Simeon Saw the Light

Bible Reading: Luke 2

Focus verse: " Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
Luke 2:28-32 NLT

Simeon, a righteous and devout man, was waiting for the promised messiah.  He recognized the Christ child as soon as he held him!  The Holy Spirit revealed the truth to him and he praised God.  God reveals truth through the Holy Spirit. 

I would not have come to understand the Gospel if the Holy Spirit hadn't revealed it in my soul.  When I considered Jesus, I was aware of my great need for Him.  He is the light.  Just as Simeon declared, "Jesus is the Light to reveal God to the nations".  Praise God for providing His Son for us!

Pray for God to reveal more of Jesus to you every day as you read the Bible and pray with Him.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Jesus Came to Die

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-20

Focus Verses: Luke 2:6-7   So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Certainly God sent Jesus to the earth for many reasons.  Jesus came to show us how we should live our lives.  He came to heal the sick of their physical problems.  But most importantly He came to heal us of our spiritual problem.  The only way He could heal us of our spiritual problem was to die.  At the birth of a new born baby we are not usually thinking about death.  We are thinking about the new life that has just come into the world. But God was thinking about death when He sent His Son to be born on earth.  You see there is no other way that our sin problem could be dealt with, except that a perfect person die to take the penalty that we deserve.  There was only one person that has lived a perfect life to pay that penalty, and His name is Jesus.  That was a very loving thing that God did for us.  We did not deserve such a gift that God has given us.  But He did this because He loved us so much.  God has offered you this great gift at this time of year we call Christmas.  But you cannot benefit from this gift unless you accept this gift from God.  If you haven't already, why not bow your head right now and accept God's gift by asking forgiveness of your sins and accept God's gift of salvation through Jesus.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Influence Your World

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 5:13-16

Focus Verses:  Matthew 5:13-14  “You are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world.”

In our passage of scripture Jesus is telling His disciples and us today what our responsibility is as we live in this world.  He is referring to two things that are very common, salt and light.  We use salt to preserve food or to make food taste better.  Light is used to help us find our way in the darkness.  

As we share our faith with others, Jesus says we are to be like salt and light.  We need wisdom in doing this so we get this wisdom from God through prayer.  How much salt and light are needed?  Have you ever eaten something that had too much salt added?  It doesn’t taste very good.  Or eaten something with not enough salt? You say "oh this needs more salt" so it will taste good.  Perhaps you have looked at the sun before.  Which is not a good idea because it can cause blindness because it is so bright.  Or maybe you have walked a path with your torch that had a weak battery and you could not see where you were going.  When we share our faith with others we need to use the right amount of salt and light so that others will be attracted to Jesus.  Many times the Holy Spirit will guide you as you talk with others about their lost condition.  So as a cooking recipe calls for the right amount of ingredients, today let’s use our salt and light in the right amounts that will attract people to Jesus.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Anxiety, Stress and Worry

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 5: 1-11

Focus verse: 1 Peter 5:6-7 " So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."

Peter wrote the instructions in chapter 5 for the elders and the young men.  I am sure that along with the responsibilities that both generations had, there was a lot of stress about the leadership, decisions, sufferings of life and more. 

We all have times of worry.  Some struggle every day with anxiety.  Some of us may have a strong faith but some fear can grip us suddenly and give us anxiety.  Having occasional anxiety means that you are a normal person.  God knew that, so he gave instruction on how to deal with this anxiety.  We are to trust God enough to give it to Him.  God cares more for you than you can imagine and will work all things together for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)  Knowing these things can strengthen your faith.

As our faith grows stronger, the waves of our worries grow smaller.

Psalm 56:3 says, "
But when I am afraid,
    I will put my trust in you."

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Community of Care

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 25:31-46

Focus Verse: "“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" Matthew 25: 37-40

Jesus was clear in his teaching to care for our neighbors who are struggling with sickness and physical needs.  We may find that the needs are great around us and feel like we can't do much.  Jesus didn't say that we should solve all of their problems, but that there is something, even something small, that we can do.  Anyone can give a drink to someone or visit someone who is sick to pray with them.  How difficult is it to give a shirt or dress to someone whose clothes are torn and tattered.  If you don't have something, maybe you can ask some friends to help you to get some clothes for someone in need.  

When you help someone, the Holy Spirit confirms in your heart that you are doing something good.  You know that is a good feeling.  When you join together as a community to help others, then it strengthens the community. 

My prayer is that God will show me where to help someone today.  May God be glorified in any effort of care that I show to someone today.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Does God Always Hear Us?

Bible Reading: Psalm 66

Focus Verse:  Isaiah 59:2  “But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear you.”

Our focus verse today is pretty straight forward.  If you have unconfessed sin in your life, God will not hear you when you pray.  There are several verses in the Bible that tell us this.  Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”  Regard means "to hold on to”.

If you say “well I don’t sin anymore”.  Believe me, you do still sin.  As a Christian I still sin.  And we probably sin more than we think we do.  1John 1:8 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”   A good way to start out our prayer time is by telling God you’re sorry for your sins, thank Him for forgiving you and then repent or turn away from the sin.  And if you know specific sins, name them.  You may want to do this when it’s just you alone with God.  You can ask God to help you see that sin the way He sees it.  You can also ask God to help you learn how to resist the temptations.

Our sin breaks our fellowship with God, but when our sin is confessed, our fellowship with God is restored and strengthened.  However, there are some people who call themselves Christians and they love sin and continue to sin and have no plan to stop sinning.  Some even call their sin acceptable to God. That's when I wonder if that person is really saved.  A true Christian is sorry for what they’ve done wrong and feels that guilt with the help of the Holy Spirit.

One of the greatest promises in God’s Word is that when I do sin and then confess my sin, 1 John 1:9 tells us that "God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  And that, my friend, can give you a lot of peace in your life, knowing your sin is forgiven.  I am so thankful for a forgiving Heavenly Father!

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

New International Version: Psalm 66

¹⁸ If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
¹⁹ but God has surely listened
    and has heard my prayer.
²⁰ Praise be to God,
    who has not rejected my prayer
    or withheld his love from me!

Live What You Preach

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:13-16

Focus Verse: Matthew 5:13  “You are the salt of the earth.  But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it salty again?  It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”

The Bible says that as Christians we are to be salty and full of flavor so that we create a thirst for God in others.  Verse 16 says ... "In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."  Does the way you live create a thirst for Christ in others?  Does your life cause others to praise the Lord?  We desire those moments when we can share with others what Christ has done in our lives. We pray for wisdom in sharing with the lost. Don’t be judgmental but share with them about their lost condition in a loving way.  God is a God of love, but He is also a just God and sin will be punished. 

We know that a pastor who stands before the church every Sunday and delivers a sermon has his life under the magnifying glass.  People are watching to see if he is living what he preaches. Let me go a step further and say that if you call yourself a Christian, people are also watching you.  They want to see if you are living up to the Name of being a Christ follower.  People who call themselves a Christian and then live a life apart from Christ do a lot of damage to the cause of Christ. When there is fighting inside the church, the outside world is watching.

Remember your life is preaching a message even if you don’t open your mouth.  So lets be salty today, and create a thirst in someone to come closer to God.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Three Prayers - Two Answered Yes, One Answered No

Scripture Reading:  Mark 5:1-20

Focus Verse: Mark 5:19  “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”

Our scripture reading today is the story of a demon possessed man.  Throughout my ministry in Kenya I have seen several demon possessed people.  I believe that much of the sin and problems that we have in the world today is influenced by demons and the devil, but God is more powerful that any of them.

Jesus crossed the sea and was met by this demon possessed man running out of the tombs.  The demons recognized Jesus and begin talking with Him and the first prayer takes place.   The demons know that Jesus has the power to cast them into torment when he told them to leave the man.  So they request that Jesus send them into a herd of pigs.  So Jesus heals the man and granted the demons request.  The pigs then went crazy and drowned themselves in the sea.  The village people came and saw the man clothed and in his right mind.  They also heard about the pigs.

The second prayer in our story was by the people in the village.  The drowned pigs did not make the people in the village very happy. They pleaded that Jesus leave them and their village.   Jesus answered their prayer and left.  Many societies in the world today have asked God to leave, and He has.  But one day they will be sorry they have made that request. 

The third prayer that we see was made by the man that was healed.  As Jesus got into the boat to leave, he requested to go with Jesus.  And Jesus said, no.  Jesus wanted him to stay in his village and be a missionary to his people.  This man had been possessed by demons, but became a living example of the compassion and power of Jesus.  Jesus wanted him to share his story so that others can know of the Lord's compassion.  If you are a child of God you also have a powerful testimony of how God has transformed your life. Share it with someone today.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
written by Greg Laurie

Bible reading: Matthew 5
Focus verse: Matthew 5:2  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

If we rewrote the Beatitudes for our culture today, they probably would look like this:

Blessed are the wealthy, for they will have it all.
Blessed are the beautiful, for they will be admired.
Blessed are the popular, for they will be loved.
Blessed are the famous, for they will have followers on social media.

However, that isn’t what Jesus said. Instead, He started the Beatitudes with a bombshell: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:2 NKJV). Or, to say it another way, “Happy are the poor in spirit.”

Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Blessed are the poor.” Rather, He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (emphasis added). In itself there is no blessedness in being rich or poor. The Bible doesn’t commend poverty, nor does it condemn wealth.

But the Bible does say this: “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV). I’ve met wealthy people who were happy and poor people who were miserable. I’ve also met poor people who were happy and wealthy people who were miserable.

So it isn’t about your bank account. It’s about your spiritual state before God. The word poor in this verse comes from a verb meaning “to shrink, cower, or cringe.” Beggars often did this in Jesus’ day.
If you want to be happy, if you want to receive God’s blessing, then you must be poor in spirit. This means recognizing your spiritual poverty apart from God. It means recognizing the simple fact that, apart from the Lord, you’re lost, helpless, and hopeless.

If you want to be happy, then admit your true spiritual state. Blessed are those who see themselves as they really are, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Called To A Higher Standard

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Focus Verses: 1 Peter 1:15-16  “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.  For the scripture says, you must be holy because I am holy.”

Are you born again?  As Christians God has called us to a standard that is above the world.  Peter says "we are to be holy in everything we do, just as God who chose us is holy."  Who can measure up to the standard of God?  Jesus makes that possible.  It is Jesus that has already experienced the temptations of this world, so He can identify with us in this higher standard we are to live.  1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.  And God is faithful.  He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.  When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”  If you are going to live a Christian life that is “all in” it’s not easy.  We all know people that call themselves Christians, but they still look like the world.  But if we are going to live a holy life with a higher standard then we have just put a target on our back, and Satan will be after us.  The Bible also says,”greater is He [Holy Spirit] that is in us, than he [Satan] that is in the world." (1John 4:4)  It is so important that we don’t get too far away from The Lord who is our source of help if we want to live this higher standard.  It’s not easy, but it is possible to live this Christian life with a higher standard because of our Him.  There can be victory in our lives!


Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

When it's Your Fault

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 4:11-16

Focus Verse: Hebrews 4:16  “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

We can all think of times when we have made bad choices in life.  Maybe you have not been faithful to your husband or wife.  Perhaps you chose a job that you don’t enjoy.  Or, maybe you cheated your way through school, and you now wish you would have studied.  When we look back at our past it can be painful to see the mistakes we’ve made.  Some years we may just wish we could live them over again, because we would do things differently.  You now live with guilt and regret, and you have no one to blame but yourself, even if you are blaming others for your bad decisions.

