Don’t Be Afraid

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8-20

Focus Verse: Luke 2:10  “Then the angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”

Today is Christmas Eve, and we will soon be saying goodby to 2020.  Can you remember one year ago during this time?  We had no idea what was ahead for us in 2020.  For many people around the world 2020 has been a year filled with fear and uncertainty.  Jobs have been lost, loved ones have been lost, hope has been lost, dreams have been lost and all due to a world wide pandemic that no one saw coming.  The world was taken by surprise.

The shepherds who lived in Israel also lived during a frightening time.  They lived under the rule of King Herod who would sometimes kill people for what seemed like no reason at all.  The shepherds also lived in a land where the Romans took control.  They were not free to live as they wanted and wondered if the Romans would ever leave.  In the midst of living under harsh rulers, an angel brought a message to the shepherds one night.  The angel said, “Don’t be afraid.  The Messiah has come.”  

 

There are many things that could bring fear into our lives today.  You may wonder, "Will I get the Coronavirus?"  "Will I lose my job?"  "How will I take care of my family?"  and the list of things to fear can go on?  A lot of things are a concern to us, but the Christmas message is the same for us today as it was for the shepherds 2000 years ago.  “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” Luke 2:10   Jesus came to bring peace on earth.  God is in complete control of everything that is happening on this earth and we don't always understand His ways.  He has not forgotten you.  He knows what is of concern to you. Maybe this Christmas you can give God your fears and let Jesus fill you with the peace of knowing that God’s got it under control.  

Merry Christmas and may you have a blessed New Year!

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

The Christmas Gift

Scripture:  Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Focus Verse:  John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

We like to give gifts to those that we love at Christmas time.  We also like to get gifts at Christmas time.  Sometimes we like the gift and sometimes we may not like a gift that was given to us.  We use the gift for a short time and it breaks or wears out.  Maybe you have wondered where the tradition came from of giving gifts at Christmas time.  

 

We read in Matthew chapter two that wise men came to worship Jesus and brought Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Could it be that this is where the tradition came from?  Perhaps, but it's also likely the tradition came from the Gift that God gave.  God gave His only Son as a Gift to the whole world.  This Gift was offered to every person who has ever lived and ever will live.  If God had never given this Gift of Jesus we would have no hope.  Romans 6:23 says “we deserve death for our sins.”  Not just death when they put our bodies in the ground, but death for all eternity.  Jesus came that we might not die spiritually, but that we might live forever with Him in heaven.  

 

Sadly there are many people that don’t know about this Gift or they have rejected accepting God's Gift.  If you never have accepted this free gift of Jesus why not receive Him this Christmas.  He wants to forgive your sins, be your savior, King and friend forever.  We can also look forward to being in heaven with Him forever.

 

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

 

Home for Christmas

Scripture Reading:  Luke 2:8-20

Focus Verse: Luke 2:11-12   “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign to you, you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

Around Christmas time there is a lot of talk about going home for Christmas.  Christmas time is one of the most traveled times of the year.  People travel by airplane, by train, by car, by motor bike or by foot.  We all like to be home with family for Christmas.

Jesus had a very nice home in Heaven, but He was willing to come to this earth and be born in a dirty stable with animals all around. A cold and damp animal stable is not a very nice place to make your home.  What an amazing sacrifice Jesus made for us when he came. Jesus was born here so that we could be born again!  He was willing to make His home among us.  Why would Jesus do this?  He did this because He knew that He must pay the sacrifice for our sin. He came in such a humble way because He loves us so much.  Christmas is all about love. God loved us so much that He sent His Son (John 3:16).  

 

When you confess your sins, accept His forgiveness, repent and invite Christ to rule your life He cleans you up and makes His home inside of you.  It’s not something we can do on our own. Jesus took away my sin and as a result I want to keep my life clean so Jesus has a nice place to live.  Obedience is the best way for me to show my love for Jesus.  If you have never done this, maybe this Christmas you will invite Jesus to come and make His home in your life.  It will be the best decision you could ever make.  We can live our lives as disciples here on earth and then one day we will live with Jesus in His home in Heaven forever.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

The Choice to Rejoice

 Pastor Greg Laurie writes the booklet we use in Kenya called “New Believers Growth Booklet”.  We would like to share a devotion with you written by him.

The Choice To Rejoice

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-5

Focus Verse: Romans 5:3-4  “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character, hope.

Everywhere the apostle Paul went, there was either a riot or a revival. Paul never had a boring day in his life that we know of. There was always something going on with him.

Yet Paul didn’t merely endure these experiences but rejoiced in them. He wrote, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation” (Romans 5:3–4 NLT).

Paul was describing the kind of trials in which there’s nothing we can do to make them go away. But when Paul went through those hardships, he made the choice to rejoice. And we have that same choice before us.

I can’t control what happens around me, try as I may. But I can control how I react. When difficulties come my way, when things that seem unfair happen to me, when I’m going through a time of hardship, I can choose to be better or bitter.

Some people choose the latter. They’re bitter. They’re mad at God, mad at the world, and mad at their family. They’re mad at everything.

However, others say, “Lord, I don’t know why you’ve allowed this, and I wish you wouldn’t allow it. But I want to be better. I want to learn through this.”

Some trials that come into our lives are short-lived. But others don’t go away, and there’s no way around them. So what should we do?

We need to put our hope in God.

Remember, Paul said, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.” Maybe you don’t understand it at the moment, but there’s a reason for what you’re going through. God is working through it. And He never will let you down.

Pastor Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries

Be Thankful and Bless God's Name

Read Psalm 100 

"1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
² Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
³ Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
⁵ For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

 When I was a young girl, I memorized this Bible passage.  I loved how happy it made me feel.  I rejoiced over how God is good, merciful, truthful, our creator, and our shepherd.  I am thankful and joyful for the benefit of knowing Him.

Take some time to be thankful today for the Lord.  He provides a pasture for you.  Dwell there with Him and SHOUT with joy and thanksgiving.

"What if you wake up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for yesterday." ~unknown

~Page Johnson

Interlocking Ministries