Do you have all that you need?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:19 (NIV))

Do you have all that you need?

Be honest with yourself when you answer. Don’t confuse need with want. With this in mind, I’m going to list several things and I want you to think about them in relationship to your life. Do you need them or do you want them? There is a difference!

A new car
A bigger house
A big bank account balance

Now, let’s take a look at some more things and decide whether you need them or you want them.

Grace
Mercy
Salvation
Daily bread

There is a huge difference between the things that we need and the things that we want. Based on the two lists, our wants are earthly and temporary. They will have no lasting impact on us once moth and rust take hold. Our needs have eternity in mind. Even our earthly needs are solely focused on one day at a time and have the resulting effect of keeping us focused on Jesus. We are to rely on Him! We are to place our faith and our trust in the Lord!

When we experience disaster, we learn quickly the difference between need and want. Each of us have basics human needs that long to be met.

Love
Shelter
Food
Forgiveness

The sad thing is that we spend so much time replacing what we truly need with what we want. Jesus is all that we need. Through Him, God’s love was made manifest. In Jesus, we find shelter from the ravages of the enemy. Jesus is the Bread of Life. Through Jesus, we find forgiveness, mercy and grace!

Do you have all that you need?

Copyright 1998 – 2020 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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What do you allow into your house?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.
(Deuteronomy 7:26 (NIV))

Would you bring a wild, rabid animal into your house?

Would you allow a thief into your house?

Would you allow an elephant into your house?

I think that it is safe to assume that the answer to all of these questions is a resounding “No!”

No one in their right mind would allow such destruction, such danger, into their homes. Ironically, we think nothing of doing just that with respect to our lives and to our bodies. Our bodies are our earthly shell, our earthly home, while we walk this earth. In addition, if we have invited Jesus into our lives, our bodies are much more than just our earthly shell.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
(1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV))

If this is the case, why do we bring detestable things into our lives when we claim to be followers of Jesus?

We rightly turn away from murder and stealing. We turn away from drugs and alcohol. We turn away from many detestable things that are clearly visible, but yet, we allow many detestable things into our lives that are just as dangerous, but are not glaringly obvious. Why do we allow greed, envy, anger, and lust to take up residence? Why do we allow hate, pride and ego to have free reign in our lives when there is something so different that we should be letting in?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22 (NIV))

What do you allow into your house?

Copyright 1998 – 2018 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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What is your perspective on what you believe?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
(1 John 3:12 (NIV))

When Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, He spoke of being born again. He even went so far as to explain it in relationship to flesh and Spirit.

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
(John 3:5-6 (NIV))

Nicodemus was searching for an answer that he would understand. From the recorded verses, it is obvious that Nicodemus still did not understand. He was looking at things only from his perspective, from his context and his limited understanding. He was looking only at the physical world. He was so caught up in his understanding that he failed to realize that his understanding was all wrong. He failed to believe because of his faulty understanding. He was taking things literally.

Jesus, on the other hand, was trying to express to Nicodemus that he had to have a rebirth of the heart. He had to have a rebirth of his attitude. He had to have a rebirth in his way of thinking about his relationship with God. In all of his worldly understanding, Nicodemus had misunderstood what God calls important.

We have a tendency to look at the worldly things as if they are what is important in this life. Too many of us have accepted the lie that if we can’t see it, then it isn’t real. How can you believe in God if you believe like this? How can you understand spiritual matters when all that you understand is what you can see, taste and touch? God created us as spiritual beings in a physical body. Why do so many of us lose sight of our spiritual nature and only see the physical nature?

What is your perspective on what you believe?

Copyright 1998 – 2017 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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What do you think about most of the time?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
(Colossians 3:2 (NIV))

What do you think about most of the time? Are you worried about finances? Is it health concerns that have you in thought? Is there a loved one who has strayed and you desire for them to return? Do you find yourself worried about the state of our politicians and their direction or lack of direction? If you are like me, there are countless things that can distract you from thinking about what you should contemplate.

Don’t get me wrong! We need to think of these things. We can’t focus only on heaven and ignore the world in which we live. Have you ever heard someone described as being so heaven minded that they are no earthly good. Jesus called us to be salt and light to the world. He did not call us to accept Him and shut out the world.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
(Matthew 5:13 (NIV))

We cannot turn our backs on the things of this world. We must be a part of this world. We need to do it in a manner that brings glory to God and not in a manner that brings worry to ourselves. We must show people that they too have an opportunity for hope. We must set our minds on Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us so that we become active members of the Body of Christ. Each member of a body has a function. We must perform our function so that others may see Jesus. We are not to shut ourselves up and ignore the world. What good do we do when this happens? What good will our salt be to the people around us?

Copyright 1998 – 2015 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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