Bible Reading:
Philippians 4:8, 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Corinthians 10:12
Focus verse: 1 Corinthians 10:23 "You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial."
Daily activities and entertainment should be chosen with God's principles in mind. Philippians 4:8 reminds me to think about things that are worthy. 2 Timothy 2:22 helps me to know that I should not be looking at movies that stir up lust in my heart, but instead to watch or listen to things that pursue righteous living. 1 Cor 10:32 reminds me that just because I can do something, it doesn't mean that I should. I need to know if it is beneficial to myself and to others as well as the cause of Christ.
Since the Bible says to fix your thoughts on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable then we should only watch or listen to things that will be worthy of praise. Since the Bible says to run from things that stimulate youthful lust, then we shouldn't watch videos (or internet) that would cause those feelings. The Bible says that not everything is good/beneficial for you, and something can be "ok" but is it beneficial?
My goal is to keep my thoughts based on things that are honorable so not to fill my mind with garbage from movies, music, and internet. I want to chose entertainment that will be worthy of praise and not be ashamed of what I do. I will have accountability with a friend that can ask me about what I've been watching or listening to and be open about it. Do you want to find a friend and ask them to help you be accountable for your decisions on music, movies and internet use?
~Tamara Johnson
student, Word of Life Bible Institute
Friday, May 29, 2015
Friday, May 22, 2015
Called to Holy Living
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:13 - 2:3
Focus Verse: 1 Peter 1:13 "Think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world."
Why are we called by God to live holy lives? God knows what's best for us. He has given us everything we need to know about holy living in His Word and it is confirmed by the Holy Spirit. As Christians we follow God's Word like a boat captain follows a compass to show him what direction to go. The boat captain knows the compass will help keep his boat off the rocks.
One problem in the world today is that man has decided that he will make the rules as to what is right and wrong. What a mess that has turned out to be. Leaving behind God's standard leaves no direction for right or wrong. In that mindset, it's okay to steal your neighbors things or to lie, if it will benefit you. It's okay for two men to get married. If you don't like someone, it's okay to kill them. It's okay to sleep with someone that's not your spouse. Men have told God that "they" know what is best and not Him. So many people have believed the lie of Satan, that "I know how to run my own life." We know that pathway leads straight to Hell. That is not wise.
Think clearly and exercise self-control. Do yourself a favor today and get into God's Word and discover how holy living really is the best way to live, and the most satisfying for this life and eternity.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: 1 Peter 1:13 "Think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world."
Why are we called by God to live holy lives? God knows what's best for us. He has given us everything we need to know about holy living in His Word and it is confirmed by the Holy Spirit. As Christians we follow God's Word like a boat captain follows a compass to show him what direction to go. The boat captain knows the compass will help keep his boat off the rocks.
One problem in the world today is that man has decided that he will make the rules as to what is right and wrong. What a mess that has turned out to be. Leaving behind God's standard leaves no direction for right or wrong. In that mindset, it's okay to steal your neighbors things or to lie, if it will benefit you. It's okay for two men to get married. If you don't like someone, it's okay to kill them. It's okay to sleep with someone that's not your spouse. Men have told God that "they" know what is best and not Him. So many people have believed the lie of Satan, that "I know how to run my own life." We know that pathway leads straight to Hell. That is not wise.
Think clearly and exercise self-control. Do yourself a favor today and get into God's Word and discover how holy living really is the best way to live, and the most satisfying for this life and eternity.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, May 15, 2015
Stay Grafted to Christ
Scripture Reading: John 15:1-17
Focus Verse: John 15:4 "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me."
None of us started out connected to the vine. The book of Acts says "there is none righteous no not one." We were born into this world separated from Christ. If we have been saved through faith in Christ we are then joined to Him. People who know something about trees will tell you that you can join two trees together by grafting. Grafting is a process where you can take a small branch from one tree and insert it into a prepared place into a larger tree and it will begin to grow. That is what Christ has done for us. He has allowed us to be joined to Himself. This is where we get strength to live the Christian life here on this earth.
If you look around you will see many people who are dead in their trespasses and sins because they are not connected to the source of life that is in Christ. For a grafted branch to grow it takes a lot of care.
So how do we stay grafted to Christ? We do this through prayer and Bible reading, through fellowship with other branches that have been grafted to Christ and are growing strong, and by attending a good Bible believing, Bible teaching church. So today, lets do something to strengthen our graft to Christ.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: John 15:4 "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me."
