Bible Reading: Genesis 43:1-9
Focus Verse: " I
personally guarantee his safety. You may hold me responsible if I don’t
bring him back to you. Then let me bear the blame forever." Genesis 43:9
Judas was convincing his father that he would watch out for his little brother Benjamin. His words were very strong. How many of you helped look after a younger brother or sister? The Bible says that when we are "born again" that we are babies in Christ and we drink the milk of the Word of God in order to grow. Our older brothers and sisters in Christ help watch out for us. There is evil in this world that would desire to damage and destroy these young believers. There are false teachers who will tickle their itching ears with things that are easy to hear, but lead away from God's truth. There are traps set. What are the older believers to do?
If you want a young plant to thrive when you plant it, you must water it and put a fence around it. This keeps the hungry goats and cows from doing damage and destroying the young plant. This keeps people from stepping on it. It helps you remember to water it when the rains don't come.
We need to think of this in our church. We need to put a fence around the younger believers and protect them from the wolves that would destroy their lives with immorality and false teaching. We need to train them up in the truth of God's Word. If you are an older believer, you should watch over the younger ones. Take care that you do not lead the young believers astray! Study the scriptures well so that you are teaching the truth to them. Do you know any younger believers who need someone to disciple them and protect them? What is God leading you to do?
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, June 27, 2014
Friday, June 20, 2014
Hope Won't Disappoint
Hope Won't Disappoint
Bible Reading: Romans 5:1-5
Focus verse: Psalm 119:116
"Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!
Do not let my hope be crushed."
Have you been made right in God's sight by faith? If so, you have the gift of hope. You are strongest emotionally and spiritually when you have hope. Hope is generally realized when there are trials and struggles in your life. If you don't struggle, you can not understand hope. If you did not have hope, you would despair. To despair is to give up or "turn your back" on God.
Are you tempted to despair when you face trials? Even if others around you fall into despair, you can turn toward God and pray. Place your hope in Him. He longs for you to spend time with Him and when you do, you are strengthened. Our trials bring us closer to God. The hope in God will never disappoint.
Hope is the reason that we get out of our bed in the morning. We believe that there is something good coming that day. We have the hope of our salvation and the Holy Spirit that fills our hearts with love! There is always hope.
Romans 12:12
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Bible Reading: Romans 5:1-5
Focus verse: Psalm 119:116
"Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!
Do not let my hope be crushed."
Have you been made right in God's sight by faith? If so, you have the gift of hope. You are strongest emotionally and spiritually when you have hope. Hope is generally realized when there are trials and struggles in your life. If you don't struggle, you can not understand hope. If you did not have hope, you would despair. To despair is to give up or "turn your back" on God.
Are you tempted to despair when you face trials? Even if others around you fall into despair, you can turn toward God and pray. Place your hope in Him. He longs for you to spend time with Him and when you do, you are strengthened. Our trials bring us closer to God. The hope in God will never disappoint.
Hope is the reason that we get out of our bed in the morning. We believe that there is something good coming that day. We have the hope of our salvation and the Holy Spirit that fills our hearts with love! There is always hope.
Romans 12:12
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, June 13, 2014
Trying to Hide
Trying to Hide
Bible Reading: Jonah 1
Focus verse: Jeremiah 16:17 "For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes."
Jonah was a prophet. It was his duty to bring the word of God to the people because they did not have the Bible to know God. God told Jonah to tell the people of Nineveh about their wicked ways. Jonah did not want to obey God. He was full of pride and thought he could hide from God. He got on a boat and sailed in the opposite direction. If you read the rest of the book, you will learn that God found him in a dark place and rescued him for a second chance to obey.
Did you ever think that you could run from God? Maybe you just wanted to hide a little sin that is private. God is the one who sees. If you are trying to hide, know that God sees your dark place and wants you to repent. If you need help, cry out to Him and ask a Christian brother or sister to pray with you.
"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there." Psalm 139:7-8
God loves you and calls you to repentance.
"That is why we always pray for you. We ask our God to make you worthy of the life he has called you to live. May he fulfill by his power all your desire for goodness and complete your work of faith." 2 Thessalonians 1:11
LaPage Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Bible Reading: Jonah 1
Focus verse: Jeremiah 16:17 "For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes."
Jonah was a prophet. It was his duty to bring the word of God to the people because they did not have the Bible to know God. God told Jonah to tell the people of Nineveh about their wicked ways. Jonah did not want to obey God. He was full of pride and thought he could hide from God. He got on a boat and sailed in the opposite direction. If you read the rest of the book, you will learn that God found him in a dark place and rescued him for a second chance to obey.
Did you ever think that you could run from God? Maybe you just wanted to hide a little sin that is private. God is the one who sees. If you are trying to hide, know that God sees your dark place and wants you to repent. If you need help, cry out to Him and ask a Christian brother or sister to pray with you.
"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there." Psalm 139:7-8
God loves you and calls you to repentance.
"That is why we always pray for you. We ask our God to make you worthy of the life he has called you to live. May he fulfill by his power all your desire for goodness and complete your work of faith." 2 Thessalonians 1:11
LaPage Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, June 6, 2014
A Loving Father
A Loving Father
Revelation 12:10 "Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens. It has come at last salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sister has been thrown down to earth the one who accuses them before our God day and night."
There is a story that is told about a son who found himself in a situation where he had to stand guilty before a judge in a court of law. The son really didn't know what to do. But he was comforted, because his father, who loved him very much, went to great lengths to stand by his side and defend him on that day. The son realized that his father was faithful and would not leave his side no matter what. The judge ruled that the penalty must be paid, so the father paid the penalty.
Do you know that Satan, our accuser, is before God day and night accusing us of things we have done wrong? The Bible says in Isaiah 33:21 "The Lord will be our Mighty One. He will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross, and no enemy ship can sail on." God has provided His Son to pay the penalty for our sin. We need to take the step to follow Him.
God is watching out for you. Nothing happens to you that God does not first approve of. That can be a very great comfort to us when we encounter such trials. In this life we will have trials, but God always stands with you, helping you through. God, our father, is faithful.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Revelation 12:10 "Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens. It has come at last salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sister has been thrown down to earth the one who accuses them before our God day and night."
There is a story that is told about a son who found himself in a situation where he had to stand guilty before a judge in a court of law. The son really didn't know what to do. But he was comforted, because his father, who loved him very much, went to great lengths to stand by his side and defend him on that day. The son realized that his father was faithful and would not leave his side no matter what. The judge ruled that the penalty must be paid, so the father paid the penalty.
Do you know that Satan, our accuser, is before God day and night accusing us of things we have done wrong? The Bible says in Isaiah 33:21 "The Lord will be our Mighty One. He will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross, and no enemy ship can sail on." God has provided His Son to pay the penalty for our sin. We need to take the step to follow Him.
God is watching out for you. Nothing happens to you that God does not first approve of. That can be a very great comfort to us when we encounter such trials. In this life we will have trials, but God always stands with you, helping you through. God, our father, is faithful.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
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