Do you like the sound of trumpets?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
(1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NIV))

Do you like the sound of trumpets?

When we think of trumpets, we have a tendency to think of jazz music or big band swing, but do you realize that God has used the sound of a trumpet as a way to announce things of great importance to His people? The sound of a trumpet cuts through any other sound. It rises above the noise of the world and boldly proclaims to listen. It boldly proclaims to pay attention. It boldly announces that something is coming!

In this passage, the sound of the trumpet is announcing that those who have professed a faith in Jesus will arise from the dead. That, in and of itself is amazing, but there is more. There is something even more amazing. There is something that only the all powerful Lord God could make happen!

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
(1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NIV))

To many people, the sound of a trumpet is shrill and harsh, but it is rapidly becoming the instrument that I long to hear above the din of the world! I long to hear the trumpet call of God, for I believe, . . . No! I know beyond any doubt exactly what that will mean! I know that when I hear the trumpet call of God, these events will rapidly take place and the desire to be with the Lord will instantly come true. Does that explain why I like the sound of trumpets?

What about you?

Do you like the sound of trumpets?

Copyright 1998 – 2020 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are you paying attention to God?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, `A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, `The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”
(John 1:29-34 (NIV))

Do you listen to the Holy Spirit?

Do you even try?

Is there something that God is trying to tell you, but you are too engrossed in the world that you don’t even know that He is talking to you?

Unfortunately, today’s society is all about “me.” It is all about self gratification. It is all about self fulfillment. It is all about drawing your attention away from God and focusing it on you!

How can we focus on God when we focus on our smart phones? How can we focus on God when we focus on our bank accounts? How can we focus on God when we focus on our careers?

This passage is a prime example of what God can accomplish if we will simply focus on Him.

Can you imagine how frustrated God gets with us when we pay more attention to digital angry birds than we do to Him?

I am so glad that John was willing to listen to God. I am so thankful for the important role that John played in introducing Jesus to the world. I am so thankful for the selfless acts that John and countless others have been willing to do to further God’s kingdom.

They did these selfless acts without thinking about themselves. They allowed God to speak to them and through them. They allowed God to use them to get the attention of the world.

Is God trying to use you? Are you paying attention, or are you so engrossed in yourself that you fail to recognize God at all?

Copyright 1998 – 2014 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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While we wait, we must serve. While we serve, we must be alert.

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
(Revelation 13:16-17 (NIV))

I want to ask you a serious question.

Do you think that this could happen within your lifetime?

What are the reasons for your answer?

I may come across as someone who is looking for prophecy to come true, yet, I still feel that I need to share this with you. I know that there are many different sources of information now available and not all of them are trustworthy. Even so, we need to pay attention to what is going on and weigh it against God’s Word. With that said, I saw something earlier that makes me honestly wonder if we are closer than any of us have ever considered.

What would you do if you were told that you have to have an implant in your right hand to track your medical and banking information? Would you comply or would you reject this implant? There are people who are developing microchip implants similar to those used by veterinarians to track animals. The technology is already there. The technology is neither good nor bad, but it is a symbol of the power that the enemy can and will hold over people.

Prophecy is an interesting topic. For those who study prophecy, there are things that are unfolding every day that seem to be fulfilling aspects of it. There are some who have cited the recent announcement of the retirement of the pope as a prophetic fulfillment. setting the stage for the false prophet to enter the world.

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
(Mark 13:2-34 (NIV))

I do not profess to know who, what, when or where, but I do know that things are very interesting. All that I do know is that, just as Jesus told us, we must be on guard. We must be alert. We do not know when the Master will return.

While we wait, we must serve. While we serve, we must be alert. We do not want to be fooled into something that we should know to stay away from.

Copyright 1998 – 2013 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Our thoughts condemn us

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Do not pay attention to every word people say,
or you may hear your servant cursing you–
for you know in your heart
that many times you yourself have cursed others.
(Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 (NIV))

It is human nature to think and say things under your breath. Things that you would not want anyone to even know that you knew. These are the things that are secretly holed away in your heart.

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
(Matthew 15:19(NIV))

Perhaps it is this characteristic of humanity that lead Jesus to say:

“If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
(John 8:7b(NIV))

Not a single one of us is above reproach. Not a single one of us is capable of leading the perfect life that God wishes for us to live. Our thoughts condemn us. Our thoughts manifest themselves as words and deeds. Our words and deeds condemn us. Only one thing that we can do will remove the condemnation from our lives.

We must accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. We must accept His righteousness in exchange for our condemnation. He willingly takes our sin upon His shoulders and gives us His grace and mercy.

We are not perfect. Even if we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we will stumble. We will curse others in our heart and sometimes, even, under our breath. But, we have a Savior who is living within us, and teaching us that we must follow Him and not give in to that side of our nature.

Do you curse or do you accept righteous instruction?

Copyright 1998 – 2013 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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