None of us started out connected to the vine. The book of Acts says "there is none righteous no not one." We were born into this world separated from Christ. If we have been saved through faith in Christ we are then joined to Him. People who know something about trees will tell you that you can join two trees together by grafting. Grafting is a process where you can take a small branch from one tree and insert it into a prepared place into a larger tree and it will begin to grow. That is what Christ has done for us. He has allowed us to be joined to Himself. This is where we get strength to live the Christian life here on this earth.
If you look around you will see many people who are dead in their trespasses and sins because they are not connected to the source of life that is in Christ. For a grafted branch to grow it takes a lot of care.
So how do we stay grafted to Christ? We do this through prayer and Bible reading, through fellowship with other branches that have been grafted to Christ and are growing strong, and by attending a good Bible believing, Bible teaching church. So today, lets do something to strengthen our graft to Christ.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, May 8, 2015
Are You a Friend of God
Scripture Reading: James 2:14-26
Focus Verse: James 2:23 "And the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God's friend."
As people look at your life, would they say you are a friend of God or a friend of the world? I've seen too many Christians try to be friends with the world and God. There is a story that was told during the civil war in America in the 1800s. A solder always wanted to be on the winning side, so he had a military uniform for both sides. So he would wear the one that was winning that day. One day he mistakenly put on trousers for one side, and the coat for the other side. When he went out to battle that day both sides shot at him!
It's the same way with God. You cannot lie to God about your loyalty. You can't be friends with Him and friends with the world at the same time. Abraham's friendship with God was credited as righteousness to him. When we surrender and become totally dependent on God we can appreciate Him as friend. Jesus extends friendship to those who are His disciples. "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15 Do you enjoy this level of friendship with Jesus? If you are known as a friend of God, you can be sure you will also be known as an enemy of evil.
"Sitting one leg on either side of the fence always causes pain and separation." ~Page Johnson
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: James 2:23 "And the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God's friend."
As people look at your life, would they say you are a friend of God or a friend of the world? I've seen too many Christians try to be friends with the world and God. There is a story that was told during the civil war in America in the 1800s. A solder always wanted to be on the winning side, so he had a military uniform for both sides. So he would wear the one that was winning that day. One day he mistakenly put on trousers for one side, and the coat for the other side. When he went out to battle that day both sides shot at him!
It's the same way with God. You cannot lie to God about your loyalty. You can't be friends with Him and friends with the world at the same time. Abraham's friendship with God was credited as righteousness to him. When we surrender and become totally dependent on God we can appreciate Him as friend. Jesus extends friendship to those who are His disciples. "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15 Do you enjoy this level of friendship with Jesus? If you are known as a friend of God, you can be sure you will also be known as an enemy of evil.
"Sitting one leg on either side of the fence always causes pain and separation." ~Page Johnson
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, May 2, 2015
There is Only One God
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:1-13
Focus Verse: Isaiah 43:10 "You are my witnesses, says the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me."
As Christians we have learned that only God is the true God. Humans can not be God. There is a saying that "God is God and I am not." When you look at the size of the world and the size of the universe we realize that humans are very very small. One of the Ten Commandments is "You shall have no other gods before Me." Unbelievers and even some believers have put things ahead of God. Education, money, possessions, jobs, even ourselves can come between us and God.
None of these things are as important as our relationship with God. They all need to be put in their right place. We should continually check ourselves to see if these things or other things are slipping into first place in our lives ahead of God. The Holy Spirit helps us to keep priorities as we are reading the Bible and praying everyday. Do you live with God in first place?
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Isaiah 43:10 "You are my witnesses, says the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me."
As Christians we have learned that only God is the true God. Humans can not be God. There is a saying that "God is God and I am not." When you look at the size of the world and the size of the universe we realize that humans are very very small. One of the Ten Commandments is "You shall have no other gods before Me." Unbelievers and even some believers have put things ahead of God. Education, money, possessions, jobs, even ourselves can come between us and God.
None of these things are as important as our relationship with God. They all need to be put in their right place. We should continually check ourselves to see if these things or other things are slipping into first place in our lives ahead of God. The Holy Spirit helps us to keep priorities as we are reading the Bible and praying everyday. Do you live with God in first place?
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
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