Have you placed your faith in what endures forever?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
(Isaiah 40:8 (NIV))

If you have spent many years in this world, you understand that seasons change and with the changing seasons, what we took for granted in the spring and summer slowly starts to fade in the fall. and is completely gone by winter. The green grass that we used as a carpet for our springtime and summer activities soon turns brown. The beauty of the flowers fades as the last petal falls leaving only a stem that will also soon wither and die. Each day that we look in the mirror finds us growing older and soon, the face that we see starring back at us is so much different from the face that we remember from our youth.

It is often said that time is a cruel mistress. It takes the things that are beautiful and turns them to something we don’t recognize. It takes the things that we love and makes them old and run down.

Nothing in this physical world endures! Even the biggest structures in the world deteriorate and fall apart.

Thankfully, we have a hope that is not of this world! We have a hope that is firmly rooted in someone who is greater than the world.

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—
(Psalms 103:17 (NIV))

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.
(Psalms 145:13 (NIV))

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6 (NIV))

Our hope is forever and everlasting. It is limitless in time and continues indefinitely. Is that something that our human minds can truly comprehend? We are finite. He is infinite. We are mortal. He is immortal. We are the creation. He is the Creator. We are destined to die. He has overcome death! We often follow lies. He is the only truth. We are sinful by nature. He is righteousness!

If there is something that endures forever, I am so thankful that it is His word, for our thoughts and actions without Him are destined to wither and die.

Have you placed your faith in what endures forever?

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

How will you be remembered?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
(Psalms 103:15-16 (NIV))

Human endeavors sometimes can make you laugh, especially when the endeavors are all geared towards what an individual can attain. Some people simply do not grasp the concept that they are only here for a short time and then they will be gone. All of their selfish striving will mean nothing one hundred years from now. It may even be sooner than that.

What do we do with the number of days that we have been given?

We cannot take any of the worldly possessions with us when we die. These possessions often rust and deteriorate even before we die. There is only one thing that is ours that we will be able to take with us when we die. Our soul is that one thing. Where we take it is up to us. If we recognize our mortality and accept the grace and mercy offered to us through the atoning blood of Jesus, then our soul will be taken to spend eternity with God. If we do not accept Jesus, then our soul will be cast into the lake of fire and eternal separation from God.

You cannot put a price tag on a soul, yet, a single soul is worth far more than all of the treasures that this world has to offer. What is the worth of all of the souls that have ever lived? What would be the price for all of these souls? I cannot begin to fathom the cost, yet, Jesus willingly paid the price for all of us!

Our days may be like grass, but our memory will be eternal through Jesus!

How will you be remembered?

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

What is it that you desire to see happen?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
(Matthew 24:32-35 (NIV))

Many people see the things that are happening in the world today, and fail to see things from God’s perspective. Not too many people have fig trees, but you can draw the comparison with all plant life that God has created. When you see flowers begin to bloom, you know that summer is near. When you see an apple tree begin to blossom, you know that summer is near. Why is it that we recognize these signs but far too many of us fail to recognize signs that are of much more importance?

If we were told by our boss that we would get a raise when our performance numbers get better, you can rest assured that we would be paying very close attention to our performance. If, as a child, you were told that you would get money if you bring home straight A’s on your report card, how many would fail to at least try?

If we, as followers of Jesus, long for His return, why do we fail to recognize the signs that indicate His return? If we truly desire for something to be, then we look for signs that indicate it will happen. If we don’t desire for something to happen, we find all kinds of excuses even when presented with undeniable proof. We can either see and recognize the signs or we can ignore the signs.

What is it that you desire to see happen?

Copyright 1998 – 2018 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

How strong are your roots?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.
(1 Peter 1:24-25 (NIV))

God tells us that we are like grass. We are here for a short time and then we are gone. We will be cut down and cast away just like the grass under our lawn mowers. Only God and His Word last forever. It is unchanging and constant. It is truth when all around us is a lie. It has depth.

Have you ever looked at the roots of grass? They are shallow. It is easy to pull up grass if you get a good hold on it. Sometimes it breaks. Sometimes it gets pulled up. Either way, it does not last. Consider the roots again. Some grass, even though it has shallow roots, sends out its roots in all directions so that they intertwine with the roots of other grass, giving it strength. If we are grass, then we should send out our roots of faith to other believers so that we can have the strength to withstand the times when we will wither. A single blade of grass is easy to destroy. A well manicured lawn takes more to destroy it.

Perhaps we should think of the church as the lawn. We, as the Body of Christ, get and give strength to an from each other. All men are like grass, but we have a choice as to the type and location of our planting and maturing. If we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and feed on the Word of God and spread out our roots to one another, then when our physical aspects wither, our spiritual aspects will be allowed to exist with God forever.

How are your roots? Do they help support others or do they have trouble supporting you?

Copyright 1998 – 2015 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
Subscribe to daily email delivery