Bread of Life

Bread of Life

Bible Reading: John 6:10-14; 24-27; 35

Focus Verse: John 6:35 "Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

What is your definition of a miracle?  It is something that only God can do.  When God decides to make a miracle, he has a purpose.  In the scripture reading above, we read about how Jesus fed over 5,000 people by multiplying the food.  The people were happy to have been fed and followed Jesus.

The focus of this event isn't the food or that people were fed, but that Jesus was teaching something about Himself.  He wants us to hunger for Him and to seek Him first.
 
The good things in your life are not for the sole purpose of your enjoyment, but that our Lord has decided to reveal Himself to you.  Over the next few days, challenge yourself to pray that God will open your eyes to the wonderful things around you and that you will learn more about who He is.

God is Good all the time.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Merciful Savior

Scripture Reading: Mark 5:1-20

Focus Verse: Luke 15:6  "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost."

Satan is never happy when someone is receiving help.  In this passage in scripture we see the devil trying to prevent Jesus and His disciples from reaching the tortured man living among the tombs.  How many times when we have tried to help someone, do we run into difficulties?  Satan is will do all in his power to prevent us from helping someone in Jesus name.  But don't be discouraged for we know that "greater is He (Christ) that is in us, than he (Satan) that is in the world."  The love and concern that we show the world is how the world will be won for Christ.

It is also very important how Christians treat each other because we are to be merciful as He has shown mercy.  The world is watching how we act.  If we are not treating each other with love and respect, the world will say "why should they become a Christian if we act the same as them?

Reach out to someone today in Jesus name that needs help.  Don't expect anything in return.  Great will be your reward in heaven one day.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Make His Desires, Your Own

Bible Reading:
Psalm 37:3-7a
"Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him…"

Trusting God when we do not know what will happen next can be hard. These verses remind me that He has our best interests at heart. There are several instructions listed here:

1. Trust - Know that God is for you and will take care of you.
2. Do good - do what you know is right. Help others.
3. Dwell in the land - You are where you are for a reason.
4. Cultivate faithfulness - the translation for this also can mean "feed on faithfulness". A great picture of a farmer cultivating a crop, harvesting it, and feeding on it.
5. Delight yourself in the Lord - Focus on Him to find delight!

Then a promise: He will give you the desires of your heart. This doesn't mean that He will supply you with all of your wants, but that He will give of Himself and His desires. He will place His desires in your heart.

And one last instruction or command, commit your way to the Lord. Then He will show righteousness through you. Rest in Him - He is doing the work!

Be encouraged to know that God is on your side!

by Amy Warr
Camp Victory

A Life Lesson About Money

A Life Lesson About Money

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Focus Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:9  The Scriptures say, "Godly people give generously to the poor.  Their good deeds will never be forgotten."

Augustine gives us a quote about his observation of Christian giving and tithing.  "We give earth, and receive heaven.  We give temporal, and receive the eternal.  We give things corruptible, and receive the immortal.  Lastly we give what God has bestowed, and receive God Himself.  Let us not be slothful in such a commerce as this.  Let us not continue to be poor."

When we give our tithes and offerings to God we never lose, we always gain.  God always promises blessings to those who give to Him.  Many Christians give to the Lord because they think, now I will get more, but this is the wrong motivation.  We give to the Lord out of love, devotion, and cheerful obedience as well as a form of worship, not just so we can get something in return.  We can rejoice in knowing that when we give to meet the needs of others, that God can in turn meet our needs.

Who do you know today that you could bless in Jesus name?

"Giving to the Lord never impoverishes."
George W. Brown

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries