Why do so many ignore judgment?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
(John 9:39 (NIV))

If Jesus states that this is why He first came, what do you think it will be like when He returns?

Too many people simply claim that Jesus is love, and they are correct. However, they have a distorted understanding of love. Love is not complete acceptance of sin. Love is desiring the best for those you love, and if that means what we call tough love must be administered, then love is not always acceptance.

Love can mean judgment, and to be honest with you, humanity does not like judgment!

Even though we may not like judgment, it can come in two forms. We have a choice to make as to which form we will see in our lives. The first is correction and teaching of what is right and wrong. The second is a punishment for not obeying the correction and teaching. All that you have to do is think back on your childhood for clarification. The first time that you did something wrong, were you punished or were you taught that it was wrong and that you shouldn’t do it again? What happened if you did it again?

Even though it is overly simplified, the concept applies to Jesus. When He walked the earth, He corrected and taught what we should do. He did this out of love, for He does not wish for any to perish. He did not wish for any to face judgment.

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. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
(John 3:16-21 (NIV))

Sadly, too many people stop at this passage and never go any further. They never come to a complete understanding of why Jesus came into the world.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
(Luke 19:10 (NIV))

This passage implies that there will still be lost people. They are the ones who will not accept fully what Jesus came to do. They will only see Jesus as love and then continue in their sin. They will ignore the judgment.

Why do so many ignore judgment?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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What do you desire to understand?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

As you do not know the path of the wind,
     or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
     the Maker of all things.
(Ecclesiastes 11:5 (NIV))

Worldly knowledge and scientific knowledge has greatly increased since this was written, but what does it matter if we can track the growth of a baby in a mother’s womb, or we can predict the wind and the weather?

We still cannot understand the work of God!

Humanity thinks that it is becoming so smart. I’ll let you in on a little secret. Humanity has gained knowledge but we have lost wisdom. When a big part of society simply cannot understand the classifications within the following passage, we have serious problems.

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
(Genesis 2:24 (NIV))

We may have knowledge, but we lack the wisdom to know what to do with it.

We may have knowledge, but we lack the understanding to know right from wrong.

We may have knowledge, but we can’t recognize truth when it is right in front of us.

Do you desire to understand the work of God?

Do you long for true wisdom?

It starts with a saving relationship with Jesus, and that starts with a very simple profession of faith. Some even say that 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.

What do you desire to understand?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Are you still an enemy of God?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
(James 4:4 (NIV))

Perhaps this is better understood in other words. Consider Matthew 6:24.

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
(Matthew 6:24 (NIV))

Money represents what the world has to offer: sin and death. God represents salvation, grace and mercy. You cannot follow both paths. They are mutually exclusive of each other.

This is a common teaching in the Bible, especially in the New Testament. It is a common teaching method to repeat what is important so that the student will realize and remember what is being repeated. Perhaps we should pay more attention to what is being told to us in these passages, after all, Jesus thought enough of the teaching to tell us more than once.

With this in mind, let’s use the repetition method ourselves and stress what God is telling us. In this teaching, we must also remember that Satan is the ruler of this world since we allowed him in through our disobedience.

Now, if we love the world, who do we love?

This gives us insight into God’s reason for these passages.

Are you still an enemy of God?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Are you obedient to His commands?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

You are my friends if you do what I command.
(John 15:14 (NIV))

Do you profess a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?

Everyone who has said that they have accepted the gift of grace claims Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, but how many look upon this gift as simply a get out of hell free card? How many people continue to do the very same things without any thought to the fact that Jesus calls out to repent, to leave our lives of sin. He tells us the very same thing that He told the woman caught in adultery when asked if anyone was still there who was condemning her.

No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
(John 8:11 (NIV))

He doesn’t condemn us if we leave our lives of sin. We have a limited number of days that we live in which to do just that.

This goes hand in hand with the rest of the wording behind John 3:16.

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))

Jesus laid down His life for His friends. He did this in order to save the world and not condemn it. Still, human nature gets in the way. Just as we like to say that someone we barely know is a friend, we claim that as well with Jesus.

Is Jesus truly your friend?

Do you know His heart? Do you know what breaks His heart? Do you know what He has commanded His followers to do?

More importantly, I have one more question to ask of you.

Are you obedient to His commands?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Where do your priorities lie?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
(John 12:43 (NIV))

This was originally written about some of the Jewish leaders who believed in Jesus, yet were afraid to openly admit it. They were afraid that they would be put out of the synagogue. In other words, their position in society would be destroyed. They were not willing to give up earthly things for things of eternal value. They knew that if they publicly professed a faith in Jesus, their lives as they knew them would be over.

They were not willing to take up their cross and follow Jesus!

They claim to believe, yet all of their outward actions, all of their social circles, all of the earthly status is based on what others think of them.

Do you know anyone like this?

I have one more question for you and it requires serious self reflection.

Are you like this?

Do you live for human praise? Do you change your plans if you think someone will see you? Do you change your behavior around people who are not believers? Do you say and do things in order to “fit in” at work? Do you hide any reference to Jesus from those with whom you come into contact?

Think about those questions and your answers. If you find yourself doing any of these things, you may still be seeking the praise of people over the praise of God?

If you profess a faith in Jesus, then He must be your priority. You must not be ashamed of the Gospel or His name!

Where do your priorities lie?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Always keep your eyes focused on Jesus!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV))

Do you do these three things?

Perhaps I should elaborate a little.

When was the last time that you were truly joyful, and how long did it last?

When was the last time that you prayed and how long did you pray for?

When was the last time that you were truly thankful, and did this change when your circumstances changed?

