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
Saturday, July 18, 2015
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
Friday, June 26, 2015
Godly Advice & Encouragement
Bible Reading: Hebrews 13
Focus verse: "You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God." Hebrews 3:13
I hope you read Hebrews 13 slowly. There is a lot of great advice in that chapter as the author, thought to be Paul, concludes the letter. Like a loving father he gave a lot of great advice for the living the Christian life. From topics of hospitality, marriage, money, fear, leaders, sacrifice, to living honorably, he reminds them of their position.
I don't want to say too much, but read through Hebrews 13 again. We all need to be reminded of God's truth so that we won't be deceived by the lies of the enemy. It is the role of Christ followers to exhort, or remind others of the ways of the Lord in a loving way.
As a believer, we are given the position of God's child. As a believer, we should also behave like God's child.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus verse: "You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God." Hebrews 3:13
I hope you read Hebrews 13 slowly. There is a lot of great advice in that chapter as the author, thought to be Paul, concludes the letter. Like a loving father he gave a lot of great advice for the living the Christian life. From topics of hospitality, marriage, money, fear, leaders, sacrifice, to living honorably, he reminds them of their position.
I don't want to say too much, but read through Hebrews 13 again. We all need to be reminded of God's truth so that we won't be deceived by the lies of the enemy. It is the role of Christ followers to exhort, or remind others of the ways of the Lord in a loving way.
As a believer, we are given the position of God's child. As a believer, we should also behave like God's child.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Love God -> Obey Him
Bible reading Hebrews 12
Focus verse: "Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us." 1 John 3:24
When we first trusted Christ as our savior, we became His children. We didn't do anything to deserve it and we can't earn our own way to Him. He loved us, forgave our sins and accepted us into His family. Our faith in God and our love for Him leads us to desire obedience. When we sin, and we all have, the Holy Spirit convicts us of that sin and we have the opportunity to repent. When we continue in sin, we are not loving God, but despising His commands. God will not allow his child to continue in sin without consequence. He will discipline, remove blessings and bring you to your knees before Him out of His great love for you. Do not resist God's discipline, but allow yourself to be humble before God and repent to walk in obedience and in fellowship with Him.
Faith leads to obedience. Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth" As a child of God, will you be on your knees willingly or will you be driven to your knees with God's discipline?
I am praying for a humble heart to willingly yield to Him.
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
PS. I am not saying that all suffering is because of disobedience, though sometimes it is. One thing for sure is that God always can use it for good and His Glory.
Focus verse: "Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us." 1 John 3:24
When we first trusted Christ as our savior, we became His children. We didn't do anything to deserve it and we can't earn our own way to Him. He loved us, forgave our sins and accepted us into His family. Our faith in God and our love for Him leads us to desire obedience. When we sin, and we all have, the Holy Spirit convicts us of that sin and we have the opportunity to repent. When we continue in sin, we are not loving God, but despising His commands. God will not allow his child to continue in sin without consequence. He will discipline, remove blessings and bring you to your knees before Him out of His great love for you. Do not resist God's discipline, but allow yourself to be humble before God and repent to walk in obedience and in fellowship with Him.
Faith leads to obedience. Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth" As a child of God, will you be on your knees willingly or will you be driven to your knees with God's discipline?
I am praying for a humble heart to willingly yield to Him.
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
PS. I am not saying that all suffering is because of disobedience, though sometimes it is. One thing for sure is that God always can use it for good and His Glory.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Unexpected Journey
Bible Reading: Ruth 1
Focus Verse: "A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9
Ruth, a Moabite woman, was married for 10 years to an Israelite man and was settled in her life. Suddenly, he died along with his brother. Now her husband's father had also died. This left Naomi, the mother-in-law and the two women alone. They heard that the crops were good in Judah and began their journey there. One of the women turned back, but Ruth made a commitment to her mother-in-law, Naomi. This commitment resulted in a great blessing to both Ruth and Naomi.
Many times we make a plan for our life, but tragedy strikes or something happens that keeps our plans from coming true. If we are following God, we will have the wisdom to find the path to take. God has a plan for our life. No matter the pain, suffering, confusion or disappointment in losing our original plan, we can rest in the knowledge that God is directing our next step.
Trust Him.
Page Johnson
Focus Verse: "A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9
Ruth, a Moabite woman, was married for 10 years to an Israelite man and was settled in her life. Suddenly, he died along with his brother. Now her husband's father had also died. This left Naomi, the mother-in-law and the two women alone. They heard that the crops were good in Judah and began their journey there. One of the women turned back, but Ruth made a commitment to her mother-in-law, Naomi. This commitment resulted in a great blessing to both Ruth and Naomi.
Many times we make a plan for our life, but tragedy strikes or something happens that keeps our plans from coming true. If we are following God, we will have the wisdom to find the path to take. God has a plan for our life. No matter the pain, suffering, confusion or disappointment in losing our original plan, we can rest in the knowledge that God is directing our next step.
Trust Him.
Page Johnson
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Light and Shadow
All
the masterpieces of art contain both light and shadow. A happy life is
one filled not only with sunshine, but one which uses both light and
shadow to produce beauty. The greatest musicians, as a rule, are those
who know how to bring song out of sadness. Fanny Crosby, her spirit
aglow with faith in Christ, saw more with her sightless eyes than most
of us do with normal vision. She has given us some of the great gospel
songs which cheer our hearts and lives.
In a rat-infested jail in Philippi, Paul and Silas sang their song of praise at midnight to the accompaniment of the jailer’s whip. But their patience in suffering and persecution led to the heathen warden’s conviction.
Prayer for the day: Let my heart learn to sing when everything around me seems so dark. Give me Your grace to praise You, Lord Jesus.
~Billy Graham
Reference: http://billygraham.org/devotion/light-and-shadow/
In a rat-infested jail in Philippi, Paul and Silas sang their song of praise at midnight to the accompaniment of the jailer’s whip. But their patience in suffering and persecution led to the heathen warden’s conviction.
Prayer for the day: Let my heart learn to sing when everything around me seems so dark. Give me Your grace to praise You, Lord Jesus.
~Billy Graham
Reference: http://billygraham.org/devotion/light-and-shadow/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)