What Are You Known For?

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 6:19-34

Focus Verse: Matthew 6:33  “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else….”

Jesus said “Seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness above everything else.  God’s Kingdom can never be taken away from those who have put their trust in Christ.  In the Bible reading today, Jesus tells us not to worry about money and possessions and that He will provide for our needs.

This past week we watched on TV as more than 12,000 homes burned to the ground here in the US in the state of California.  Wildfires spread by very high winds burned everything in its path, and many also lost their lives.  This was very sad to see. Yes, we need homes to live in.  Yes, we need money to buy things and provide for our families.  Yes, it's important to have an education, but let’s not put these temporary things above what Jesus has told us is the most important thing.

This is an important question to ask yourself.  What are you known for? We want to be known for the right things as children of God because of our relationship with Christ.   I go to Kenya often on missions and people know that I’m the director of Interlocking Ministries.  Most importantly I hope that people know I’m seeking God's Kingdom.  Whatever is important to God is what should be important to us.  

Does your life reflect the life of a child of God?  Many people are known for their accomplishments. While others are known for material possessions they have acquired.  Maybe it’s large amounts of money, or a large home that they are known for.  Maybe it’s a university education that some people are known for.  But what happens to these people if these things are taken away?  Let's remember that Jesus tells us not to worry about money and possessions and that He will be everything that we need because He cares for us.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Walking Step by Step

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4: 7-18

Focus Verses: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18   Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

In the new year, we don't know what our days will be like, but as followers of Christ, we know that God is with us.  As we walk through this Christian life we understand that we will go through difficult times.  Most times we would like to see what is ahead for us, especially when difficult times are coming.  Sometimes we even face storms in life when we are doing our best to be in a right relationship with the Lord.  You may have read the verse in Psalm 34:19 that says “many are the afflictions of the righteous”.  But sometimes we fail to read the rest of the verse that says “But the Lord delivers us from them all.” 

Today's scripture reading tells us to make a comparison between the temporary with the eternal.  The light afflictions we have here on earth compared to the glory of heaven,  and the seen to the unseen.  If we have the right perspective on life with God’s help we can endure any trial by taking it one step at a time.  The unseen of heaven one day we will see.  Then the trials of this world will just be a faded memory.  So take this journey with the Lord step by step and remember to look for the unseen eternal.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Daily Devotion by Greg Laurie: “The Word Became Flesh”

 Daily Devotion by Greg Laurie: “The Word Became Flesh”

Bible Reading John 1

Focus Verse: "In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,
    and the Word was God." John 1:1

John wastes no time in establishing Jesus’ identity. The apostle begins his Gospel with the same wording Moses used in Genesis 1:1 to show that God existed before creation. John’s point is that Jesus, too, existed before the world was created. Not only was He with God at the beginning, but He also was God. Jesus is the second person of the Trinity—that is, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus gave life and light to creation. And when the people who received life turned their backs on Him to pursue their own sinful ways, Jesus did something so amazing that John can barely find the words to do it justice.

Jesus, God Himself, entered the world He created. He squeezed His infinite presence into a small container of flesh. He made Himself susceptible to pain, weakness, sorrow, and rejection. He lived among us. He humbly, faithfully, and lovingly served the people He created.

John refers to Him as the Word because He embodied everything that God the Father wanted to communicate to us. Everything Jesus said and did reveals something about God.

Very few people recognized Him as God, even though the Jewish people of His day were waiting for the Messiah, the Son of God. The problem was that they’d already made up their minds about what the Messiah would be like and what He would do. And Jesus didn’t meet their expectations. So they rejected Him. And the ones who led the rejection were the ones who should have recognized Him first: the Jewish leaders of Israel.

Of course, God anticipated that people wouldn’t recognize His Son. So He sent John the Baptist to announce His coming. And He gave John the Baptist a sign so that he would recognize Jesus. When John the Baptist saw a dove descend on Him, he knew Jesus was the Chosen One. That’s why he was able to confidently point to Jesus and announce, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (verse 29)

Still, most people—including the Jewish religious leaders—refused to recognize the truth. The leaders even sent a delegation to John the Baptist to ask if he was the Messiah. All the while, John the Baptist kept pointing to Jesus.

While he was standing with two of his own disciples, John the Baptist saw Jesus and said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples immediately left John the Baptist to follow Jesus.

Two thousand years later, this same scenario is still being played out. People still refuse to recognize the truth about Jesus because He doesn’t fit their idea of what the Son of God should be. And those of us who do recognize and follow Him still have the opportunity and responsibility to say, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

 Source: https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-word-became-flesh/

O Holy Night

O Holy Night

Bible Reading: Luke 2

Focus Verse: "And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." (Luke 2:8)

The familiar Christmas hymn is about the coming of our "dear Saviour". The world is full of sin and error and is not doing well without a saviour.  The coming of Jesus brought great hope and rejoicing!