You can’t change your past, but the first step in moving forward is taking ownership of your choices.  This may not be easy if you’re thinking nothing good can come from this situation.  The good news is, God can take our bad choices and bring some good out of them.  God’s redemption and grace can give you the courage to face your bad choices.  Psalm 32:4-5 says,  “For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin”.  

You don’t have to blame others for your mistakes.  Tell God, “yes I sinned or yes I made bad choices."  He wants to forgive you, and bring something good out of your situation.  All you have to do is look at the cross, and you can see how God can bring good from that awful death His own Son Jesus.  God took that situation to redeem the human race.  God wants to cover you with His grace.  He want to forgive you.  He wants to make something beautiful out of your choices.

As God forgives you, you can now learn from the mistakes you have made.  God is always at work in our lives.  He loves us too much to leave us right where we are.  He is continually shaping us into the image of His Son.  1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”.   When you make mistakes, be encouraged that God’s not through with you.  Confess your faults and move forward with God.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Jesus, The Only Way

Jesus, The Only Way

Scripture Reading:  John 14:1-14

Focus Verses: John 14:5-7 “Thomas said to him, Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?  Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.”

In the world today there is probably more confusion about how to get to heaven than any other subject.  Every religion seems to think they know how to get to heaven.  Most all of them involve some type of works based salvation.  But salvation is not about what we can do.  It’s about what Jesus has already done for us.  The only way to God is through faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the only path to God.  If we could do anything to earn our way to heaven,  then Jesus’ death on the cross was in vain and all the pain that Jesus endured on the cross would be worthless.  

What the Bible teaches is true.  There is no other way to heaven except through Jesus.  There is no other way to God except through Jesus.  Salvation is so simple, yet so many people are missing it.  You will end up in hell one day if you’re counting on getting to heaven another way.  The Bible has always been true, and it always will be true.

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

Trust God Even At Your Darkest of Times

Scripture Reading: Psalm 31:19-24

Focus Verse: Psalm 31:21 “Praise be to the Lord, for He showed me the wonders of His love when I was in a city under siege.”

As I write this devotion the east coast of the United States is being pounded by a powerful hurricane storm.  We also have watched on the TV how this same storm earlier smashed into the Bahama Islands with winds as strong as 300 kilometers per hour.  Thousands of homes were destroyed and over 30 people lost their lives and they fear many more have been killed.  Many people in the Bahamas are living through the darkest hours of their lives. They have lost everything and some have even lost family members.  I heard the testimony of one man who said that the flood waters got so high in his house his wife was standing on a table in the kitchen and then she drowned.  He then had to swim out of his house into the raging wind and waves to a boat near his house to save his own life.

We may never encounter hardships like this, but we all go through difficult times in our lives. The weight of the world seems to be pressing on us from all sides, and we can't see our way out of that dark place.  In our scripture reading David felt the same way when he wrote “I’m in a city under siege.”  Let me tell you, no matter how dark the darkness, God’s love can always reach you even if you are facing death.  If you are a child of God you have nothing to fear.  The apostle Paul says it best in Romans 8:38-39  “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present, nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Those are probably some of the most comforting verses in the Bible.  No matter what circumstance you find yourself in today.  

You can know that the peace and love of God can always find you even in the darkest of places.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

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 is the "bread of life".  He is everything we need and more.  He wants us to hunger for Him and to seek Him first.  He wants us to be satisfied in Him.
 
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.  The more you know Jesus, the more satisfied you will become.

I am satisfied with Jesus.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Fighting God’s Way

Bible Reading 1 Samuel 17: with a focus on verses 38-39
Focus verse: 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary they have the divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.


