Do you seek the true Jesus?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.
(Isaiah 11:10 (NIV))

The children of Israel had, throughout all of their history, looked for a military and political leader to be their Messiah. Yet, the words were given to Isaiah hundreds of years before Jesus came that stated that the expected Messiah would actually be someone that the Gentiles would seek.

This does not sound like a military leader. The Jewish people were expecting a military leader to defeat the Gentiles and establish them as what they thought the “Chosen People” meant. They did not understand that to be the “Chosen People” meant that through them salvation would come. They thought that it meant that God has selected them to rule over the world and establish His Kingdom in a military fashion. They chose to ignore the words that Isaiah spoke to them.

Are we ignoring the words that God is speaking to us today? The Messiah that the world received is one who shares the grace and mercy of God to all who will listen and accept. Is this the Messiah that you know, or are you looking for a Messiah who is more like what the children of Israel were looking for?

Do you seek the true Jesus?

Copyright 1998 – 2019 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Do you try to keep things hidden from God?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
(Luke 12:2 (NIV))

Have you honestly stopped to let these words sink in to your inner most being?

Do they give you reason to shudder at the thought of some of your secrets being revealed?

If you are human, this is a very scary concept, for we all have things that we would rather no one ever find out about. Still, human nature in its sinful state has us do things that we would rather not do. No one is immune. Even Paul, the man whom Jesus called to preach the Gospel to the gentiles, faced the very same dilemma.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
(Romans 7:15 (NIV))

How do you think that Paul’s secrets will be treated when they are revealed? Do you think that he will be treated any different than anybody else who calls upon the name of Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior? What Paul has repented of will be forgiven. What you and I have repented of will be forgiven.

Take another deep look at the passage. Look for what is not said. The passage does not say that what is hidden will not be forgiven. It also does not say that it will be forgiven. Each person will be judged according to one simple truth – have they accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. If you can honestly answer “Yes” to that question, then you will be judged as Paul will be judged.

“Come now, let us reason together,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
(Isaiah 1:18 (NIV))

If you answer “No” to that question, you will be judged and found guilty.

Do you desire forgiveness, or do you want to face the punishment of the guilty?

Copyright 1998 – 2016 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are you a part of that great multitude?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
(Revelation 7:9-10 (NIV))

A great multitude that no one could count!

Have you ever been part of a large crowd? Have you ever seen photos of a large crowd? Perhaps the ones that come to my mind are of the crowds that gather on the mall between the Capital Building and The Washington Monument. If you have ever been there, you know just how big of an area this is and just how many people it can hold. They even have ways of estimating a count for the number of attendees in that area.

Now, imagine that crowd. Picture in your mind a crowd so great the no one can count or even begin to estimate the numbers.

God is good!

It is by His grace and mercy that this scene can and will unfold.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(Romans 3:23 (NIV))

No one can be a part of that crowd based on their own merits. No one can be in the presence of God in their sinful nature, yet, we know that an unimaginable number of people will be in the presence of God. The great multitude is the Body of Christ. The great multitude are the individuals who have called upon the name of Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. It is these people who have had their sins washed white as snow. It is these very people who will sing praises and give thanks for the gift of salvation that they have received.

Are you a part of that great multitude?

Copyright 1998 – 2015 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Come!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
(Revelation 22:17 (NIV))

This is an open invitation to anyone and everyone who will willingly accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.

Too many people have a false belief that salvation is not for them. They believe that what they have done is too bad and sinful to be forgiven. They think that they have committed sins far worse than anyone else. In essence, they think that they are above what God has offered them. They cannot accept grace at face value. They are the type of people who always have to look at things and expect the worst.

Nothing in this passage says that grace is limited. God did not send His Son, Jesus, to die for a few people. He came for all people. Salvation is for those who call upon the name of Jesus.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
(Romans 6:8-10 (NIV))

Grace is freely given to all who will accept it. We are freely given righteousness.

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
(Romans 3:21-24 (NIV))

Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?

Come!

Copyright 1998 – 2013 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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