We read this passage, and as humans with limited understanding, we tend to overlook these three critical words.

Always

Continually

All

I personally believe that we ignore these words due to the simple fact that we don’t truly understand the concept of eternity. It is difficult to comprehend something that is never ending. Everything in our human existence is based on a clearly defined starting point and an absolute end. We even profess this through a common saying that nothing lasts forever. With this in mind, how does a believer in Jesus overcome this limited understanding and apply the concept of limitless, eternal thinking to our lives?

It takes practice!

We must be willing to accept that because of what Jesus did for us, we should be eternally joyful. We should desire to be in continual communication with the lover of our soul. We must recognize that as sinners in need of a Savior, we have been given something profoundly amazing. Because of this gift, even in the worst of circumstances, we must recognize that our hope is not of this world. Our hope, and our faith, are firmly and eternally placed in Jesus!

When this world seems overwhelming, remember that we have the assurance of something beyond comprehension. We have something of eternal value.

Always keep your eyes focused on Jesus!

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Does Jesus offend you?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?
(John 6:61 (NIV))

We try to ignore this passage, this question, but it is something that each of us must answer.

There are many things that Jesus taught that are labeled as “hard teachings.” These are things that make us stop and truly examine our faith. All of these “hard sayings” are truths taken out of God’s Word. They make us feel uncomfortable. They may even make us feel like walking away, but we must realize that if we walk away from these “hard sayings,” then we walk away from Jesus.

We cannot separate Jesus from the things that He taught!

They are one and the same!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
(John 1:1-5 (NIV))

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:14 (NIV))

Jesus is the Word made flesh. If there are things that He says that offend you, then you are offended by Jesus.

I want you to take a long, hard look at your life and truthfully answer one question. Your answer may have eternal ramifications.

Does Jesus offend you?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Do you still thirst for this Living Water?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
(John 4:13-14 (NIV))

I want to ask you a question, if I may.

How many times have you felt the presence of God and you actually felt like you had something welling up inside of you? Did you feel like you could “bubble over?” Did you feel refreshed and cleansed?

I have often wondered if this is how we personally experience the Living Water that Jesus gives to us.

Think back on the times when you know that you felt God’s presence the most in your life. How did you feel? Do these thoughts evoke the feelings that you would associate with water? It quenches your thirst. It refreshes. It cleanses. It is cooling. It is soothing. It is comforting. Fresh water is often thought of as bubbling up, or welling up, from a spring. The sounds of bubbling water are relaxing and peaceful. Do these thoughts describe the sensations that you felt when you felt God’s presence?

I find it very interesting that we can go without food for many days, but that we cannot go without water or we will die. Water is essential to our survival. It is so much a part of us. Still, in our physical form, we will eventually not be able to be refreshed. Water is an integral part of each of us.

I have said before that I believe that for every physical aspect of life, there is a corresponding spiritual aspect of life. Water is important to our physical bodies and Living Water is important for our spiritual well being. Just as water is essential to life, Living Water is essential to eternity. Somehow our bodies know this. It is our minds that make us not see the obvious.

Living Water rejuvenates. It cleanses. It soothes, It is calming. It is peaceful.

It is the way that God pours out upon us the closeness of a relationship with Him that we lost at the Garden of Eden. Living Water brings peace. It brings joy. It brings patience. It brings kindness. It brings self-control. Just as physical fruits cannot mature without water, the fruits of the Spirit need the Living Water to grow to maturity.

Do you still thirst for this Living Water?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Where do you place your trust?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
     but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
(Psalms 20:7 (NIV))

With the state of the economy, where do you place your trust?

With the state of the government, where do you place your trust?

With the state of society, where do you place your trust?

Is it just me, or does it seem like everything is falling apart? It is acceptable to kill unborn children but it is a profoundly intolerable crime to kill an animal. It is acceptable to embrace sin, but to confess that you are a follower of Jesus is socially unacceptable. It is okay to teach our children about Islam in schools, but if we mention Jesus we are told to be tolerant. It is okay to allow someone who very publicly states they want to destroy us to have the very weapons that would allow it to happen, yet we cannot have weapons to defend ourselves. It is okay to be homosexual, transgender or whatever else someone’s mind tells them that they should be, yet if we say we disagree with their choices, we are labeled as haters.

In the midst of all that is going wrong in the world, where do you place your trust?

Every man-made organization is falling apart. Sinful man cannot create anything that will last.

Even the church is having issues. Let me clarify this. Society thinks of the man-made aspects of the church and not the true church. Man-made traditions are falling apart. God’s truths last forever and no amount of societal pressure can change that. Think about that last statement and then decide where you will place your trust. Would you place your trust in the fallen systems created by a sinful, fallen humanity or would you trust a perfect Creator who has a perfect plan?

Take a long, hard look at all that is going on in the world and tell the Lord our God that you place your trust solely in Him?

Where do you place your trust?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Do you have the faith of a little child?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.””
(Mark 10:15 (NIV))

What did you worry about when you were a little child?

If you are like me, the answer is simple.

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

You never doubted anything. You trusted what your parents told you. You believed because you still possessed the power of innocence.

The sinful, fallen world had not corrupted your mind to the point where you only see sin. You had no reason to fear because you had not been exposed to sin and hatred. You had no reason to worry because all of your needs were met. I realize that this is not always true, and if it was not for you, I am sorry that you were exposed to the cruelties of this world far too soon.

Even so, we are to approach our faith with the same innocence, with the same trust, and with the same lack of fear.

What is your faith like?

Do you have the faith of a little child?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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