February 26, 2020
Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
(Psalms 100:1 (NIV))
If we base our joy on things of this earth, it is fleeting.
Think about the things of this world that bring you joy. Do you realize how quickly these things could change? Not only is it possible for your joy to be quickly changed, it is also possible for it to turn to grief. As humans, we place far too much emphasis on the things of this world. Even family and friends can change and turn our joy upside down. How do we focus on a joy that will never fade when all around us is temporary?
Nehemiah understood.
…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
(Nehemiah 8:10b (NIV))
We are to find our true joy in the Lord!
The psalmist took that concept even further. He instructed the whole earth to shout for joy to the Lord. Can you imagine the majesty and the glory when the whole world, with one voice, lifts up their joyous praise to the Lord? If you look at the current situations in the world, it is easy to think that this is never going to happen, but God has other plans. It will happen at some point in the future. It will happen when everything is made new.
It will happen…
Do you desire to see and hear this shout to the Lord?
What a glorious day this will be!
Copyright 1998 – 2020 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Posted by dailylivingministries
February 4, 2019
Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living
“But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live. Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?
(Ezekiel 18:21-23 (NIV))
This is wonderful news to know!
No matter what we do, we can turn from our wicked ways and be reconciled to God. God does not desire for any to perish. He delights in the sinner who turns from their sins.
Since we are to be God’s light in this world, we too, must delight when a sinner turns from their sins and accepts Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. We must not reject anyone, for God does not reject anyone who truly seeks Him.
Do you share in God’s joy when someone turns to Him?
Copyright 1998 – 2019 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Leave a Comment » | amazing joy, embrace the joy, eternal joy, full measure of joy, full of joy, great joy, joy, pure joy, share the joy of salvation, the joy of salvation, There is joy in knowing Jesus, true joy, Uncategorized | Tagged: accepts, away, Be still, decrees, deligths, desire, done, God, God's joy, Jesus, joy, just, keeps, light, live, Lord, news, reconciled, remembered, right, righteous, Savior, share, sinner, sins, surely, things, turn, turns, wicked, wonderful, world | Permalink
Posted by dailylivingministries
December 13, 2012
Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©
Be careful not to do your `acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
(Matthew 6:1 (NIV))
Ouch!
Are we guilty of this?
Do we perform acts of righteousness so that others will see them?
It is human nature to want to draw attention to ourselves. We like to “show off” so that others will see us and praise us. We must remember that the things that we are called to do are not considered righteous if we have the attitude that tells people “Look what I am doing!”
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
(Matthew 6:2-4 (NIV))
The praise of people is fleeting. It can change in an instant. It is worthless, for what good does the praise of people do us? Can it bring true joy? Can it bring peace? Can it bring true happiness?
What happens when we realize that the praise of people has stopped? Do we do things to regain that praise? Should we care about the praises of people?
People are fickle. Human nature seeks the next big thing to capture our attention and then we move on. When we seek the praise of people, we seek the wrong reward even if we seek the praise for doing something that is right in the eyes of God.
Think about that statement.
If we seek the praise of people, where do we stop? Do we start doing things that are sinful and outrageous to get the attention? I know that mental health professionals spend countless hours trying to help people who have done just that. What good does it do to receive temporary praise?
God is the only one that we should focus on pleasing!
God’s rewards are far superior to anything that man can offer. Only God, through His Son, Jesus, can offer grace and mercy that is eternal.
What can men offer in comparison?
Copyright 1998 – 2012 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Posted by dailylivingministries
Daily Living Ministries 