If you are searching for something new, turn to Jesus!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
(Acts 17:21 (NIV))

Does this sound familiar to what is happening in our society today?

It appears that being woke isn’t exactly a new thing. The name may have changed, but the sinful nature that is at the root of the condition is still the same. Whether is was then or it is now, human nature is always trying to break free of the history that defines us. In fact, if the Athenians would have had social media, I can only imagine the posts and arguments that could have occurred. It is in this exact environment where God was able to use Paul to reach those who were open to any and all new knowledge. The only difference between then and now is that then they were actually looking for the truth. Paul was able to use that inquisitive interest to explain to them what the truth is. Today, after thousands of years of truth, the inquisitive minds are looking to shun the truth and replace it with whatever is irrational and foolish.

Today, they have been given over to depraved and reprobate minds!

They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
(Romans 1:29-32 (NIV))

Can you think of some cities in this world that are now known for “new” thinking and “new” living?

Are any of these cities a place where you would want to live?

Seeking after truth is not a new human characteristic. It has been the inmost desire since the fall from grace. Over the course of all of human history, people have tried to define their own truth. Paul made it clear that there was an absolute truth in the God of creation. Today, everyone wants to create their own truth. They want to shun the teachings of the last few thousand years as well as the basic concepts of truth. Everything has gone from a simple good or evil, to a sliding scale of infinite possibilities even when the scientific evidence clearly indicates that there are but two choices.

I will admit that in human eyes, many things do have a range of possibilities, but in God’s eyes, that is not the case. Nothing that we come up with will be right and true.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(Romans 3:23 (NIV))

Anything that leaves God out of the equation is a lie.

The fool says in his heart,
     “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
     there is no one who does good.
(Psalm 53:1 (NIV))

If you are searching for something new, turn to Jesus!

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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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.
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Do you long for Godly wisdom?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
(Romans 1:22 (NIV))

Do you remember what we are told is God’s definition of a fool?

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

In essence, it is rejecting God. This can mean that someone never believed. It can also mean that this can come about from those who claim to know Him and then reject or turn away from Him.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
(Romans 1:21-23 (NIV))

We seem to be living in a time when fools are increasing in number. People are looking at the world as if they are in control. People feel as if they have all of the answers and all of the knowledge.

I want to let you in on a little secret. I have all of the answers.

To the world, that last statement may sound arrogant. It may sound just like all of the power hungry people all throughout history, but if you profess a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, then you also have all of the answers!

I can proclaim this with complete certainty due to the following facts.

– We are all sinners
– We all are in need of a Savior

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
(Acts 4:12 (NIV))

I have come to realize that it takes faith to be a fool, to say that there is no God. People who make this profession see themselves as wise, but in all honesty, they are suffering from something that many people confuse for wisdom. They have been educated, they have been given false knowledge that makes them believe that there is no God. Personally, I don’t want the type of faith that it takes to be a fool. I long for Godly wisdom!

Do you long for Godly wisdom?

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Seek Him in all that you do!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
(Romans 1:28 (NIV))

The English Standard Version and the New King James Version both reference a debased mind. The King James Version uses the words a reprobate mind. No matter what translation you prefer, the meaning is clear. God allows those who basically mock Him and rebel against Him to get exactly what they want to the point of depravity, corruption, evil and perversion.

When you see things unfolding in this world, we must remember that God is a gentleman. He will not force Himself on anyone. He allows people to get what they want. As we watch things unfold right before our eyes, all that we can do is pray for God’s Will to be done. When evil is being called good and good is being called evil, we must pray for God’s Will to be done. When the world appears to be helpless, hopeless and lost, we must pray for God’s Will to be done. We look at things and want to pray for our will to be done, but that is what the world strives to do. We must put our will aside and pray that we seek His Will and His understanding. Sadly, there are so many people who will push their will all the way to eternal separation from God.

I know a lady who got to the point that she simply prayed to know what she needs to know when she needs to know it. With all that is going on in the world, I truthfully believe that we should all be praying this same prayer. Ask for His guidance. Ask for His direction. Stay at the foot of the cross and keep your eyes focused on Jesus.

I saw many things today that from a worldly perspective made my heart sink. At the same time, from a faith perspective, they made me look up for Jesus! When you hear of a public address program aimed at New York City telling people what to do in case of a nuclear attack, you look up. When you hear of record breaking heat waves in areas of the world that have never had temperatures in these extremes, you look up. When you hear of global pandemics, you look up. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, you look up. When you hear of labor shortages, food shortages, and increasing prices, you look up. When you hear that people can’t define the differences between a man and a woman, you look up. When a lie is considered the truth and the truth is considered a lie, you look up.

I don’t know about you, but I am seeing so much depravity in the world. There is so much more than I have ever seen.

I saw a video today that had me in tears. It wasn’t because of the depravity it contained. It was a music video of the song “Way Maker.” It was performed in Jerusalem and the group consisted of Arabic believers and Jewish believers singing the song in Arabic, Hebrew and English. I watched it so many times and each time I watched it, I felt such joy and peace. I had tears in my eyes each time I watched it. Just thinking about it brings tears of joy.

Can you imagine the chorus of voices in heaven? Worship at its finest. Far away from the depravity of the world.

We have a promise to hold on to. Don’t allow the depravity of the world make you lose site of that promise, that hope that we have in Jesus.

The knowledge of our Lord is so worthwhile!

Seek Him in all that you do!

Copyright 1998 – 2022 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Is love your goal?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
(2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV))

As believers, we look at these qualities and desire to possess them, to make them an integral part of our lives, but have you ever thought of them as stepping stones to the ultimate godly characteristic? If you read the passage as it was written, they build one upon the other until you get to the desired end – love!

What do you think of when you hear the word “love?”

Is love the ultimate desire in your life or is your life tainted by the world’s definition of love? Do you associate love only with romantic or familial affection? Perhaps you are capable of extending love to those beyond your initial inner circle and can show love to people who are merely acquaintances. Is there more to what God defines as love?

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(2 Peter 1:8 (NIV))

Do you realize that this can be summarized as follows? If you do not show love as God defines love, then you have an ineffective and unproductive partial knowledge of Jesus!

Ouch!

Did that hit home?

I know that it does for me.

We like to think that God would have sent Jesus into this world if we had been the only sinner in need of a Savior, and, to be completely honest with you, I am sure that He would have. However, we are not the only one who needed a Savior.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(Romans 3:23 (NIV))

God’s love is available to any who will simple accept it, but we are not called to hold onto it for ourselves. That is completely selfish and shows a total lack of love. We are called to show God’s love to others. It is God’s desire for us to mature in our faith so that we can be a witness to anyone and everyone whom we meet. That should also be our desire, our goal in our walk of faith.

Is love your goal?

Copyright 1998 – 2022 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Do your thoughts run wild?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
(2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV))

In other words, we should control what we say, see, hear and do so that we can focus on the Lord, and we should also control what we think!

This sounds wonderful, but as Paul wrote these words to the church at Corinth, he was giving instructions to the members of that body of believers on how to conduct spiritual warfare.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
(2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NIV))

In fact, it was Paul who was coming under attack by others who were professing to love the Gospel. These words were encouragement to weigh what he was preaching to see if he was boasting. Paul was telling this group of people, and us, to look at the message and not the messenger, for they were saying that his writings were powerful yet his speaking was not.

You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.
(2 Corinthians 10:7 (NIV))

Sadly, we still experience this very same thing today. We judge the messenger and not the message. We can have a dynamic speaker who doesn’t speak the truth and this person will be followed. We can also have a speaker who is shy and timid and speaks the truth, but who follows this person? We must learn to discern who is speaking the truth and, as Paul wrote, demolish arguments so that we can take captive our every thought so that we are obedient to Christ. If we are too tied up in appearances, we will not be focused on the truth. Our thoughts will run out of control toward the worldly things that we say that we want to turn away from. We will have not only failed to take our thoughts captive, we will have enabled them to run wild.

Do your thoughts run wild?

Copyright 1998 – 2021 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Do you anxiously seek Godly knowledge?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the scroll until the end of time. Many will go back and forth and search anxiously [through the scroll], and knowledge [of the purpose of God as revealed by His prophets] will [greatly] increase.
(Daniel 12:4 (AMP))

Have you ever heard this passage translated in this way?

Perhaps you are more familiar with it from this translation.

But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.
(Daniel 12:4 (NIV))

Most of us think of this passage with respect to the last sentence and take that to mean that people will be able to go everywhere easily and that human knowledge such as technology will increase. To be honest with you, this is a perfect picture of our world today. We have seen more advancements in the last one hundred years with respect to travel and human knowledge than we have over the last several thousand years.

I have a question for you to consider.

What was in the original Hebrew scrolls that made one translation allude to this as traveling here and there to increase knowledge while another translator chose to indicate that people will be going back and forth anxiously searching the scriptures for knowledge of the end of time?

I realize that everyone has their personal favorite translation that they like to use, but unless you are capable of fluently reading the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, we are all at the mercy of the people who translated God’s Word. We must learn to go beyond our favorite translation and cross reference other translations. We are to search the scriptures in such a way that we eagerly seek His insight into His Word, and if that means comparing translations to help us understand the intent of the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, then we must do so with prayerful consideration. Even if we only read one translation, we must pray for God to open our eyes, our hearts and our minds so that we truly understand His Word. We must be like the Bereans.

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 17:10-12 (NIV))

We must examine the scriptures!

We must be eager in our examinations!

Do you search anxiously through God’s Word? Do you cross-reference from one passage to another and from one translation to another? Let’s take that back to the context originally spoken of in this passage. Let’s look at the increase in the desire to understand the end of time. Have you seen an increase in the eagerness to understand this knowledge?

Daniel, I now command you to keep the message of this book secret until the end of time, even though many people will go everywhere, searching for the knowledge to be found in it.
(Daniel 12:4 (CEV))

God’s Word is much more than instructions on how to live our lives. It is an insight into the very heart and mind of the Lord. It is an insight into God’s very plan as it unfolds.

Do you anxiously seek Godly knowledge?

Copyright 1998 – 2021 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Can you love like this?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
(1 Corinthians 1:1-3 (NIV))

Each of us who profess a faith in Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior cling to the truth in the following passage.

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
(John 14:12 (NIV))

We long to do what Jesus did, but are we focusing on the correct things that He did? Do we long to speak in tongues? Do we long to understand all things? Do we long to prophecy? Do we long to give of ourselves like Jesus did? It is true that He did all of these things and much more, but we forget why He did them. Everything that the Lord did was out of love. All other things pale in comparison to the greatness of His love for us.

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))

It was love that drove Him to do everything that He did!

If we profess a faith in Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we are to love just like He loved and still loves. We must rejoice over what makes Him rejoice. We must correct in love those who break His heart. The type of love that was shown by the Lord was not one where He accepts anything that you do, but rather it was a love willing to sacrifice itself to offer salvation and repentance for those who would answer the call. It was a love designed to turn people away from the path of sin and death and turn people to an eternity in His presence! We must present this love in such a way that draws people to Him, discipline and correction included.

A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
     but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
(Proverbs 15:5 (NIV))

Some would say that it is a tough love. It is a love designed to show the sinner that they have a better option. It is a love designed to show the sinner that they do not have to face the eternal consequences of their sin.

Can you love like this?

Copyright 1998 – 2021 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Will you be able to withstand the deception?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

At that time if anyone says to you, `Look, here is the Christ!’ or, `Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect–if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
(Mark 13:21-23 (NIV))

How well do you know Jesus? How well do you know God’s Word?

Do you know them well enough to be able to discern the difference between the truth and a lie?

All too often, the enemy will shroud his lies in bits and pieces of the truth. He will use just enough of the truth to make his lies sound plausible. He will count on people not knowing God’s Word well enough to tell the difference between the truth and his lies. He will use just enough to entrap people.

Entrapment!

Do you honestly think that Satan cares how he tricks people into missing out on God’s grace and mercy? He only cares that he does trick people. It does not matter to him that he deceives people. It does not matter to him that he misuses God’s Word to deceive. He has only one goal and that is keeping as many people as possible from the redeeming grace offered through Jesus. Satan thinks that if he can’t be worshipped, then he will take that from God.

In the high-speed, fast-paced world that we now find ourselves in, we must know what we believe in. We must know what we have faith in.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
(Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV))

Are you fully armed with the knowledge and truth that is God’s Word? Will you be able to withstand the deception?

Copyright 1998 – 2021 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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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.
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