New Beginnings

Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:12-21

Focus Verse: Philippians 3:13  “No dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing, forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.”

As 2021 comes to a close we can probably all think of things we regret and victories from this past year.  Paul says let’s put the past behind us.  It’s good to learn from our mistakes and to be encouraged by our victories in life, but we can’t live in the past.  Do not be controlled by your mistakes or be so proud of your victories that you don’t move forward.  A new year is before us and God will have new opportunities for you in this coming year.  In verse 14 Paul says “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

In Italy they have a custom for New Year’s Eve.  As midnight approaches everyone goes inside their homes and closes their windows.  As the clock passes from the old year to the new year they open the windows and throw out something that’s a symbol of something they want to get rid of in their lives.  

 

As we begin this new year let’s not be weighted down by our past.  This is a New Beginning. Let’s look for new opportunities in 2022 that the Lord will bring into our lives as we serve Him.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Shepherds

Shepherds

by Will Graham

Scripture: Luke 2:8-18, NKJV

Imagine you are a shepherd in ancient Israel: Your job is mundane, dirty, and maybe even a little frightening. You’re out in the wilderness, away from town, and the only light you see at night comes from the fire around which you are huddled and the moon hanging overhead. With that small field of vision, you’re supposed to not only keep track of your sheep, but also protect them from attack.

Suddenly, a supernatural brightness—“the glory of the Lord”—blinds your eyes, and there’s somebody there, unlike anything you’ve seen before. Perhaps you immediately realize that it’s the angel of the Lord, or maybe you are so consumed with confusion that it takes a minute to sink in that this being is from the heavenly realm. Either way, you’re so awe-struck that the angel’s first words are, “Do not be afraid.”

“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

I wonder if the shepherds collapsed to the ground during this overwhelming experience. We know they felt fear, of course, but imagine the flood of emotions as they begin to realize that the angel of the Lord is proclaiming the news of the arrival of the Messiah!

What is the Messiah? The One promised since Genesis 3, who would come and rescue all of mankind. For the Jewish people, this is the One they had been longing for. And the shepherds are some of the first to hear of His arrival.

If the knees of the shepherds hadn’t buckled by that point, you can be sure that they did when suddenly the skies lit up and one angel became “a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’”

It’s no surprise that they immediately ran to find the Child in the manger, and returned passionately glorifying and praising God!

Fear, confusion, awe, joy—the shepherds experienced the gamut of emotions that historic night.

How about you? As you read this passage, are you still filled with awe? Do you empathize with the confusion and fear? Can you feel their joy? If not, re-read Luke 2 and try to envision it from the shepherd’s perspective once again, and pray that the Holy Spirit will fill you with His joy this Christmas season.

Discussion Questions: As you contemplate Christmas, what are some ways that Jesus’ birth brings you joy? How is your life different today because of that pivotal moment in Bethlehem?

Prayer: Dear God, This Christmas season, help me to focus on the incredible heavenly appearing of Jesus in this world, and what that has meant for all of mankind. Renew my passion for You. Rekindle in me the joy of my salvation! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Jesus came to save the world from the grip of sin. But first you must ask Him to forgive your sins and be part of your life.

 

~Will Graham

Billy Graham Evangelistic association

God Came Close

Scripture Reading: Luke 2: 8-20

Focus Verse: Luke 2: 17 “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.”

All through the Old Testament we read of times when God came near.  Genesis 3:8  says that  Adam and Eve walked in the garden with the Lord God.  Exodus 3: 4  says, God spoke to Moses from a burning bush.  And many other places that God made His presence known.  But the greatest of all these appearances is in the New Testament when Jesus (God in flesh) came to earth and lived among us.  

 

Why did God send His only Son to earth from heaven?  Heaven is so much better than earth, so why would He come here?  Babies are born to live.  But Jesus was born to live a sinless life but also had a big purpose to die.  He was on a rescue mission and came to personally relate to us, to teach us and to walk with us.  He can identify with all of your sorrows, pains and temptations because he became human as well as fully God. Jesus came to earth as the best gift we could receive. He can truly be a friend to me.

 

His purpose in coming to earth was to show us how to live a life pleasing to God and then to die.  It wasn't an ordinary death.  He died in a special way for us.  He died a death that each of us should have died because of our sin.  The amazing thing is that he rose again and lives.  He defeated death in the tomb.  This is the most significant event in human history.  It’s so important that the world marks time by this event in 2021.  

 

I hope this event has changed your life forever as it has mine. You see if Jesus had not come then we have no hope.  We would be doomed to an eternity in hell.  We would have been left alone without a savior.  God came close to this world at Christmas time like the world had never seen before.  We can walk with Him on earth and for eternity!  Now let’s go and do as the shepherds did and make this good news widely known.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Give Encouragement to God’s Servants

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-19

Focus Verse 1 Thessalonians 5:12   “Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work.  They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.”

It has been said that hundreds of pastors leave the ministry every month.  They walk away from their churches for different reasons.  Some may just be ready to retire, but could another be because they are not getting encouragement from the membership?  Is there more of a critical spirit or a spurring on?

Paul says we are to honor those in spiritual leadership over us.  We know that Christ is the head of the church, but the pastor is appointed by God to feed the church, pray for the church, and lead the church.  God is pleased when we support and encourage our spiritual leaders.  I don’t have to tell you that your pastor is not perfect.  The only perfect person on this earth was Jesus.  In spite of your pastor’s faults, he needs your encouragement.  Pastoring a church is not an easy task.  It takes a lot of patience to deal with all the different personalities within a church.  So as Paul has instructed us let’s honor those in spiritual leadership over us, and let them know we are supporting them.  They will appreciate it, and your encouragement will enable them to do their job for The Lord better.

Our missions pastor, Will Gatling, has served our church for over 30 years, some of those years were serving as associate pastor.  He has been a faithful pastor and we are so thankful for the guidance,  teaching and leading our church to reach out with the Gospel.  Our church will honor him for his faithfulness.  This is good, but we should not wait for someone to retire before honoring them with words of encouragement.


Bobby & Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Don’t Separate

Bible Reading:  Matthew 19:1-12
Focus Verse: Hebrews 3:8  "Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness."

Jesus had just finished teaching about how to handle a brother’s sin against you and how much we should forgive.  I don’t think it’s an accident that that is covered just before marriage.  Forgiveness is needed regularly in any marriage based on our nature to sin.  The Pharisees came to test him and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”  Jesus replied that from the beginning, God created them male and female to be united as one.  God joins them together and man should not separate.  There was a concession given by Moses for marital unfaithfulness, but only because of the hardness of their hearts.  He said it wasn’t that way in the beginning.  Jesus went so far as to call it adultery if someone divorces and remarries for any reason other than that. 

There is a beautiful trinity in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  At the end of each day of creation, God said it was good.  After He created Man and Woman, he said it was “Very good!”  Why this difference.  We are not like the animals.  Marriage is a reflection of the unity found in the trinity.  Jesus many times said that the “Father and I are one”.  Now he says that man and wife will become one.  We are to honor that commitment. 

After saying this, it stands to reason that you should be careful and prayerful as you choose the person you will marry.  I remember when I was in High School that I made a list of the qualities that I was looking for in a husband.  I then rated them in priority.  Sure, we can get swept up in emotional love, but the lasting marriage takes commitment.  Remember how I started this devotion?  It was about forgiveness.  It really works.  Be sure that when you marry, you both are committed for life!  Begin now by praying about the person that you will marry.  Pray for that person as they walk with Christ.  If you are married, pray for your spouse and seek to build the unity between you through becoming closer to Christ together.  Pray together,  read God's word together and serve God together.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries