Standing Firm

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 3

Focus Verses: Hebrews 3:12-14  “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters.  Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.  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.  For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.”

When Jesus gave the Great Commission to make disciples, it was not just for his twelve disciples, it was not just for Kenyans, it was not just for Americans.  It was for all Christians everywhere.  We are to share the message of the Gospel.  We are also to warn one another about sin that can entangle us.  The writer of Hebrews tells us to be firm in what we believe about God.  Let us not deceive ourselves or others by our own sin.  Let us examine our own walk with the Lord.  Are we standing firm in our own faith?  Some people are only faithful to God when everything is going well for them.  Some are only faithful when they want something from God.  When our faith is tested, our neighbors are watching to see if we will stand firm.  So let us live in such a way that others will see that we are a Christ follower.  Stand firm in your faith.


Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Don’t Let Your Hope Waver

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:19-39

Focus Verse: Hebrews 10:23  “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”

There are times that it would seem that the world is falling apart.  We hear of natural disasters.  We hear of terrorist attacks almost on a daily basis.  We hear of strife between countries.  We hear of racial tensions.  Where can we place our hope to fix all these things?  I can tell you who is not going to fix all these problems.  It’s not going to be a person, a politician or a government.  The only one that can control these problems is the LORD.  God is the one in whom we can place our hope.  Hebrews says that we are to hold tightly to the hope we have in God’s promises.  God has us in his hands.  Everything that happens is what He allows.  He will turn the evil that happens in this world into fulfilling His purpose in the end.  So when you feel all hope is lost, hold tightly to the only One that can give hope. 

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," 1 Peter 3:15

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Not Guilty

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:1-17
Focus Verses: Romans 8:1-2  “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”

Someone who is being charged with a crime would be very glad to hear the words “not guilty”  because that means they would be able to go free instead of jail.  In God’s eyes we have all committed the crime of sin, but because of what Jesus did on the cross, we have the opportunity to hear God say “not guilty".  The gospel message can set us free.  If we accepted this free gift of salvation we have been forgiven.  We no longer are chained by the sins of this world that lead to death.  God said he wants to remove your sin as far as the east is from the west.  We can look to the Holy Spirit to guide us through this life the way God wants you to live.  Satan will try to discourage you by reminding you of all your past sins and tell you how guilty you are.  When that happens, you can remind him that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection you are “not guilty”.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Eternal Perspective

Eternal Perspective
Bible reading: Matthew 6: 19-34

Focus verse: Matthew 6: 33 "Seek the Kingdom of God^[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

There is no happiness in our possessions.  The more we have, the more we have responsibility for and our focus can change away from the Lord.  We are to be stewards of our possessions, but we shouldn't be possessed by them.  Matthew 19:23 says, "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven."


Sometimes we may see what others have and desire to have that same thing too.  It is common to feel these things, but we should realize that God will give us what we need and many times he gives us more than we need as an extra blessing.  

We should seek after the eternal value in all that we do.  Have our goals be such that would bring honor and glory to our LORD.  Allow God to decide our possessions and add them as He desires.  When we have possessions, we should ask God for wisdom in our stewardship of them.

Seek first the Kingdom of God.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Remember Who The Enemy Is

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 6: 1-7

Focus Verse: "For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world"  Ephesians 6:12

Today I was in a meeting of 12 people.  There was a decision to be made and the vote was 9 -3.  One of the three people gave a very emotional complaint after the vote because she didn't think the decision was right.  Although she doesn't agree, she has a choice to accept the vote and live in peace or choose to live in anger, lies, hate and discord.  One way shows humility, the other is pride.

I realize that people, yes, even believers are not always going to think the same way.  They are not always going to agree.  Sometimes the matter is small and other times the matter seems to be big.  The Bible reading today tells us that nothing on this earth that we argue about is greater than the heavenly judgements to come.  God tells us to have unity and love one another in humility.

When
 you
 find
 yourself
 in
 a
 dispute
 with
 a
 fellow
 Christian,
 ask
 yourself if you can accept the way things are with the help of Christ and live in peace.  If you can not find peace, 
rather
 than
 brother
 against
 brother
 going
 to
 court
 before
 the
 civil
 court of
 the
 world, shaming the church; when
 necessary,
 Christian brother
s should
 together
 seek
 out
 a
 fellow
 Christian
.  Even then, if you don't agree... In the end of the scripture 1 Corinthians 6:7 says that it is better to allow yourself to be wronged and cheated than to take a believer to court of unbelievers.

The enemy is not your brother; remember who the enemy REALLY is.  We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the unseen enemy of evil.
Further reading: James 4

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Minstries

Pledge Allegiance to God

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 1:2-20

Focus Verse: Isaiah 1:4  “Oh what a sinful nation they are, loaded down with a burden of guilt.  They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the Lord.  They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.

What does it mean to pledge allegiance?  If you pledge allegiance to a country, like Kenya or America, it means you are a citizen of that country and that you will love and be loyal to that country.  If you pledge your allegiance to God, it means you are a citizen of heaven and you will be loyal to and love God.  It means you allow God to have control over your life.  But sometimes we may become tempted to be loyal to other things: our money, our jobs, our educations, our friends, our material possessions.  Satan would like for us to be loyal to all these different things.  He would rather you be loyal to anything but God.

As we read in the Bible Israel had turned their back on God.  They were no longer loyal to God.  Sometimes I feel that America is taking the same path of turning their backs on God.  Maybe you feel the same way about Kenya.  If everything is going great, then we turn our backs on God and act as if we don’t need Him. It seems like we only turn to God if we are having trouble.  The apostle Paul says it best in Philippians 3:19-20  “They are headed for destruction.  Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.  But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.  And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.”  Today I hope you will think about to whom or what you are pledging your allegiance.  God does not want to share you with anyone or anything.  God wants all of your allegiance.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

No Need to be Fearful

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 41:8-16

Focus Verse: Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

As Christians what a great encouragement this verse is to us.  God has promised to be with us, strengthen us, help us, and hold us up.  Are there reasons today that you walk in fear or are loosing confidence?  This should give us great confidence because we have no reason to walk in fear.  You may have circumstances in your life that you see no way out, but take heart because God sees all of it.  He already knows the outcome of your troubles.  He has promised to strengthen you and to uphold you through it all.  Just because you can’t see God doesn’t mean He’s not there.  If you are a believer in Christ, He is always with you.  So don’t let fear or discouragement take control of your life.  God always has you in His hand, and will never let you go.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries