Doyle Smith Daily

Habakkuk 1:2 (God's Word) Originally published 07/26/2013 The prophet Habakkuk was upset. "’How long, O LORD, am I to cry for help, but you will not listen? I cry out to you, 'There's violence!' yet you will not come to the rescue’" Habakkuk 1:2 (God's Word). Like Habakkuk we are usually upset about God's patience with the sins of others, but we are then filled with praise for God's patience with our own sins. It is a great comfort to know that God always knows what needs to be done and when the time is right. Lord, when I get impatient with the sin of others, remind me of my own.

Nahum 3:14-15 (God's Word) Originally published 07/25/2013 The people of Nineveh thought they were safe. They had all the food and water they needed. They had strong defenses built up behind strong walls. Who could possibly hurt them? Because of their rebellion against him, the LORD said: "Store water for the siege! Strengthen your defenses! Step into the claypits and trample the clay! Grab the brick mold! Fire will consume you there. A sword will cut you down. It will consume you like locusts" Nahum 3:14-15 (God's Word). Lord, sometimes evil seems so strong and people so resistant to you, it looks like it is winning. Forgive me for forgetting your great power, and always remind me that you will win.

Nahum 2:13 (God's Word) Originally published 07/24/2013 Nineveh was a huge city that took three days to walk across, and it was a powerful city, politically, militarily, and economically. When Jonah went to tell it of God's judgment, the city repented, and God withheld his judgment, but it went back to its ways of rebellion against God, and God told Nahum to announce his judgment on this city. God said: "’I am against you, Nineveh,’ declares the LORD of Armies. 'I will send your chariots up in smoke, and a sword will kill your young lions. I will remove your prey from the earth, and no one will ever hear the voice of your messengers again’" Nahum 2:13 (God's Word). God's judgment is final; this world’s power is gone. Lord, I want to acknowledge you as the ruler of my life and help others to serve you.

Nahum 1:2-3 (God's Word) Originally published 07/23/2013 The Bible begins with the most important and critical reality. God made the world, he owns it, and he alone controls it. To think and act as if that were not true is to deny this reality and to try to take God's place, which is an attack on the creator and owner of the world. This behavior is destroying the world God intended to make, and that is why he is so angry about it. Nahum told us: "God does not tolerate rivals. The LORD takes revenge. The LORD takes revenge and is full of anger. The LORD takes revenge against his enemies and holds a grudge against his foes. The LORD is patient and has great strength. The LORD will never let the guilty go unpunished" Nahum 1:2-3 (God's Word). Lord, never let me forget that you are in complete control of this world.

Micah 7:7 (God's Word) Originally published 07/22/2013 Micah saw dishonesty, rebellion of children against parents, and all kinds of immorality all around him. He said: "I will look to the LORD. I will wait for God to save me. I will wait for my God to listen to me" Micah 7:7 (God's Word). Usually, God is the last resort after we consult our friends, then the experts, and then God. Lord, remind me, when problems arise, to come to you first and to be patient and persistent until you respond.

Micah 6:13-15 (God's Word) Originally published 07/20/2013 Sometimes God's judgment is not a disaster, but the emptiness of one’s efforts and life. "I have begun to strike you with heavy blows and to ruin you because of your sins. You will eat, but you won't be full. So you will always be hungry. You will put things away, but you won't save them. Anything you save I will destroy. You will plant, but you won't harvest. You will crush olives, but you won't rub the oil on your skin. You will make new wine, but you won't drink it" Micah 6:13-5 (God's Word). God says that without obedience to him there will never be contentment in life. Lord, instead of working harder, teach me to be more dependent and obedient and trust you for the accomplishment.

Micah 5:2-5 (God's Word) Originally published 07/19/2013 God made his plan. “You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, are too small to be included among Judah's cities. Yet, from you Israel's future ruler will come for me. His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago. That is why the LORD will abandon Israel until the time a mother has a child. The rest of the LORD's people will return to the people of Israel. The child will become the shepherd of his flock. He will lead them with the strength of the LORD, with the majestic name of the LORD his God. They will live in safety because his greatness will reach the ends of the earth. This man will be their peace" Micah 5:2-5 (God's Word). And God made his plan work in Jesus. Lord, this gives me the confidence that whatever your plan is for me, it will happen. You are the ruler of the world.

Micah 3:8 (God's Word) Originally published 07/18/2013 The spokesman for God is sometimes in a difficult spot. We want to hear something that is encouraging and that we like, but God does not always have something pleasant to tell us. Beware if the message is always nice. "But I am filled with the power of the LORD'S Spirit, with justice, and with strength. So, I will tell the descendants of Jacob about their crimes and the nation of Israel about its sins" Micah 3:8 (God's Word). Who would choose a doctor because every time they went to see him, he told them that they were doing great, even if it were not true? Lord, give me a spirit of humility that desires the truth even when it is not pleasant.

Micah 1:3-5 (God's Word) Originally published 7/17/2013 God told Micah to announce that his judgment was coming. "The LORD is going to come from his place. He is going to come down and step on the worship places of the earth. Mountains will melt under him like wax near a fire. Valleys will split apart like water pouring down a steep hill. All this is because of Jacob's crime and Israel's sin. What is Jacob's crime? Isn't it Samaria? What is Judah's worship place? Isn't it Jerusalem?” Micah 1:3-5 (God's Word). Samaria and Jerusalem were the places Israel worshiped. Nothing makes God more angry than his people who pray and sing that God is their master and then live without obeying him. He calls this a crime and sin. Lord, show me if my life does not match my prayers and my songs to you.

Jonah 4:1,4 (God's Word) Originally published 07/16/2013 When Jonah told the people of Nineveh of God's coming judgment, they turned from disobedience to God to obey him, and he called off his judgment. "Jonah was very upset about this, and he became angry...The LORD asked, 'What right do you have to become angry?’" Jonah 4:1,4 (God's Word). Who does have the right to anger? Anger usually comes to me when people or equipment do not respond or act as I want. It is a sort of God complex. The world must obey me. God was really asking Jonah, "Who made you God?" Anger can be a kind of idolatry, where I think the world ought to serve me. Lord, help me to be angry only about the things that anger you.

Jonah 3:1-5 (God's Word) Originally published 07/15/2013 Jonah refused to obey God and tell God's warning of judgment, but after being in the fish and spit out he was ready to listen to God. "Then the LORD spoke his word to Jonah a second time. He said, 'Leave at once for the important city, Nineveh. Announce to the people the message I have given you.' Jonah immediately went to Nineveh as the LORD told him. Nineveh was a very large city. It took three days to walk through it. Jonah entered the city and walked about a day. Then he said, 'In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed.' The people of Nineveh believed God. They decided to fast, and everyone from the most important to the least put on sackcloth" Jonah 3:1-5 (God's Word). God had prepared the whole city to be ready to turn to him, but all he needed was a messenger. It was nothing dramatic, just the message of God spoken, and the whole city was rescued. Lord, when you put it in my mind to spea...

Jonah 2:2-9 (God's Word) Originally published 07/13/2013 Jonah knew that it was God's judgment on him for disobedience that he was thrown into the ocean. He knew that he deserved this, but God's punishment was not to destroy Jonah, rather to give him an obedient spirit so that he would complete his mission. Now "Jonah prayed: 'I called to the LORD in my distress and he answered me. From the depths of my watery grave I cried for help, and you heard my cry... I will keep my vow. Victory belongs to the LORD!’ Then the LORD spoke to the fish, and it spit Jonah out onto the shore" Jonah 2:2,9 (God's Word). Lord, I can see that the secret to all this is an obedient spirit, but it is frustrating to not be able to submit consistently.

Jonah 1:1-3 (God's Word) Originally published 07/12/2013 “The LORD spoke his word to Jonah, son of Amittai. He said, 'Leave at once for the important city, Nineveh. Announce to the people that I can no longer overlook the wicked things they have done.' Jonah immediately tried to run away from the LORD by going to Tarshish" Jonah 1:1-3 (God's Word). Stupid! We know how THIS turns out. But most church members do the very same thing when they read or hear "Go make disciples." God has not changed and still expects obedience. Lord, show me someone today to whom I can be a witness.

Obadiah 3-4 (God's Word) Originally published 07/11/2013 God announced his plans to destroy Edom, and one of the reasons was: "Your arrogance has deceived you. You live on rocky cliffs. You make your home up high. You say to yourself, 'No one can bring me down to earth.' Even though you fly high like an eagle and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you down from there,' declares the LORD" Obadiah 3-4 (God's Word). One common thread that I see with people whose lives are one disaster after another is that they do not regularly read the Bible, do not ask God to guide their decisions, and do not regularly gather with his people to acknowledge his authority over them and do the work of his Kingdom. Lord, don't let arrogance slip into my life, but give me a humble spirit. 

Amos 9:1,14 (God's Word) Originally published 07/19/2013 God cannot tolerate those who reject his authority over their lives. "I saw the LORD standing by the altar, and he said: 'Strike the tops of the pillars so that the foundations shake. Cut off everyone's head. I will kill with a sword all who are left. None of them will be able to get away. None of them will be able to escape'" Amos 9:1 (God's Word). But he was not through. When he destroyed the rebels, he said: 'I will restore my people Israel. They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink the wine from them. They will plant gardens and eat their fruit'" Amos 9:14 (God's Word). God's judgment is not to destroy, but to prune and purify. Lord, remind me that everything you bring into my life is for good, even when it does not look like it, and everything Satan brings into my life you can even bring good from that.

Amos 8:4, 6 (God's Word) Originally published 07/09/2013 After trying everything that he could to get them to obey him God finally decided to completely destroy his church. The people would go into captivity and be taken from their homes that God had given them. He explains why such a drastic action was required. One reason was how those who had money treated the poor. "Listen to this, those who trample the needy and ruin those who are oppressed in the world." They say, "We can buy the poor with money and the needy for a pair of sandals. We can sell the husks mixed in with the wheat" Amos 8:4,6 (God's Word). God will not tolerate his people taking advantage of those who are financially vulnerable. Lord, give me a generous spirit with those in the service industry.

 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 07/04/2012  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 so that the day 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 07/01/2013 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 06/20/2013 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.