Have you tried to change Jesus?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
(Hebrews 13:8 (NIV))

I realize that I say this quite often, but it is true. Human nature is such a funny thing!

We are all guilty of looking at everyone else and seeing the sins in their lives while failing to see the sins in ours. The sad thing is that we tend to gravitate to others who have the same tendencies, the same way of looking at others. In our associations, we then start to take God’s Word and put our own interpretations into what is written. Some of us even go to the extreme and say that the teachings are no longer relevant in today’s society. We pick and choose what we want to believe and what we want to follow.

Shouldn’t God’s Word be the benchmark and we strive to live accordingly?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
(2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV))

Instead, we twist and distort, we pick and choose, and we ignore completely in the false sense that Jesus couldn’t have meant it the way that it was written. God surely didn’t mean what was written because He is love and if that is true, why would He tell me that my favorite thing to do is a sin?

God’s Word is alive. It is meant to change lives. It is meant to touch the deepest places in our lives and make us look at the darkness within. It is meant to help us turn to the light of Jesus. Humanity failed to realize the truth, so God sent an example. He sent His Son.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:14 (NIV))

Two thousand years have passed since Jesus walked among us and we still twist His Word. We still ignore His Word. We pick and choose. In essence, we do our best to try and change Jesus to fit our desires even when we are told that He never changes.

Have you tried to change Jesus?

Copyright 1998 – 2018 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Is God’s Word your honest measure?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
(Deuteronomy 25:15 (NIV))

I recently saw something that makes a lot of sense. It was a comparison of honest weights and measures to societal changes as society goes away from Biblical truths. It made me look at God’s standards once again.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
(Hebrews 13:8 (NIV))

I am saddened by the fact that far too many people who profess a faith in Jesus fail to accept God’s Word as the unwavering and honest truth and the accurate measure that it is. Think about that in relationship to the following.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:14 (NIV))

If Jesus is the Word made flesh, that means that the Word is the same yesterday and today and forever. How can people claim that God’s Word is no longer relevant in today’s world? Have we started applying different ways to measure when we should be applying the same way that God originally intended?

Differing weights and differing measures— the Lord detests them both.
(Proverbs 20:10 (NIV))

Based on this, how do you think God looks upon our current society? How do you think God looks upon those who claim to be a part of the Body, yet do not apply the same standards that He has mandated through His Word?

With this in mind, I have one tough question to ask.

Is God’s Word your honest measure?

Copyright 1998 – 2017 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Is the Holy Spirit still active in the church?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
(Acts 2:1-4 (NIV))

Do you believe that this actually happened?

We, as the Body of Christ, for the most part believe what is written about past events, yet, how many of us believe that this could happen today? We rationalize and say that what was done was to get the attention of the people so that God’s Word could be spread. Do you believe that God’s Word has been spread to the point where He no longer needs to get the attention of people?

Think about that. Is the generation alive today the generation that was alive at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that particular Pentecost? God needs to get the attention of a completely new generation, so why do many believers feel that this outpouring of the Holy Spirit is no longer needed? Why would God not show His power to every generation? Why would God grow silent and expect us to do what He is doing?

To me, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit serves multiple purposes, but two stand out to me at this moment in time. The first purpose is to show His power to a fallen world. I honestly do not think that the people who witnessed the first outpouring left Jerusalem and never spoke of what they saw to their friends. They talked to anyone and to everyone telling them what had happened! The second purpose that I see in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the empowerment of the church. We need to be bold in sharing what we know to be truth. We are to be bold so that we can answer the questions of those who see and do not understand. We are to be bold when we approach the throne of God! God doesn’t want us to be timid in our faith. He doesn’t want us to be lukewarm in our faith. He wants us to be bold and to share His Word.

Do you feel that God is still working in the world? If you do not, why would God turn His back on the generations since the first outpouring? Why would God abandon the very people whom Jesus came to save? Why would God not equip His church to do His Will?

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
(Hebrews 13:8 (NIV))

Jesus said that He would send the Holy Spirit as a helper. Personally, I think we still need all the help we can get!

Copyright 1998 – 2016 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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What is your continuity in life?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
(Hebrews 13:8 (NIV))

Do you like continuity in your life?

Is there anything that has been in your life for a long time that is the exact same as it was when it first became a part of your life?

If you are like me, well, actually, if you are like every other person who has ever lived, nothing ever stays the same. You make friends, lose friends, grow up, move on, get married, have children who then proceed to grow up and move on, get married and have children who then . . .

What is it about continuity that we, as human beings, like so much? Is it the reliability that we like? Is it the fact that we like a constant point of reference? Could it be that we like the assurance of knowing that something or someone will always be there no matter what the circumstances may be?

When I read that Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever, I like the assurance that He is my rock. He is my foundation upon which I can build my life. It is this foundation that gives me the freedom to live life without fear and without uncertainty. I am grounded firmly in the promises that God has fulfilled through Jesus! I stand firm on my faith in Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, and I embrace the destiny that is mine through the gift of God’s grace through Jesus!

Any day is a good day to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Any day is a good day to walk with Jesus. Any day is a good day to repent and return to Jesus. In this new year, I pray that we all examine our lives and assess where we are in our relationship with Jesus. If we find that things are not as they should be, or as they were, keep in mind that it is we who have changed and not Jesus!

Copyright 1998 – 2016 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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