The song begins with

"O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."

 

The whole world struggles in need of a Saviour.  It is cursed with sin and the longing is for a full redemption, renewal and fellowship with God

The song says, "Long lay the world in sin and error pining. ’Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth."

"And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field." (Genesis 3:17-18)

The song says, "A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."

"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (Romans 8:19-21)

Does your soul feel it's worth?  Yes, let us rejoice and worship the Lord for Jesus, our Saviour and our hope. Worship with me this season with this hymn.  His power and glory evermore proclaim.

~Page Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

O Holy Night Lyrics

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from the Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weaknesses no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.

Video of O Holy Night: https://youtu.be/JHAFT2i5h5w?si=xaCfOek67Uc_GwJu

Our Wonderful Counselor

Our Wonderful Counselor 

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7

Focus Verse: Isaiah 9:6  “And He will be called Wonderful Counselor.”

Do you know that God has a plan for your life, and He wants to reveal that plan to you?  Psalm 73:24 says, “You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”   

 

People go to many different places to get advice on how to live their lives, but the Bible, God’s Word is the best place you could go.  The Bible says, “God is our counselor and He wants to give you counsel for your life.  He wants to give wisdom as you make decisions for your life.  James 1:5 says, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”  God is never too busy to spend time with you.  

 

Jesus took time with Nicodemus one night when he had questions about life.  Jesus took time with a Samaritan woman at a well when she had issues in her life.  God will take time with you and help you with whatever issues you are facing.  The Bible blessing in Numbers 6:24-26 is  “The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”  

This Christmas season let us continue to go to “The Prince of Peace”, the only One who can bring true peace in our lives when we have issues.   And His name is Jesus the Wonderful Counselor.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

God Has Chosen You

God Has Chosen You

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Focus Verse: 1 Samuel 16:12b  “And the Lord said, This is the one, anoint him.”

God likes to use humble ordinary people for His purposes.  In our scripture reading God chose David, a shepherd boy tending sheep, to be the next king of Israel.  

 

Maybe you’re thinking right now that you’re not very important.  Let me tell you God wants to choose you for a task.  It might not be to serve as king or president of a country.  But God has a special task just for you.  God has chosen ordinary people throughout history to do special things.  When God called Gideon to deliver Israel, he was threshing wheat.  When Jesus called the disciples to change the world, they were mending their nets and fishing. God doesn’t look so much at your ability or what great talents you may have, but He cares about your willing availability.  Your purpose may seem insignificant, but to God it is serving His purposes.

 

Are you willing to be used by God for whatever He is asking you to do?  If you were to ask the disciple Peter on the day that Jesus called him,  “can you see yourself leading the Christian movement in Jerusalem?”  He would have said “no”.  As I look back on my own life it surprises me what God has done.  And I can look at many other ordinary people that God has done some amazing things through.  So don’t underestimate what God can do when you say “yes”.  Remember a little boy said “yes” and gave his lunch to Jesus and more than 5000 people had all they could eat.  God has chosen you to do great things, will you say “yes” to Him?

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministry

Maturing as a Christian

Maturing as a Christian

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Focus Verse:  Psalm 119:71 "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes."

As soon as a baby is born it begins a path to maturity but that path is not always easy.  A baby must learn to eat as soon as it's born.  A baby must learn to walk but it will fall many times as it learns.  A child can't understand why the parent says "no".   As it gets older there is learning to read, work math and protecting a garden from the monkeys.  There is much to learn about life on the path to maturity.

In the same way, a Christian must mature.  As Christians our goal is to mature in Christ and that path is not always easy either.  We can face many trials emotionally, spiritually and physically.  This week it was reported in the LA Times that there were over 500 tornadoes in the central United States. There are many people around the world going through a very difficult time for a variety of reasons.  It is hard to understand why we must have struggles, but God is working out His plan.  He knows the circumstances in every single life, and He knows what is best.  Romans 8:28 says, "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."    Therefore, for those people who are Christians, maybe God wants them to mature in their faith through their struggles or have their neighbor come to Christ by watching their faith.  For others who do not know Christ, God may use this storm to bring them to salvation.

No matter what we are going through, we can be at peace knowing that God sees every detail of what is happening in our lives.  He is with us, loving us.  He will not allow anything that He can not work out for the ultimate good.  So the next time you are in a difficult situation look for ways that God may want you to mature in your faith.  God always has a purpose for everything.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries