Bible linking function

Important notes:
1. The whole scripture may be seen by clicking on the Bible references to read.

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Saturday, November 19, 2016

The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd

Scripture Reading: John 10:25-30

Focus Verse: John 10:27  “My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me.

Jesus would often use ordinary examples to teach extraordinary truth.  In Jesus day, a shepherd was an ordinary job.  The shepherd’s job was to feed the sheep, look after their health, protect them from animals that would bring harm.  Sheep are defenseless, and not very smart.  Our Shepherd, Jesus knows everything about us. He knows our name and he call us by name. He paid for us by His very blood shed on the cross.  We are His, and He has promised that nothing can snatch us from His hand.  Jesus gives us the security we need that the world can not offer.  He is our Good Shepherd, and we will be with Him for all eternity, but only if we follow and obey Him.  

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Friday, November 11, 2016

One Way To Heaven

Scripture Reading John 3:16-17

Focus Verse John 14:6  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.”

I take a long trip to Kenya four times a year.  This is how I travel:  I drive in my car from my home to the airport, then I get on the airplane and fly to Amsterdam in Europe, then I get on a second airplane and fly to Nairobi.  Total travel time is about 24 hours.  But there is another way I could get to Kenya.  I could drive three hours from my home and go to the ocean.  Then I could get on a ship and travel to Mombasa on the coast of Kenya.  To travel by ship would probably take a month to reach Kenya.  Or I could swim the ocean to Kenya and that would take even longer, that is, if I were strong enough to do so, haha.  So, there are many ways I could get to Kenya. 

A lot of people think there are many ways to get to heaven.  Research shows that seventy percent of people affiliated with a religion believe that many religions lead to heaven.  That is a lie of Satan.  The Bible teaches something very different.  Our way to heaven has nothing to do with religion.  Our way to heaven has to do with a Person, and His name is Jesus.  God provided a way for us, and it’s the only way, and it’s through His Son Jesus.  Some people say well that’s a narrow way of thinking.  Yes, Jesus said “narrow is the way that leads to life in heaven.  But it’s a choice and you must choose it.  It’s up to you.  Choose Jesus today.  He’s your only way to heaven.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Friday, November 4, 2016

Eternal Life With Jesus

Eternal Life With Jesus

Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:18-21

Focus Verses: 1 John 5:19-20  “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.  And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God.  And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.”

Most people would say that eternal life is in heaven, and that’s true.  But our scripture reading says that Jesus is eternal life.  When I die one day I’m not so concerned about the location of heaven, I just want to be where Jesus is.  He is the One that has saved my soul, and He’s the One I want to see.  Eternal life is not so much about a place as it is about a Person.  Our eternal life begins here on earth with Jesus in our hearts, and will continue in heaven as we see Jesus face to face.  How great that will be!  If you are not sure of having this eternal life, surrender your life to Jesus today.  Ask Him to forgive you of all your sins, and invite Him to be your Lord and Savior.  It will be the best decision you have ever made.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Great is Thy Faithfulness

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
The Story Behind the Hymn by Bill & Gloria Gaither

Bible Reading: Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness.  “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!”  Lamentations 3:22-24

You don’t need to be rescued from life-threatening danger or see God’s miraculous provision in the direst of financial crises to truly know the faithfulness of the Lord.  God remains faithful day in and day out in the largest and smallest of circumstances.

Thomas Chisholm wrote “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” as a testament to God’s faithfulness through his very ordinary life.  Born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky, Chisholm became a Christian when he was twenty-seven and entered the ministry when he was thirty-six, though poor health forced him to retire after just one year. During the rest of his life, Chisholm spent many years living in New Jersey and working as a life insurance agent.  Still, even with a desk job, he wrote nearly 1,200 poems throughout his life, including several published hymns.


Chisholm explained toward the end of his life, “My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now.  Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.”

Just think, with each new day, God gives us the chance to prove His faithfulness.  And throughout history, He’s never once been proven wrong, for His mercies are new every morning, no matter what.

***

Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Thomas Chisholm – 1925

Great Is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father!
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Though changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
Great Is Thy faithfulness,
Great Is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Refrain

Pardon for Sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!