1 Samuel 17 is such a great history to read. It tells how God used David a young boy to bring down Goliath who was a huge man and a well experienced fighter. It tells that all the Israelites including their king, Saul, feared Goliath and would not dare face him. For forty consecutive days Goliath would appear twice a day to call for a fight from the Israelites but none could come out to face him. Then a young boy called David, appears from tending sheep at his father's land.  After hearing how the name of the God of Israel was being abused, he decided that he would throw himself into the ring and face this giant. He faces opposition from his elder brother but that did not stop him. He solders on since he knew that the God of Israel would give him victory over Goliath.

Now Saul, the king hears about David’s decision to go fight Goliath and calls David to himself so as to give him his (Saul’s) weapons he would use to fight Goliath. Verses 38-39 “Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet of his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off.”

Fighting God’s way requires putting on the full armor of God and not the weapons of the world. Sometimes believers have failed to achieve victory because they have clothed themselves with weapons that are carnal. David tried to move around with one that was from Saul but realized it was canal and God was not in it. Imagine Saul had this armor before but still was terrified in fear and could not face Goliath with it. Look at how Saul’s own armor did not help him all the forty days that Goliath roared out: but when David comes, Saul tells him to have it and face Goliath with it. Why didn’t his own armor save him from the shame? Paul in Ephesians 6:10-18 reminds us of what the full armor of God is. As believers we need examine before we go for a fight if we are armed with God’s armor. We must also be careful with advice from friends when faced with a battle. Some advices are not from God and may not lead us to God’s victory regardless of who has spoken them. We must put out any carnal weapon and only look onto Jesus as the source of our strength, as the author and finisher of our faith.

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Bethesda Faith Ministries

Additional scripture: "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12

Can You See a Difference?

Bible Reading: Mark 8:22-25
Focus verse: Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, and to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from the darkness for the prisoners”

The passage in Mark talks about a blind person who was brought to Jesus by some people who then begged Jesus to touch him that he may be healed. Jesus accepted their request and took the man by the hand and led him outside the village. He then spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him and asked the man if he could see anything. The man looked up and responded that “I see people; they look like trees walking”. He is later fully healed by Jesus’ second touch on his eye.

Many people, both Christians and non Christian have suffered different kind of life challenges. We are at times worse hit with life experiences so that we are not able see our way out. Sometimes the challenges have been so overwhelming so that we have become a burden to other people, including their resources. We may try seeking guidance from other people but their advice may fail so that our situation grows worse. There is an answer; we all need Jesus just like the blind man needed him to be healed, so we are able to see our way. Without Jesus we are blind!

Most people who come to Jesus with their problems want Him to take the whole problem out immediately. Some run away from Him, thinking Jesus is taking too long solving their problems. Jesus had the authority to heal the man at once but decided to do it in stages. He is always able to take us away from that disturbing condition instantly, but sometimes he chooses to do it in stages. We may fail to acknowledge the small steps he has moved with us since we are so fixed into having the whole load off quickly.

The blind man acknowledged the simple difference. He told Jesus that things are never the same since He first touched his eye. I see people move like trees, something that had never happened to him. Though not fully healed by then, but he knew things were different from before Jesus’ touch. He had hope and kept trusting that Jesus was able to clear it all even as he appreciated the work already done. We all need to thank God for every simple step he takes with our lives. Did you ever call Him into your life or your troubles? Are you seeing any differences since He came? Yes, we need to tell him that we are seeing a difference. Don’t forget to appreciate God for any step he takes with your life. That’s his will. 

Eliazar Wambo
Bethesda Faith Ministries

God Communicates Through His Word

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-18

Focus Verse: John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Some people say they pray and read the Bible, but God never says anything back to them.  To that person I would say the Bible is the voice of God talking to us.  The Bible is His love letter to every person on earth.  Maybe some people think God is not speaking unless they have this big emotional experience.  God’s Word is also the road map for life.  If we will take the time to read it, we will discover our purpose for life, and the pathway God wants us to take.  Most importantly, God also reveals to us through His Word and gives understanding by the Holy Spirit concerning many things about Himself and how to have a relationship with Him. 

Further Reading:

2 Timothy 3:16  "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness so that we can be equipped for every good work.”

Jeremiah 15:16 “When I discovered your words, I devoured them.  They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heavens’s Armies.”

Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

 

Don’t let Satan fool you into thinking God doesn’t speak to us.  He surely does, and most of the time it’s directly through His Word.  

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Can We Trust our Money?

Can We Trust our Money?

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:19-34

Focus Verse: Matthew 6:24  “No one can serve two masters.  For you will hate one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

Jesus probably talked about money more than any other subject.  One reason is that He knows the temptation that we face of putting our trust in money.  I think the founding fathers of America also knew this, because on every piece of US cash is written, “In God We Trust”. No matter how much cash we  have, our temptation is to always try and get a little bit more.  Although it is wise for us to do financial planning for the future, if this becomes so important in our lives that we are no longer dependent on God, then there is a problem.  When you are totally concerned about your need for more money, that’s when you are placing your trust in money and not in God.  Do you think you can trust money and God at the same time?  The answer is no.  Jesus clearly said, “no one can serve two masters".  God is trustworthy, money is not trustworthy.  

We all need cash to live.  We cannot survive without it.  Someone wiser than me once said, “money is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.”  When money takes control of your life, you turn into someone you don’t want to be.  The Bible never says that it is wrong to have money or even a lot of money.  But when your money has control of you, that’s wrong. When you have a love for money, you will never have enough.

Here are some things you can do so that your money doesn’t take control of your life.  First, be thankful to God for the way He meets your needs.  Second, you can be a generous giver to the Lord and to those in need.  Third, discover your true treasure.   You will know that your trust is in the Lord, and not in your money when your treasure in heaven exceeds your treasure on earth. People that are constantly chasing the next shilling or dollar never have peace in their lives.  Philippians 4:7 says “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  So the answer is, no, we can’t trust our money, but we can trust our God.  When you make Jesus your treasure you will find peace and satisfaction and your desires will line up with God's desires.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Maintaining A Clean Heart

Scripture Reading: Matthew 15:1-20

Focus Verses: Matthew 15:18-20  “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.  These are what make a man unclean.”

We are faced every day with choices in life.  Sometime we make good choices and sometime we make bad choices.  Our choices come out of our heart.  If you have a clean heart, you will likely make good choices according to God’s Word.  Our focus verses give us a list of things that make up a dirty heart.  When I say "heart", I don’t mean the organ in your chest that pumps blood.  I’m talking about the inside part of you that drives your words and deeds.  Here on earth we will struggle with making right decisions until we see Jesus face-to-face in heaven.  However making good decisions is possible with an intimate relationship with Christ.  Psalm 25:21 says, “May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.”  Intimacy with God leads to integrity which allows God to create a clean heart in me. 

Some people think they can have a divided heart both good and bad.  But this can’t happen. If you have an avocado that is rotten and bad, and you put it into a basket of good ones, will it then become good?  No!  1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for bad company corrupts good character.”  We are to live a life of self-control and be alert because we have an enemy, the devil.  1 Peter 5:8-9 describes him this way.  “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.”   It’s not always easy to make right choices in this day and time but it is possible with God.  The Bible says we are to clothe ourselves with humility.  1 Peter 5:5-6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”  Keeping a clean heart is a battle we all face.  “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:22.  As Christ followers, maintaining a relationship with God can help maintain a clean heart... and that is something we must do.

May our prayer be, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Pride Brings Destruction

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 16:18-33

Focus Verse: Proverbs 16:18  “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

I don’t really like to be around people who are prideful.  These are people who think they are better than everyone else.  They think they know more than everyone else.  They think they are more important than everyone else.  But watch out! If we are not careful, we can be the ones who are prideful.   Satan can trick you into thinking you are better, know more, have more things and are more important than everyone else.  Here’s what Jesus has to say about pride in Luke 14:11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  God is not happy when we have prideful attitudes.  Pride is what led to Lucifer being thrown out of heaven.  

As children of God we are to humble ourselves before God and man.  Don’t take credit for what has been accomplished in your life, but give the credit to God.  Jesus said, “without me you can do nothing.”  How can we take the credit, when it is God who gives us our next breath and our next heart beat?  Let’s remember that it is much better for us to humble ourselves than for God to humble us, because just as the Bible says, pride always brings destruction. 

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Human or Spirit Led?

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:13-26

Focus verse: "As for you, my friends, you were called to be free. But do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you. Instead, let love make you serve one another." Galatians 5:13

Jesus called to me and I said, "Yes, Lord".  I began to follow Him and was set free from my sins.  He made me into a new creation, a new "me" that lives with His Spirit in me.  I found the fruits of the Holy Spirit nature coming into my life.  But sometimes, the human, selfish nature comes out in front and I fail.

In my freedom, I do not give excuses for following my own selfish desires.  I need to realize that my human nature will lie to me and so will the enemy.  My human nature will lead me astray and will not honor God.  My human nature will lead me to anger, jealousy, selfish ambition, fighting, and separation from other believers.  If I follow my human nature long enough, I can become blinded by it and fall deeper into sin.  I will blame others and make excuses for my decisions and actions.  I will not even see the pit that I am in, until suddenly, God makes it clear.

I need to decide every day to love, forgive and serve others.  This is what the Spirit produces:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. Is this what my life looks like?  You can not follow selfish human desires and the Spirit at the same time.

Today is a good day to examine your life.  Do you see the fruits of human nature or the fruits of Spirit nature?  Commit to spend some time in prayer today about anything that you need to change in your life.  Ask God to show you how He sees your life.  Allow Him to change your heart so that you can change any actions that need to come under the Spirit's control.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Steady as She Goes

Scripture Reading:  Hebrews 3: 7-15

Focus Verse:  Hebrews 3:14  “We have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.”

"Steady as she goes” is a saying that is used by sea captains on the open ocean.  Many times they would say this as their ship is progressing onward in a steady manner and no corrections are needed.  Can a sea captain say this even when being pounded by a storm?  Even though the storm is relentless against the ship, they could continue forward making steady progress.  

Hebrews tells us that we can have the confidence of Christ in our lives no matter how the storm is raging all around us.  For those of us who are children of God, we have the eternal security of knowing that Jesus has all things under His control.  Nothing comes across our path that is not allowed by Him.  We should abide in Christ no matter what comes at us.  We can be steady in the way we follow Christ and continue to make spiritual progress.  

We know this life on earth is temporary, and that we have an eternal home that is waiting for us.  When you continue "steady as she goes" in this life with Christ, it confirms your relationship with Him.  We are called to be beacons of hope in the storms of this lost and dying world and others may follow our example.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Forgiven to Forgive

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:1-17
Focus verse: "God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Matthew 5:7

Colossians 3:13 says, "Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."

When we are born again, we begin a new life in Christ.  Colossians 3 teaches us so much about that new life.  We don't have to hate, hold a grudge or take revenge.  Jesus forgave us and we must also learn to forgive others.

Forgiving someone is a decision, not an emotion.  It is a decision based on our worship of our Heavenly Father and honoring His command for us. It is a decision to release that person from your right to punish or take revenge.  It is showing mercy.  

Sometimes you decide to forgive and then your emotions of anger return and challenge your decision.  You must then continue to make the decision again and again.  
  
If you are a new believer or if this is a big challenge to you, you should seek God.  Read the Bible, pray and ask stronger believers to pray with you about it.  God will give you success in time.

Remember, you sinned against God and deserve Hell.  God, in His mercy and through your submission to Him, forgave you of your sin against Him.  Surely you can forgive others.  God's command is for our own good.  When you forgive, you will find freedom.  The burden is lifted and you realize that your unforgiveness was only hurting yourself.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries