How well do you love?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
(1 John 4:18 (NAS))

It has been said that there is a thin line between fear and hate. If you fear others, then it is because you are close to hating others. This is probably not intentional, but, it is true.

It is through love that hatred is abolished, and through this, fear is abated. You cannot fear someone that you love. They are opposite extremes and diametrically opposed to each other. You either love with no fear, or you fear with hatred as the root.

We are to live with Jesus as the example. Jesus did not know fear or hatred. He had compassion and mercy on all that He encountered. It was their reactions to Him that set the tone of the interactions. No matter what happened, Jesus always responded in love and mercy. If we are to be followers of Jesus, then we, too, should respond to all whom we see with love and mercy. Jesus gave us instructions on what to do.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
(John 13:34-35)

How well have you carried out this new commandment? Can others tell that you are a disciple of Jesus?

How well do you love?

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

There are consequences for a lack of wisdom and understanding!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
     and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
(Proverbs 9:10 (NIV))

Do you think yourself to be wise?

What type of wisdom do you seek?

There are basically two types of wisdom that we can seek after. One is earthly wisdom, or should I say earthly knowledge. I have seen too many people with so many advanced degrees but no common sense, no wisdom. The other type of wisdom is spiritual, godly and eternal wisdom. I have seen people whom the world shuns because they do not have the right credentials, the right education, the right knowledge, but they are wise because of what they do possess! Please do not misunderstand me. Knowledge is good. Education is good, but these without righteousness and wisdom will result in an arrogance, an ego, a proud character that will make you feel superior to those around you. It will make you feel that there is no God.

The fool says in his heart,
     “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
     there is no one who does good.
(Psalms 14:1 (NIV))

Arrogance and pride have caused the downfall of many, including Satan. This arrogance and pride are a rebellion against God. They are used to elevate themselves above God. This is what happened in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were tricked. All of humanity fell into a sinful existence from which we could not escape. God, in His infinite wisdom, came up with a plan of redemption. He sent His Son, Jesus, to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins. If we accept this gift of grace and mercy, our names are recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. This confession, this entry, gives us eternal salvation. This is the only wisdom and understanding that truly mean anything, for they have an eternal impact.

Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
(Revelation 20:15 (NIV))

I don’t know about you, but this does not sound like something that I want to experience. It serves as a reminder that we must all pay attention to our pursuit of wisdom and understanding. It also helps to point out the one thing that we must all recognize.

There are consequences for a lack of wisdom and understanding!

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

There is nothing else that must be said!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
(Romans 8:31 (NIV))

When you face the things that this world sends your way, how do you respond?

Do you cower in fear? Are you more afraid of the things of this world than you care to admit? To be perfectly honest with you, it is extremely easy to fall into this trap. It is extremely easy to see the things of this world and be so overwhelmed that you forget the very promises that made you profess a faith in Jesus to begin with.

If you profess a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you may find yourself asking how is this even possible.

Far too many people who profess a faith in Jesus take their eyes off of Jesus. They feel comfortable in their faith and soon find themselves neglecting the still, small voice. They neglect to be still in His presence. They neglect to make their faith their priority. They claim Jesus as their Savior, but don’t rely on Him in their daily lives.

In other words, they no longer place the Lord first!

They see the world and look at their shortcomings and panic. They never look up. They never turn to the Lord in order to rely on His strength.

Have you ever been guilty of this?

It is time to be honest with yourself, for I know that I have been guilty far more times than I care to admit.

We must remember, and cling to the fact, that through the atoning Blood of Jesus, our sins have been forgiven. We have been made righteous in the eyes of God. We are called sons and daughters of God! Have you ever known a loving father who is against his own children?

There is nothing else that must be said!

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

Do you want your name found in the book of life?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
(Revelation 20:15 (NIV))

I truly understand why people have an uncertainty and fear of the book of Revelation, after all, who wants to have this happen to them!

But, . . .

This passage describes what happens to those who have not professed a faith in Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. It is the last passage of five that describes what has come to be known as the Great White Throne Judgment. It is for those who have not had their sins covered by the blood of the lamb. This judgment is for those who have rejected the grace and mercy that God has freely given to all who would simply believe.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
(John 3:16-18 (NIV))

Do you believe?

If you answered “Yes” to this question, then you have nothing to fear for you are not condemned. Your sins have been forgiven. You will not stand before God in fear and trembling!

The book of Revelation is a promise of the fulfillment of God’s plan to restore the world to His design. For those who have professed a faith in Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, this is a glorious time for we know that we will see our Lord and spend eternity with Him. For those who have not accepted God’s gift of grace through the atoning blood of Jesus, this time is a time of lawlessness, pain and suffering that will eventually end in eternal judgment. How you see this period in God’s plan is up to you. How you experience this part of God’s plan is up to you. You can change your outlook on this judgment and all of eternity by making a simple profession of faith.

It is as easy as ABC!

A is for admit that you are a sinner in need of a savior.

B is for believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Him from the dead.

C is for call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.

The book of Revelation, just like many passages from Daniel and Ezekiel, is a glimpse into the fulfillment of God’s promises. It should give you hope. It should instill within you a desire to have your name found in the book of life?

Do you want your name found in the book of life?

Copyright 1998 – 2022 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

What do you have to fear?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

So do not fear, for I am with you;
      do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
      I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
(Isaiah 41:10 (NIV))

There have been many times in human history where people faced uncertainty, but there have only been a few times in recorded history where the whole world faced catastrophic events. Noah is one example. Do you think that Noah was fearful while those all around him suffered? Personally, I believe that Noah had no fear at all as he faced the events that had been foretold. The key to Noah’s lack of fear was simple. God was with him.

Why was God with Noah?

Noah lived his life in such a way that he found favor in the eyes of the Lord!

Is this how you live your life?

Think about that in the context of what is happening worldwide with wars and rumors of wars, food shortages, pandemics, and skyrocketing prices. Is the Lord with you as you face the things that are unfolding? Are you at peace while those around you are in panic mode?

I realize that these are serious questions, but they are called for because we are facing serious times. Jesus told us that we would face troubles in this world, and at this moment in time, those troubles are escalating and converging. Thankfully, we don’t have to face the troubles with fear. We can face them with peace!

“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))

Many people say that peace is the absence of war, but I believe that the Lord defines peace as the absence of fear. We only know peace by placing our faith and trust in Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.

What do you have to fear?

Copyright 1998 – 2022 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

Have you accepted His mercy?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

His mercy extends to those who fear him,
     from generation to generation.
(Luke 1:50 (NIV))

Have you ever read these words and realized that this is the reason that Jesus came into the world?

He came to bring us mercy. He came to bring us grace. He came to bring us hope. He came to bring us something that we could not achieve on our own, and that was a way to be reconciled, to be made righteous in the eyes of God the Father. If that isn’t mercy, then what is it? Perhaps you could say that it is love.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
(John 3:16-18 (NIV))

When you think of the birth of Jesus, many things comes to mind, but the one thing that we must remember is that God came to be with us so that His mercy could be explained and offered firsthand. He came to fulfill the law so that we could be held blameless and righteous through His actions. He came so that we could have abundant life in this world and with Him in eternity.

He provided a way for us to escape the consequences of our sinful, human nature and all that we have to do to be shown this mercy is follow a plan as easy as ABC.

A is for admit that you are a sinner in need of a savior.

B is for believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Him from the dead.

C is for call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.

Have you accepted His mercy?

Copyright 1998 – 2021 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

What is your understanding?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
(Proverbs 9:10 (NIV))

Is there anything in this world that you fear?

For those who profess a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, that is an extremely loaded question, for we have accepted God’s love, grace and mercy through the gift of His Son, Jesus.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16 (NIV))

God’s gift is perfect! God’s love is perfect!

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
(1 John 4:18 (NIV))

As believers in Jesus, we have nothing to fear in this world. Even when everything all around you appears to be falling apart, you have nothing to fear. Even when the enemy is knocking on your door, you have nothing to fear. Even when your physical life may be threatened, you have nothing to fear. As believers in Jesus, we must fully embrace the truth of the words written by Paul.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
(Philippians 1:21 (NIV))

What we should fear are the consequences of not accepting the gift of perfect love as expressed at the cross. What we should fear is an eternity cast away from the presence of the Lord because we are too proud to admit that we are a sinner in need of a Savior. What we should fear is a righteous God who will judge us on one simple plan of salvation that is freely offered to all who will receive.

Are you ready to admit that you are a sinner in need of a savior?

Are you ready to believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Him from the dead?

Are you ready to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus?

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, for it leads us to the realization that without Jesus, we are lost. With Jesus, we have eternal love, grace and mercy.

What is your understanding?

Copyright 1998 – 2021 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

Are you still dealing with fear?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
(1 John 4:18 (ESV))

Do you fear the future?

Exactly what do you fear?

