Do you see the Lord as Holy Glorious?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

And they were calling to one another:
    “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
     the whole earth is full of his glory.”
(Isaiah 6:3 (NIV))

There are two basic premises outlined in this passage. Two very true details that we need to fully embrace. How we embrace them determines our whole outlook and understanding of God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit.

First and foremost, the LORD is holy. I am not certain if the word “holy” is repeated three times because of a subliminal reference to the Trinity, or whether it is repeated simply as a matter of driving the concept home. It may even be both. No matter why it is repeated, we must never forget that the LORD is holy. If we treat God in any way less than holy, we have sinned. We have taken the Creator of all things and redefined Him within our comfort zone. We do not praise Him if we make Him less than He is.

Ouch!

I hate to say this, but human nature finds us doing just that. We have a tendency of not understanding just how magnificent that He is. We tend to define God and our relationship to Him by our own thought processes and our own relationships. God is holy.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
      declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV))

We cannot comprehend God. We must simply trust Him and accept that He is holy.

The second premise that is presented is the fact the the whole earth is full of His glory.

Everywhere that you look, you see wondrous things that God has created. Can man imagine a rainbow into existence? Can humanity divide the waters above from the waters below? Can anybody create a continent and clothe it in the vast splendor that we see?

God’s glory is manifested through His creation. Not only is He holy, but everything that He creates is glorious.

I hope that you fully caught what I just said. Everything that God creates is glorious. God created you and I. It is simple deductive reasoning that allows us to draw the conclusion that we are intended to be glorious. Even though we have fallen from grace through our sin, we are intended to be glorious. Even though we may not always follow God’s call, we are intended to be glorious.

God sent His glory into the world so that we could gain salvation and grace. Jesus, the son of God and the son of man, came into this world so that we could be washed clean and reunited with God in all of His glory.

Holy. Glory.

How do you see God in relationship to these two simple words? Do you see the Lord as Holy Glorious?

Copyright 1998 – 2020 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are you willing to suffer for Jesus?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
(Romans 8:18 (NIV))

Suffering!

It means different things to different people. To some, it means that they have to take the limo instead of the helicopter. To others, it means that they are out on the street with no food for their family. To the Body of Christ, suffering is watching the world revel in the sin while we look on and pray for the world to turn to Jesus.

Suffering is a difficult thing to do, yet, each of us have different things that we are willing to bear with respect to suffering. To me, the biggest thing that I suffer over is the escalating decline of the value of faith in society. I am not saying that faith is declining. Rather, I am saying that it appears to me that sin of all types is increasing. It reminds me of a parable that Jesus told.

    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 13:24-30 (NIV))

There is suffering due to the enemy having sowed bad seeds among God’s creation. We will face suffering until that glorious day that Jesus returns. The sufferings that we must face are worth the struggle. They are worth the pain. They are worth the aggravation, for we have the promise that we will see salvation. We will see redemption.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
(Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV))

Are you willing to face the consequences of your sins?

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 6:23 (NIV))

I hate suffering, yet I would rather suffer because I have professed a faith in Jesus than to turn my back on God’s grace and face suffering in eternity. I know that we live in a society that expects to have both now and later, but in God’s kingdom, it does not work that way. We cannot simply pull out a credit card and swipe it and expect to have it easy now and easy later when the bill comes due. Our way of doing things doesn’t work.

We have a hope that can see us through all suffering. His name is Jesus. We can suffer now and cling to the hope that we have in Jesus, or we can abandon all hope and suffer eternal separation from God.

Nothing worth having is easy. I pray that I am willing to suffer for Christ.

Are you willing to suffer for Jesus?

Copyright 1998 – 2019 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Will you see the glory of God?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
(John 11:40 (NIV))

Will you see the glory of God?

I know that many profess a belief in God and in Jesus, but, how deep is your belief? Do you believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God? Do you believe that through Him, all of your sins can be washed white as snow? Do you believe that grace and mercy are yours through the blood that He shed on the cross? Now, let’s take that one step further. Do you have the faith that will allow mountains to be moved?

