rooted in good soil?

Is your faith producing a crop?

Now, more than ever, it is important that you keep your eyes focused on Jesus. If you profess a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, then it is important that you finish the race that you have been called to run.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
(1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV))

Jesus is the reason that we have the ability to turn from our sin and walk, or should I say run, toward the prize. Jesus is the prize! The enemy wants to do all that he can to distract you, to turn you away from following Jesus. The enemy wants you to turn back toward your sin. It is this sin which leads to death.

Don’t lose sight of what is important. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. The wages of sin is death. Only Jesus can offer you salvation from this curse. There are times when following Jesus will not be easy, but don’t give up. Jesus has overcome all obstacles. It is now up to us to finish the race and not turn back.

Have you turned back?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
(1 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV))

We constantly hear about someone’s rights in our society, but this passage clearly indicates that our rights must be balanced in such a way that we do not cause damage to someone else.

Think about everything that is going on in the world at this moment.

What comes to mind?

If you truly stop to reflect, everything has its foundation in selfishness, in ego and pride. It is where the individual comes above the good of everyone else. This is the same lie that the enemy used in the Garden of Eden.

If you are a Star Trek fan, you may think of the quote where the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Perhaps we should rephrase that to say the good of the many outweighs the sinful desires of the few. Sadly, those who are violently shouting for their rights to whatever sin they claim as theirs could care less about everyone else. They even want to force their sin on those of us who recognize it as sin.

How do we, who profess a faith in Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, respond to these individuals? How do we show them the love of Christ, while we are being true to His message? How do we respond in a way that doesn’t give in to their sinful desires?

I realize that these are some very tough questions. Perhaps we should not start with them, but with ourselves, for our actions are the only ones that we are responsible for.

We need to always act in a way that doesn’t cause others to stumble. We need to be aware of those around us and temper our actions and our words in such a way that we do not give ammunition to cause others to sin. That does not mean that we don’t share the Gospel. It does mean that we, like Paul, are to use our freedom in ways that will show a sinful fallen world our desire to reach them instead of hating them.

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
(1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV))

What lessons can we learn from Paul on how he viewed his freedom? What lessons can we apply to our ministries? Yes, if you profess a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you have a ministry.

Personally, I believe that the biggest thing that we can learn is restraint, even if we are righteous in our actions, for they may cause others to sin.

So, in other words, people are watching.

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should!

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

Is the Lord your portion?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.
(Lamentations 3:24-25 (NAS))

Who or what do you place your hope in?

Is it money?

Is it power?

Is it something else of this world that is fleeting?

With this false hope, can you rest assured that whatever happens, it will be there for you? Will money see you through times of sickness or times of grief? Will power see you through times of anguish?

Only one thing will be there for you no matter what the circumstances are in your life.

Place your faith and hope in God by placing it firmly in Jesus Christ who sits at the right hand of God the Father. Only through the grace and mercy freely given to all through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus can your hope have a solid basis for reality.

The world shuns this reality and places hope in other things.

Have you ever seen any of these other things provide the assurance that Jesus Christ provides to all who seek?

Is the Lord your portion?

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook