Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4
Focus Verses: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed."
Life is not a smooth journey. Even as a Christian, our path has many bumps and holes. We may lose our job. We may have financial problems. We may have relational problems with family or friends. We may suffer with physical illnesses. We can even suffer persecution for our faith. But when we face these problems, it means God is up to something. He is at work in our lives. We can be sure that God will never abandon us.
1 Corinthians 15:10 says, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." As the Body of Christ we may suffer, but God will have the final word. Jesus is coming back for us one day. All our hurts will be made better. All the wrongs will be made right. He will take us to a place of joy, and then all that has happened here on earth will just be a distant memory.
So we look to The Lord who lifts us up. So we persevere through trials. We don't give up. We move step by step with Christ. We know that all this is true, because His Word says so.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, July 31, 2015
Friday, July 24, 2015
Freedom is Obeying God
Freedom is Obeying God
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:41-48
Focus Verses: Psalm 119:44-45 "I will keep on obeying your instructions forever and ever. I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments."
The world looks at the Bible and thinks God has made all these rules and regulations to keep us from having fun. They think Christians and bound by all that God has said to do, and not to do. In reality, the world that lives against the Bible, they are the ones that are held in bondage by their sin.
When we live in obedience to God there is freedom from guilt, and freedom from the consequences of sin. Romans 6:14 says, "For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." God has given us these guidelines in His Word because He loves us, and knows this is what is best for us. We tell our children "don't play with snakes". Not because we don't want them to have fun, but because we don't want them to get hurt.
God says we will be blessed when we obey. James 1:25 says, "But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it, not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it, they will be blessed in what they do." The next time you are tempted to do what is wrong, think about whether you want to live in freedom or in bondage. God has said, "the truth of His Word will make you free."
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:41-48
Focus Verses: Psalm 119:44-45 "I will keep on obeying your instructions forever and ever. I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments."
The world looks at the Bible and thinks God has made all these rules and regulations to keep us from having fun. They think Christians and bound by all that God has said to do, and not to do. In reality, the world that lives against the Bible, they are the ones that are held in bondage by their sin.
When we live in obedience to God there is freedom from guilt, and freedom from the consequences of sin. Romans 6:14 says, "For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." God has given us these guidelines in His Word because He loves us, and knows this is what is best for us. We tell our children "don't play with snakes". Not because we don't want them to have fun, but because we don't want them to get hurt.
God says we will be blessed when we obey. James 1:25 says, "But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it, not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it, they will be blessed in what they do." The next time you are tempted to do what is wrong, think about whether you want to live in freedom or in bondage. God has said, "the truth of His Word will make you free."
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Importance of a Good Reputation
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 22
Focus Verse: Proverbs 22:1 "Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold."
Some people in the world today, if offered enough money, would trade their good reputation for a bad one. The problem with that is, they would be trading the eternal for the temporary. Yes, you could do a lot of fun things with a big pile of cash. But we are all going to die one day, and when we do, you will leave it all behind. On the other hand, your reputation is something that will follow you into eternity.
What is a good reputation worth? Proverbs say a good reputation is worth more than any amount of money. Proverbs 3:3-4 also says, "Let love and faithfulness never leave you, bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."
Personal integrity, and a good reputation are very important for others to see in our lives, but even more important for God to see. Our obedience to God shows our love for Him. As we go about the things we do today, let's remember we have something very valuable following close behind us. It's our reputation. We have control over whether it will be bad or good based on the choices we make.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Proverbs 22:1 "Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold."
Some people in the world today, if offered enough money, would trade their good reputation for a bad one. The problem with that is, they would be trading the eternal for the temporary. Yes, you could do a lot of fun things with a big pile of cash. But we are all going to die one day, and when we do, you will leave it all behind. On the other hand, your reputation is something that will follow you into eternity.
What is a good reputation worth? Proverbs say a good reputation is worth more than any amount of money. Proverbs 3:3-4 also says, "Let love and faithfulness never leave you, bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."
Personal integrity, and a good reputation are very important for others to see in our lives, but even more important for God to see. Our obedience to God shows our love for Him. As we go about the things we do today, let's remember we have something very valuable following close behind us. It's our reputation. We have control over whether it will be bad or good based on the choices we make.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Grateful Praise to God
Scripture Reading: Jonah 2
Focus Verses: Jonah 2:8-9 "Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, Salvation comes from the Lord."
We can't help but give grateful praise to God, when our hearts are in a right relationship with God. Jonah said "those who worship idols, turn away from God's love. Anything that comes between us and God, hinders our praise for Him as well. I have noticed in my own life, if I have unconfessed sin, the last thing I feel like doing is praising God. Jonah confessed his sins from inside the fish, and then offered grateful praise to God.
Satan surely does not want you to praise God, so Satan will try to drive wedges in between us and God. He will always do it by tempting us to sin, and then hoping we will yield to that temptation. The main reason God created us was to glorify and praise Him. Let's not let Satan rob us of the joy of giving grateful praise to God.
If your fellowship is broken with God, confess your sin. God is waiting for you to come back to Him. He wants more than anything to restore the relationship and receive your grateful praise again.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: Jonah 2:8-9 "Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, Salvation comes from the Lord."
We can't help but give grateful praise to God, when our hearts are in a right relationship with God. Jonah said "those who worship idols, turn away from God's love. Anything that comes between us and God, hinders our praise for Him as well. I have noticed in my own life, if I have unconfessed sin, the last thing I feel like doing is praising God. Jonah confessed his sins from inside the fish, and then offered grateful praise to God.
Satan surely does not want you to praise God, so Satan will try to drive wedges in between us and God. He will always do it by tempting us to sin, and then hoping we will yield to that temptation. The main reason God created us was to glorify and praise Him. Let's not let Satan rob us of the joy of giving grateful praise to God.
If your fellowship is broken with God, confess your sin. God is waiting for you to come back to Him. He wants more than anything to restore the relationship and receive your grateful praise again.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Monday, July 6, 2015
Be Watchful and Fear Not
Bible Reading: 1 Peter 5
Focus Verse: " Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are." 1 Peter 5:8-9
This passage tells the elders how to eagerly watch over the church members in love. Not as a tyrant, but as a gentle example of how to follow Christ. Humility is the best trait that we can wear as we lead and as we follow.
We are also to watch carefully for the spiritual enemy, Satan and his demons, who want to devour and shame the people of God. We are to be able to stand firm in our faith as we face these temptations and trials in our lives.
We are to be watchful, as good shepherds, but not to fear! Isaiah 41:10 says:
"Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
As the pastors and elders shepherd the church, they must remember that they have the Good Shepherd with them to encourage, strengthen and hold them up. God is victorious!
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: " Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are." 1 Peter 5:8-9
This passage tells the elders how to eagerly watch over the church members in love. Not as a tyrant, but as a gentle example of how to follow Christ. Humility is the best trait that we can wear as we lead and as we follow.
We are also to watch carefully for the spiritual enemy, Satan and his demons, who want to devour and shame the people of God. We are to be able to stand firm in our faith as we face these temptations and trials in our lives.
We are to be watchful, as good shepherds, but not to fear! Isaiah 41:10 says:
"Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
As the pastors and elders shepherd the church, they must remember that they have the Good Shepherd with them to encourage, strengthen and hold them up. God is victorious!
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
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