There is a difference between believing and putting your belief into action. It is one thing to believe that Jesus is who He says He is. Even the demons know that Jesus is the Son of God.

Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.
(Luke 4:41 (NIV))

How do you see the glory of God? Belief is mixed with faith. This faith knows that God will work no matter what. This faith earnestly seeks the glory of God. It recognizes the miraculous in the events that make up our lives. This faith knows that God is in control. This faith manifests itself by allowing your eyes to be open to what God is doing. It allows you to be a part of God’s plans. It allows you to not only claim your salvation, but to share it with others.

God’s glory is boundless. Belief allows faith to flourish. Faith allows us to expect God’s glory in the unexpected. Faith allows us to be ready for whatever God calls us to. God’s glory may be missed if all that you give Him is an hour on Sunday morning. Give Him your all and expect to see your belief confirmed.

Copyright 1998 – 2017 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Will you see the power and glory of God in His sanctuary?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
(Psalms 63:2 (NIV))

Imagine the most beautiful church sanctuary that you have ever seen. The man-made awe and reverence is nothing compared to the holy presence of God in His heavenly sanctuary. It is beyond imagination.

If God has promised us streets of gold in heaven, how much more magnificent will His sanctuary be? The sanctuary were we should not even be allowed to enter because of our sinful nature. How can we enter into God’s sanctuary? Through the grace and mercy that God has shown to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Through this grace and mercy, our sins have been washed white as snow. Perhaps God’s power and glory have been made even more glorious because of this gift, for, without this gift, we would not be able to ever see God in His sanctuary.

Will you see the power and glory of God in His sanctuary?

Copyright 1998 – 2016 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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What type of faith do you possess?

I realize that this is one pulled from my archives, but this seemed like a natural follow through after the topic yesterday that asked “What is faith?”

~~~

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
(Hebrews 11:6 (NIV))

Faith!

It has been defined as “Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. ”

It has also been defined as “Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, an idea, or a thing.”

In the case of faith in God, it appears that both definitions can be combined. This combined definition of faith results from the fact that God cannot be seen. Remember Moses when he spoke to God. He was told that he could not look upon the Glory that is God without dying. For that reason, and many others, man cannot see God. In the eyes of the society in which we live, “seeing is believing.” Even one of Jesus’ disciples displayed a lack of faith after Jesus’ resurrection.

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”
(John 20:24-25)

Seeing something is a good reason to believe. Yet, many things in this life that cannot be seen are much more real and true than what we can see. Thomas was allowed the opportunity to not only see, but to feel the wounds just as he had stated.

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
(John 20:29)

What type of faith do you possess? Is it one of “seeing is believing,” or do you believe because something inside of you tells you that God is real and that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die for your sins?

Copyright 1998 – 2016 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Have you been baptized into new life?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
(Romans 6:4 (NIV))

Baptism symbolizes a re-birth. Just as the Jewish Passover tradition of hiding the middle loaf of bread symbolizes death, the complete submersion in water symbolizes death. In both cases, the reappearance symbolizes a resurrection from death.

Luckily, we do not have to experience the ultimate death, which is eternal separation from God. Jesus paid the price so that we do not have to suffer the ultimate death. Through the symbolism of baptism and the spiritual meaning that it has, we have died to death because Jesus has already died for us. When we arise out of the water, we arise as new creations. Creations that are holy and righteous in God’s sight because of our faith that God sent Jesus Christ to pay the price for us.

If we truly die with Jesus, then we will live with Him as a reward for our faith. This is a gift of grace, for we cannot do anything that will make us worthy of this gift. It is given freely, and all we have to do is be willing to “die” so that we may live eternally with God.

Copyright 1998 – 2016 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Have you committed anything to the glory of God?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
(Proverbs 16:3 (NIV))

If you wholeheartedly commit what you do to the glory of God, what are the chances that what you do is not righteous in the eyes of God? Think about it. If you place God where He should be in your life and worship Him by committing everything to Him, would you do something that was a sin or would you do something only half way?

When you commit something to God, you give it your all. You give it the best that you can do. Even your best is as filthy rags in the eyes of God, but, because you are willing to make that commitment, God will bless your endeavor because of what is in your heart. After all, God looks at the heart to see the true person. If you commit something to God, it is from the heart and God sees that.

Have you committed anything to the glory of God?

Copyright 1998 – 2015 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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What a mighty God we serve!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

After I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God on the throne and from the Lamb!”
(Revelation 7:9-10 (NLT))

What a glorious site this will be!

A vast crowd of people who are redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb! A crowd too great to count.

Have you ever encountered someone who believes that only 144,000 from all of human history will be saved? It may take someone a while, but it is possible to count 144,000 people. We know by this simple fact that the 144,000 witnesses are not the only ones who will be redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb. This amount of people is big, but it is not a vast crowd too big to count. In out society, we have events that draw this amount of people and they know exactly how many attend.

God’s grace is much bigger than what many people can comprehend. It is much bigger than what any of us can truly understand. Why do we, as frail, fallen humanity try to put God in a box? Is it because we can’t comprehend His greatness, and in an attempt to comprehend it, we put limits on it?

If God can make it so that the rocks cry out in praise, then it is completely possible for God to redeem such a vast number that we cannot begin to count everyone.

I have a great piece of information for you to consider. We may not be able to count everyone, but God can! Not only can He count everyone who calls upon the name of Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, He can remember every detail of each person’s life.

What a mighty God we serve!

Copyright 1998 – 2015 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Search out the mysteries within God’s Word!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
(Proverbs 25:2 (NIV))

I bet that you are rather tired of all of the talk recently about the blood moons, the Shemitah, and many others things that are in the hearts and minds of the members of the Body of Christ. It seems that everyone is talking about these things. It seems that there is more talk than there is actual movement of prophecy, or so it would appear.

We are told that no man knows the hour or the day, but we can know the season.

I am sure that you have heard people say this when they are confronted with things such as the Rapture, the tribulation and anything else related to prophesy. Perhaps God is actually telling us to not get so caught up in the exact hour or day, but to study His Word so that you can recognize the season. Perhaps God is telling us to spend time with Him in His Word so that we will get to know Him better and as a result, we will know His heart and His mind. Uncovering these are the greatest treasures of all, and those who study prophesy are simply trying to know our God and Father on a more personal level. They are seeking out the matters that God has concealed. It is these very same matters that God has concealed that He is using to draw out those who truly seek Him.

God understands the concept of mystery.

Think about when you were dating. Did you learn everything that there was to know about the person all at once? For those who are married, I would bet that you are still learning things about your spouse. It keeps you attention, and God know that a little mystery will draw the hungry closer. Perhaps it is this aspect that God uses to see who truly is seeking after His heart.

Prophesy is a major portion of God’s Word. God has placed it there for our study. He has placed it there for us to search it out.

Are you searching out the mysteries contained within God’s Word?

Copyright 1998 – 2015 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are you ready to see the glory of God?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
(John 11:40 (NIV))

With recent events, it is often hard to imagine how God can be glorified in the midst of all of the issues that we now face.

Take heart. God is working in and through everything.

When we feel that things are going wrong, look up. God can and will turn them around. When we feel that all hope is lost, look up. God has given us a hope that cannot be taken away. When we feel that the enemy is winning, look up. Satan thought he was winning once before when Jesus hung on the cross, but it didn’t turn out the way he thought it would. With that in mind, why do you think that Satan will get the upper hand in any other attacks that he tries?

We know how it ends. We know who wins. If things seem a little bad now and then, we must simply remember who holds the future and thank God for that all important fact and pray. We must pray for peace. We must pray for understanding. We must pray for those who do not know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Then, when we believe, we will see the glory of God as He works miracles.

Are you ready to see the glory of God?

Copyright 1998 – 2014 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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