Doyle Smith Daily

Amos 7:7-9 (God's Word) Originally published 07/08/2013 There are all kinds of ways to measure a church. People look at the building, the music, the preaching, or the friendliness. But God has his own way of measuring his people: it is by whether or not their lifestyle or behavior matches his expectations. "Then the Lord said, 'I'm going to hold a plumb line in the middle of my people Israel. I will no longer overlook what they have done. The worship sites of Isaac will be destroyed, and the holy places of Israel will be in ruins'" Amos 7:7-9 (God's Word). Lord, I want my only goal in life to be pleasing you.

Amos 5:21-24 (God's Word) Originally published 07/05/2013 Music in church is a big issue with people, based on music style and quality. God is different from us. He judges music in church by the character of the singers. "I hate your festivals; I despise them. I'm not pleased with your religious assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I won't accept them. I won't even look at the fellowship offerings of your choicest animals. Spare me the sound of your songs. I won't listen to the music of your harps. But let justice flow like a river and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" Amos 5:21-24 (God's Word). I imagine a church full of people singing their favorite songs and God with his fingers in his ears because the people are self-centered and treat people around them unfairly. Lord, I realized I must begin my worship with confession and renewed humility to obey you and for it to mean anything to you.

Amos 5:18-20 (God's Word) Originally published 07/04/2013 Almost every time someone dies, I hear someone say, "They are in a better place." But it is not true for everyone. In the book of Amos he uses the phrase "day of the Lord" to describe when we meet God. "How horrible it will be for those who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for that day? The day of the LORD is one of darkness and not light. It is like a person who flees from a lion only to be attacked by a bear. It is like a person who goes home and puts his hand on the wall only to be bitten by a snake. The day of the LORD brings darkness and not light. It is pitch black, with no light" Amos 5:18-20 (God's Word). No matter how horrible life is, for many, waking up to meet God will be the worst thing that ever happened to them. Lord, help me to live under your authority that the day that I meet you will be the greatest day ever.

Amos 4: 3-5 (God's Word) Originally published 07/03/2013 You can sin by going to church! Bethel and Gilgal were places of worship. God was angry because worship expresses the authority of God over people, but the people were focused on themselves, not God. "The LORD declares this. Go to Bethel and sin. Go to Gilgal and sin even more. Bring your sacrifices every morning. Bring a tenth of your income every three days. Burn bread as a thank offering. Brag and boast about your freewill offerings. This is what you people of Israel love to do" Amos 4:3-5 (God's Word). "Worship" designed to put people at the center God sees as idolatry. Lord, please help me to always have you as the ruler of my life.

Amos 3:1-2 (God's Word) Originally published 07/02/2013 Did you realize that reading the Bible and hearing the Bible taught and preached is dangerous? "Listen to the message which I, the LORD, have spoken against you Israelites, against your whole family that I brought out of Egypt. Out of all the families on earth, I have known no one else but you. That is why I am going to punish you for all your sins" Amos 3:1-2 (God's Word). Lord, sometimes I catch myself reading the Bible and my mind is somewhere else. Please continually remind me that the Bible is filled with your personal direction for my behavior, attitude, and purpose.

Amos 2:12-13 (God's Word) Originally published 07/01/2013 What makes God mad? Israel kept people from keeping their promises to God and stopped his messengers from delivering his message. Stopping what God is trying to do will be deadly for anyone who attempts that. "You made the Nazirites drink wine. You commanded the prophets to stop prophesying. I am going to crush you as an overloaded wagon crushes a person" Amos 2:12-13 (God's Word). Lord, guide me so that I would never say or do anything that would encourage someone to do things you have instructed us not to do or to quit reading the Bible or listening to someone who is delivering your message.

Joel 3:7 (God's Word) Originally published 06/29/2013 Faith is trusting in the promises of God when he does not seem to be keeping them. This is what Marcus Rainsford called "trusting God in the darkness." Joel warned Israel not to be deceived by the evil done to them, for the time of God's judgment was sure and certain. Sometimes it looks like evil is winning, but God has the final word. To those who tried to destroy his people he said: "I will pay you back for what you have done" Joel 3:7 (God's Word). Lord, when I see injustice, remind me of these words so I have peace and not anger.

Joel 2:18-19 (God's Word) Originally published 06/28/2013 Israel was being devastated by the swarms of locusts, which the LORD did not stop. But in the middle of this hopelessness he said: "Then the LORD became concerned about his land, and he had pity on his people. The LORD said to his people, 'I am going to send grain, new wine, and olive oil to you. You will be satisfied with them. I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations" Joel 2:18-19 (God's Word). Lord, no matter how bad things get for me, help me to hold onto the promises you have made to your children.

Joel 1:19-20 (God's Word) Originally published 06/27/2013 Locusts swept over Israel, and Joel describes them as an army because of their power and then as a fire to describe their destructiveness. The prophet believed that when there was nothing that anyone could do, God could help. "O LORD, I cry to you for help! Fire has burned up the open pastures. Flames have burned up all the trees in the orchards. Even wild animals long for you. Streams run dry. Fire has burned up the open pastures” Joel 1:19-20 (God's Word). Lord, there are many times that things seem hopeless to me, but always give me the faith to believe nothing is hopeless to you.

Hosea 14:9 (God's Word) Originally published 06.26/2013 Entering the Kingdom of God means that you will live according to the instructions of God. His instructions do not always appear to be reasonable, but since you trust him, you do what he says, and he will show you how they are right. "Wise people will understand these things. A person with insight will recognize them. The LORD's ways are right. Righteous people live by them. Rebellious people stumble over them” Hosea 14:9 (God's Word). Lord, help me never to be disturbed when people criticize your word, but to trust you more than all human wisdom.

Hosea 13:12-13 (God's Word) Originally published 06/25/2013 Every single one of us has violated God's instructions as to how he wants us to live, and he does not overlook that, but he wants to forgive us and rescue us from the consequences of our choices. Most people refuse to allow him to do so. "Ephraim's wickedness is on record. The record of the peoples’ sins is safely stored away. They have the opportunity to live again, but they are not smart enough to take it. They are like a baby who is about to be born but won't come out of its mother's womb” Hosea 13:12-13 (God's Word). What a tragedy! God wants to forgive and save, but people will not allow it. Lord, give me a passionate hatred for my own sin and a passion to obey you, so that you can do all for me that you desire.

Hosea 12:6 (God's Word) Originally published 06/24/2012 The people of Ephraim were fighting to get what they needed and to protect themselves, but it was not working. "The people of Ephraim try to catch the wind and try to chase the east wind all day. They are very violent and destructive. They make treaties with Assyria and take olive oil to Egypt" Hosea 12:1 (God's Word). Hosea's advice was "Return to your God. Be loyal and fair, and always wait with hope for your God" Hosea 12:6 (God's Word). Lord, sometimes my life is like chasing the wind with a lot of effort, and it seems there is little to show for it. Help me to trust you more than myself.

Hosea 11:1-2 (God's Word) Originally published 06/22/2013 When I talk with "rebellious" children, they usually don't think of themselves as rebellious, but they think that their parents are too strict, don't understand their situation, or are old fashioned. They think the problem is the parents, or those in authority. God said: "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. The more I called them, the farther they went away. They sacrificed to other gods--the Baals, and they burned incense to idols” Hosea 11:1-2 (God's Word). I have found that spiritually rebellious people are the same as rebellious children. They don't see themselves as rebellious, but that their situation is different. It is a different world, and what the Bible says is old fashioned, and it does not fit their situation. But God sees rebellion and disrespect for himself. Lord, give me a spirit of submission in every situation, even if I don't understand...

Hosea 13:6-9 (God's Word) Originally published 06/20/2013 How many times have you heard someone say that things are going great and then urge you to pray for them? Don't we usually urgently talk to God when we are in trouble? God tells us: "When I fed you, you were full. When you were full, you became arrogant. That is why you forgot me. So I will be like a lion. Like a leopard I will wait by the road to ambush you. Like a bear that has lost her cubs, I will attack you. I will rip you open. Like a lion I will devour you. Like a wild animal I will tear you apart. You are destroying yourself, Israel. You are against me, your helper" Hosea 13:6-9 (God's Word). We cause our own problems. Lord, when things go well, remind me to pray even more.

Hosea 8:4 (God's Word) Originally published 06/19/2013 God made the world and makes it operate every single day and has told its occupants how they are to live. To ignore God is like living in someone's house and acting like you own it. This offends God "They chose their own kings, kings I didn't approve. They chose their own princes, princes I didn't know. They chose to make idols with their own silver and gold. Because of this, they will be destroyed" Hosea 8:4 (God's Word). Lord, let me know when I am making decisions that offend you. I want to acknowledge you in all that I do.

Hosea 7:1 (God's Word) Originally published 06/18/2013 Sometimes it is our own behavior that keeps God from being able to help us. He wants to answer our prayers, but our rebellion against him keeps him from being able to help. "Whenever I want to heal Israel, all I can see is Ephraim's sin and Samaria's wickedness" Hosea 7:1 (God's Word). Lord, please tell me if my own failure to obey keeps you from answering my prayer.

Hosea 6:1-4 (God's Word) Originally published 06/17/2013 Hosea lets us know that God is always working to strengthen our relationship with him. "Let's return to the LORD. Even though he has torn us to pieces, he will heal us. Even though he has wounded us, he will bandage our wounds. After two days he will revive us, On the third day he will raise us so that we may live in his presence. Let's learn about the LORD. Let's get to know the LORD. He will come to us as sure as the morning comes. He will come to us like the autumn rains and the spring rains that water the ground" Hosea 6:1-4 (God's Word). Lord, teach me more about yourself, that I might know you.

Hosea 5:5-6 (God's Word) Originally published 06/11/2013 God is the ruler of all the world, and to live making choices without consulting him or making choices contrary to his instructions, is arrogance. I can do it on my own. "The people of Israel's arrogance testifies against them. Israel and Ephraim stumble because of their sins, and Judah stumbles with them. They go with their sheep and their cattle to search for the LORD, but they can't find him. He has left them" Hosea 5:5-6 (God's Word). God's response to arrogance is to abandon us. Lord, remind me that you are Lord, and give me a spirit of submission and humility.

Hosea 4:12 (God's Word) Originally published 06/10/2013 What does God look at to see his place in our lives? This passage jumped out at me. "My people ask their wooden idols for help. A piece of wood tells them what to do. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray. They commit adultery by giving themselves to other gods" Hosea 4:12 (God's Word). When I have problems, where do I go for help? If we place our trust in him, we will go to him. Lord, please show me when I depend on anything or any person but you to guide my decisions and actions.

Hosea 2:19-20 (God's Word) Originally published 06/08/2013 God described his people (Israel or his church) as being like a wife who pledged loyalty and love for him, but then became a prostitute, loving many others instead of him. God made it clear that there were consequences for what they had done, but he showed his great love for his people, even though they had been unfaithful. "Israel, I will make you my wife forever. I will be honest and faithful to you. I will show you my love and compassion. I will be true to you, my wife. Then you will know the LORD" Hosea 2:19-20 (God's Word). Lord, teach me to love others as you love me.

Daniel 12:1-2 (God's Word) Originally published 06/07/2013 God told Daniel amazing things that would happen in world history, but the most important thing is what he told him about what would happen to each of us. "It will be a time of trouble unlike any that has existed from the time there have been nations until that time. But at that time your people, everyone written in the book, will be rescued. Many sleeping in the ground will wake up. Some will wake up to live forever, but others will wake up to be ashamed and disgraced forever” Daniel 12:1-2 (God's Word). He was told this hundreds of years before the resurrection of Jesus. Lord, I give thanks to you for the promise you make to those who live in faith, obedience and submission to you. You promised that those alive when the end comes will be rescued and those dead will live forever. Guide me every day to live every moment in obedience to you.

Daniel 9:3,20 (God's Word) Originally published 06/06/2013  I think I can see why Daniel was such a great servant of God. He was burdened for Jerusalem which was in ruins. "So I turned to the Lord God and looked to him for help. I prayed, pleaded, and fasted in sackcloth and ashes.".... “I continued to pray, confessing my sins and the sins of my people Israel. I humbly placed my request about my God's holy mountain in front of the LORD my God" Daniel 9:3, 20 (God's Word). Lord, give me this passion and humility for your Kingdom.

Daniel 8:17-19 (God's Word) Originally published 06/04/2-13 The prophet Daniel lived around 600 years before Jesus was born. He was a man so submissive to God that God trusted him with information he gave no one else. "He said to me 'Son of man, understand that the vision is about the end times.' As he spoke to me, I fainted facedown on the ground, but he touched me and made me stand up. He said, 'I will tell you what will happen in the last days, the time of God's anger, because the end time has been determined" Daniel 8:17-19 (God's Word). God determined 2,600 years ago how he would end this world. Lord, help me to live today as if it were the last day.

Daniel 6:22 (God's Word) Originally published 06/03/2013 A commitment to live in obedience to God sometimes seems very costly because God tells us how to use our time, money, and that we are to put the needs of others ahead of our own. It requires trust in God to live his way. It really helps me to see how God has always cared for his children who obey him, in spite of the risk. Darius king of Babylon was deceived into making it a capital crime to pray to anyone but him. Daniel's enemies knew that Daniel prayed to God, so they reported him, and Daniel was thrown into a den of lions who were hungry. When Darius came the next morning, he found Daniel alive. Daniel said, "My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they couldn't hurt me. He did this because he considered me innocent" Daniel 6:22 (God's Word) Lord, give me the trust in you to obey what you tell me to do, regardless of how dangerous, risky, or foolish it might appear to me so that I mi...

Daniel 5:23, 29 (God's Word) Originally published 05/29/2013 God does not tolerate disrespect for himself and his authority. Belshazzar was king of Babylon, and at a party he used the vessels of the Temple for his guests and him to drink. Daniel told him that God was offended: "’You didn't honor God, who has power over your life and everything you do....’ That night King Belshazzar of Babylon was killed. Darius the Mede took over the kingdom" Daniel 5:23, 29 (God's Word). Lord, help me to remember that every good thing in my life is a gift of grace, not what I have done.

Daniel 4:37 (God's Word) Originally published 05/28/2013 Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful king in the area. He had a dream that he thought was a message, but he could not tell what the message was so he called on Daniel who he knew had a connection with God. Daniel told him that God was telling him that he would lose his mental capacities for a period of time; then it would be restored. The king was walking around one day looking at all he had built and thinking about how great he was, then he was reminded of what was told him and he lost his mental capacities and was unable to function as a person. After "7 periods of time" one day his capacities came back immediately. He said, "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, will praise, honor, and give glory to the King of Heaven. Everything he does is true, his ways are right, and he can humiliate those who act arrogantly” Daniel 4:37 (God's Word). Lord, the most powerful people in the world are subject to you, and I ask you to w...

Daniel 2:28 (God's Word) Originally published 05/25/2013 Daniel was a captive in Babylon but was made one of the king's advisers. The king demanded that his advisers tell him the dream he had and its meanings. When they couldn't do it, he was to kill all of them. Daniel told the king that no man could do what he asked. "But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets" Daniel 2:28 (God's Words). None of us know what people around us are planning, but God does, and he will guide his children who live in trusting obedience to him. Lord, when I am anxious about what is happening, remind me that you know exactly what I should do and have promised to guide me if I obey you.