Have you given in to the wolves?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
(Matthew 10:16 (NIV))

Once we become part of the Body of Christ, we , too, have the same directive as that which Jesus spoke in Matthew. We are to be wise to the ways of the world, but we are not to take part in the ways of the world.

We must go out into the world like sheep among wolves.

Think about that statement. When a wolf sees a sheep, it definitely gets the undivided attention of the wolf. The wolf sees something about the sheep that it wants and the sheep walks around knowing that it is in the watchful gaze of the wolf. It becomes a game of survival. The ways of the wolf are cunning and are out to trip up the sheep and devour it. The sheep longs to be at peace with the wolf. This is very similar to the way the enemy treats those who have called upon the name of Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. We must walk very carefully so that we do not get devoured.

It is a fine line that we walk while we are still in this earth. Knowing the ways of the world does not mean that we need to be tempted to follow them. We must keep our eyes upon Jesus and follow Him each and every day.

Have you given in to the wolves?

Copyright 1998 – 2014 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Be prepared to take prisoners!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
(Ephesians 6:12 (NIV))

We must remember that the sinner is not our enemy, it is the sin!

When we are faced with troubles, they do not come from human hands, or at least not directly. They originate from the powers that we, as humanity, allowed into this world through Adam and Eve.

We know the outcome of the eventual victory, but we are still faced with the individual battles before then. The saying, “Take no prisoners” does not apply in this battle. We must “capture” as many of the enemy’s soldiers as we can and bring them to our side.

Each of us was lost at one point in our lives. Likewise, each of those that we struggle against is lost. We must remove the indoctrination that the enemy has filled them with and fill them with the love of Jesus Christ.

When you go into battle for the Lord, be prepared to take prisoners!

Copyright 1998 – 2012 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Hold fast to Jesus!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel– which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
(Galatians 1:6-9 (NIV))

I came across something today that does not surprise me given the current status of the world and the attack on Christianity from all sides. It is still another false teaching and false gospel that the enemy is using to try and ridicule the church and deceive people.

I have never included live links before, but this particular story merits breaking this practice.

http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/iran-claims-discovery-of-ancient-gospel-will-prove-islam-and-destroy-christianity/

I include it for one simple reason, and that is to allow you to read about this for yourself.

We live in interesting times.

When I was younger, I could not have imagined the very rapid and drastic turns in society and the world. Tolerance is preached, but those who preach it are not tolerant of Jesus. Love is preached, but those who preach it hate the Body of Christ. Acceptance is preached only as long as it is of alternate lifestyles.

Hold fast to Jesus!

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
(John 14:6 (NIV))

If anything is preached that does not profess Jesus as the Son of God, crucified, resurrected and at the right hand of God the Father, do not be deceived. The enemy has many tricks and he has no problems using them to keep you from the grace and mercy that is freely given through Jesus.

Hold fast. Pray. Place your trust in Jesus.

Copyright 1998 – 2012 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Weeds are appearing everywhere

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
(Isaiah 5:20 (NIV))

I know that I have been skirting around this passage for a long time with references to what is going on in the world today. I honestly do not see how people have become so polarized. How they have forgotten the basic concepts of society and the basic principles of a life lived in harmony with God’s desires.

I can remember a time when pregnancy outside of marriage was considered wrong. Now it is a choice and often a reality television show. I can remember when abortion was illegal. Now it is a woman’s right. I can remember when victims could defend themselves. Now they are locked up and the criminal has more rights than the victim. I can remember when homosexuality was not talked about. Now it is supposedly a biological issue. I can remember when freedom of religion meant that you could worship in any manner that you wished. Now it means freedom from religion. I remember when the majority of the population went to church. A vocal minority now has us on tiptoes when the 10 Commandments are posted in a public building. I remember when prayer was allowed in school. Now, we can’t mention Jesus, but we can talk about any other religion freely.

There are many other passages that confirm what Isaiah wrote.

But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
(Romans 2:8 (NIV))

We are in interesting times.

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, `Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
” `An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, `Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
” `No,’ he answered, `because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”
(Matthew 14:24-30 (NIV))

Weeds are appearing everywhere.

We, as the Body of Christ, must not fall into the traps that the enemy has set. We must know God’s Word. We must know the enemy. We must be able to tell the difference between good and evil.

Do you call evil good and good evil?

Copyright 1998 – 2012 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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The grace of the cross

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
(Mark 8:36-37 (NIV))

God places a very great value on each and every person. That value is so great that Jesus told us we have within us something worth far more than the world. There is nothing that is worth us losing that valuable part of ourselves.

Just what is it that we each possess that is of so great a value?

It is the God given soul that has been uniquely created by God for Him to love. It is the part of us that longs for a relationship with God. It is the part of us that is eternal.

When was the last time that you stopped to realize that God gave you something that is totally unique in all of creation? Do you truly realize that this unique part of you was created to be in the presence of God?

We have started to believe the lies and the distractions of the enemy. Satan knows the value of our souls. He knows that God created us to have a special part of ourselves that was designed to be intimate with God. Satan wants to steal this from us. He will throw everything that he can at us in order to keep us from realizing what we have. If he has to, he will trick us into trading our soul for something far lesser in value. This happened in the Garden of Eden and it continues to happen to this very day.

Take heart, for God has offered each of us a way to redeem our souls.

Do you realize the great gift that God gave you when He gave you a soul? Do you realize the second great gift that He gave you in order to redeem your soul?

Have you forfeited your soul or have you redeemed it through the grace of the cross?

Copyright 1998 – 2012 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Do you have the power?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.
(Matthew 9:20-22 (NIV))

Just what is faith?

What is the power of faith?

These are two very short and seemingly simple questions, yet they have left people perplexed and uncertain for thousands of years.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
(Hebrews 11:1 (NIV))

Did the woman say to herself, “Maybe if I get His attention, He will be able to tell me what doctor to go see.”? No, she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” There was no hesitation in her convictions. There was not a single utterance of doubt. She knew what she believed and she knew what would happen. Faith is being sure and certain, but, perhaps it also rests heavily on the total removal of doubt that seems to fill our minds. After all, doubt removes certainty. It removes hope. Doubt is the natural enemy of faith.

Is it possible to have faith and still have doubt?

We are only human. We are sinners. We will have moments when our faith is overcome by doubt. After all, the enemy does attack and catch us off guard.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
(John 16:33 (NIV))

The power of faith allows us to keep our eyes on Jesus when all around us is falling apart.

The power of faith allows us to see God’s hand in and through the toughest storms that we will face.

The power of faith allows us to know beyond all doubt that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Do you have a faith? Do you have the power that can only come through that faith?

Copyright 1998 – 2012 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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What have the locusts eaten?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten–
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm–
my great army that I sent among you.
(Joel 2:25 (NIV))

Is there something in your life that you feel you have had taken from you through no fault of your own? It could be health. It could be finances. It could be family. It could be any number of things. We all have something that fits this definition.

Each of us who claim Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life can lay claim to the promises made in Joel. God will repay us for the years the locusts have eaten. We may not understand how or when, but they will be repaid. That is a promise made by God and God cannot go against His Word. That is impossible.

No matter what the enemy may have taken from you, rest assured in the promises of God. We must stand firm in our faith that what God says is true or will come true. When we doubt this, all we have to do is look at the life of Abraham and the promises that God made to him. At a very old age, God changed his name from Abram to Abraham, from what meant “exalted father” to “father of many.” Even though Abraham was almost one hundred before God began to fulfill the promise that He had made, God did keep His Word.

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.
(Genesis 22:17-18 (NIV))

Abraham had a rocky road to travel during his life, but he faced it with the faith that God would keep His promises. Because of his faith, God did keep His promises and the descendants of Abraham are indeed as numerous as the stars.

What is it in your life that you need to have faith that God will repay you for even if the locusts have eaten it?

Copyright 1998 – 2012 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Am I convinced?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
(2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV))

Paul’s words to Timothy seem to start off to place blame, yet, he quickly turns that around to profess that he is not ashamed. He knows what he believes. He professes a faith that will see him through anything that the enemy may send his way.

How does this compare to what we have all been guilty of? How does this compare to our own situations?

For too many believers, blame is an easy thing to place. We have a tendency to revel in our own self pity in hopes that someone will acknowledge that we are suffering. I hate to say this, but it is almost an ego centered self pity. We want to be the best at something in order to draw attention to ourselves, so we seem to excel at suffering and blame.

God did not create us to be trapped in this ghastly situation. He did not send His Son, Jesus, to live, teach, suffer and die so that we can wallow in self pity and blame. He sent His Son to give us hope, grace and salvation. He did not send Him to give us suffering and self pity.

These come from the enemy.

When we, as the Body of Christ, suffer at the hands of unbelievers, have faith. Do not be ashamed when these attacks come your way, for they are designed to sway you from your faith. Rejoice in Jesus and stand firm in the assurance that He is able to guard what you have entrusted to Him.

The world does not understand how we can rejoice when we are suffering. The world wants to break us. The world wants to strip us of our faith. Our faith is not based on this world. Our faith is based on Jesus.

I once heard of a Chinese pastor who had been imprisoned for his faith. Part of his “job” while in prison was to shovel human waste. It is told that he stood waste deep in it for most of the day, yet he clung to his faith. He sang the whole day and always had a smile on his face in spite of his surroundings. He possessed a faith that saw him through all that the enemy sent his way.

Are you suffering because of your faith? Are you ashamed of your faith?

Examine your heart and ask yourself this question.

Am I convinced that Jesus is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him?

I pray that your answer is honest.

Copyright 1998 – 2012 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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