If you profess a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, is fear really a part of that profession of faith? We know that it shouldn’t be, but are you truly able to claim that you have no fear because of what Jesus did for you on the cross? We are supposed to look to Jesus and leave everything at the foot of the cross, but our human nature makes us look back. Why do we take our eyes off of the single best thing that gives us eternal grace and look back at what is decaying and dying? What makes us cling to our sin and this world when we should cling only to Jesus?

I can understand how someone can be fearful at this time in history. For those who profess a faith in Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, and who faithfully spend time in God’s Word, the events transpiring in the world sound all too familiar to the beginnings of what is foretold in Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation. If we spend time in God’s Word, the events occurring around us should give us hope of His soon return. The sad truth is that very few people who profess a faith in Jesus hear or read anything from God’s Word except for what they are spoon fed on Sunday morning.

How can we grow in our faith if we are still being spoon fed? How can we mature in our understanding if we don’t read and study on our own? How can we test whether something is true if we don’t examine the Scriptures to seek the truth? Each of us should take a lesson from the Berean Jews.

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
(Acts 17:11 (NIV))

Are there certain parts of God’s Word that you avoid because you don’t like what they say? Do they make you feel uneasy? That is called conviction! We simply can’t ignore parts of God’s Word because it makes us feel uneasy.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV))

Are you thoroughly equipped for every good work?

Are you thoroughly equipped with the knowledge that is contained within God’s Word?

Are you thoroughly equipped so that you have nothing to fear?

Are you still dealing with fear?

Copyright 1998 – 2021 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery

Do you trust in the Lord?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
(Proverbs 29:25 (NIV))

Do you fear the events of the world?

Think carefully about that question before you answer, for the events of the world are all caused by man. God foretold of them, but what is playing out is the direct result of our sinful, fallen nature. Wars and rumors of wars are all caused by human nature. Calling evil good and good evil is a direct result of our rebellious, sinful nature. I could go on, but everything since Satan deceived Adam and Eve has been a direct result of our sinful, fallen nature.

Back to the events of the world. Do you fear COVID? Do you fear the vaccine? Do you fear lawlessness and hatred? Do you fear evil? Do you fear war? Is your fear increasing as these things and many more increase in the world? What does that say about where you are focusing your attention and your trust?

If you focus on the world, we lose hope. All that we see and will see is the ever-increasing sin and rebellion of humanity. We must focus our minds, our hearts and our spirits on the one thing that will allow us to overcome the world.

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
(1 John 5:5 (NIV))

When we look at the world, we know fear. When we look to Jesus, we know peace. Where do you look? What do you desire to know? Where do you desire to place your trust?

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))

Are you an overcomer?

Do you trust in the Lord?

Copyright 1998 – 2021 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

Have you found a new beginning?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
(Proverbs 1:7 (NIV))

What is it about human nature that makes us all think that we are capable of anything and everything on our own strength, skills and abilities? It starts as a toddler. I still remember my now adult daughter as a two year old adamantly saying “Me do it!” Now she has a little girl who is almost two. She is just now only beginning to express her independence in a similar manner. I knowingly look forward to the quest for independence that my granddaughter will be going through. Without such a quest, we don’t mature. We don’t grow. But, there comes a point when and where we must also be willing to grow by seeking wisdom and instruction from a source beyond ourselves.

Some people never do grow to that point, and even those who do have relapses where we despise wisdom and instruction. We have all experienced something today where we thought that we could do it better than the person who was doing it. Perhaps some of us even said it out loud!

What happens when that human nature that likes to rebel against authority comes into direct rebellion against the Lord?

Actually, I don’t have enough time to recount all the things that have been recorded when this has happened. Most of the Bible is the story of how God created, man rebelled, God reached out to save, and man rebelled again. Even when Jesus stepped out of heaven to come to this world, that story continued. It will continue until the Lord returns. The big difference is that now we can repent and accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. We can choose to fear the Lord, or should I say that we can choose to fear the consequences from the Lord that result from our sinful actions. I have previously said that this fear is not one of trembling, but of respect. In the same manner that we feared our father when we were growing up, we need to fear the Lord. The Lord is full authority and just in His reprimands. He still loves us. He loves us enough to not allow us to stay in rebellion. He will try to draw us to Him so that we can learn and repent.

Some people have interpreted this fear to mean respect. I agree with this concept. If you respect the Lord, you also fear His reprimand. It is your desire to do what pleases the Lord. It is said that David was a man after God’s own heart. How do you think that this came to be? David feared the Lord, yet he also loved and respected the Lord. When he came to this point in his life, David found a new beginning that led him in step with the Lord.

Have you found a new beginning?

Copyright 1998 – 2020 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
Support Daily Living Ministries
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook