Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:31-46
Focus Verse: "“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The
King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" Matthew 25: 37-40
Jesus was clear in his teaching to care for others who are struggling with sickness and physical needs. We may find that the needs are great around us and feel like we can't do much. Jesus didn't say that we should solve all of their problems, but that there is something, even something small, that we can do. Anyone can give a drink to someone or visit someone who is sick. How difficult is it to give a shirt or dress to someone whose clothes are torn and tattered. If you don't have something, maybe you can ask some friends to help you to get some clothes for someone in need.
When you help someone, the Holy Spirit confirms in your heart that you are doing something good. You know that is a good feeling. When you join together as a community to help others, then it strengthens the community.
My prayer is that God will show me where to help someone today. May God be glorified in any effort of care that I show to someone today.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
www.interlockingministries.org
Showing posts with label Interlocking Ministries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interlocking Ministries. Show all posts
Friday, December 14, 2012
Friday, August 31, 2012
Prayerful Courage (Devotion by David Jeremiah)
Scripture Reading: Esther 4:13-17
Focus Verse:
"Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalms 27:14
The word "courage" has somewhat of an identity crisis today. Some think of courage as the absence of fear. Actually, courage is persevering in spite of fear. Some of the most courageous men and women have prevailed in spite of weakness, sickness, and persecution.
After two millennia, the beautiful Jewish woman Esther is still remembered for courageously stepping forward to preserve the Jewish nation. When alerted to Haman's evil plan to annihilate the Jews, Esther asked her cousin Mordecai to mobilize the prayer team as she endangered her life to approach the king without his summons. In Esther's moment of crisis, she wisely spent three days in prayer and fasting--before making her request to the king.
If you're experiencing a situation where you need courage to make a decision, don't rush ahead. The more crucial the decision or project, the more critical the groundwork. Make preparation through prayer, asking others to support you. It is then that God will reinforce your courage and give you strength to proceed.
"Cowardice asks the question: "Is it safe?" Consensus asks the question: "Is it popular?" Courage asks the question: "Is it right?" ~Rod Rogers
Devotion by David Jeremiah
Focus Verse:
"Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalms 27:14
The word "courage" has somewhat of an identity crisis today. Some think of courage as the absence of fear. Actually, courage is persevering in spite of fear. Some of the most courageous men and women have prevailed in spite of weakness, sickness, and persecution.
After two millennia, the beautiful Jewish woman Esther is still remembered for courageously stepping forward to preserve the Jewish nation. When alerted to Haman's evil plan to annihilate the Jews, Esther asked her cousin Mordecai to mobilize the prayer team as she endangered her life to approach the king without his summons. In Esther's moment of crisis, she wisely spent three days in prayer and fasting--before making her request to the king.
If you're experiencing a situation where you need courage to make a decision, don't rush ahead. The more crucial the decision or project, the more critical the groundwork. Make preparation through prayer, asking others to support you. It is then that God will reinforce your courage and give you strength to proceed.
"Cowardice asks the question: "Is it safe?" Consensus asks the question: "Is it popular?" Courage asks the question: "Is it right?" ~Rod Rogers
Devotion by David Jeremiah
Friday, August 24, 2012
Where Is Happiness Found?
Scripture Reading: Matthew 22:34-40
Focus Verses: Matthew 22:37-39 "Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
The world spends lots of money on advertising products every year. They try to convince us that we need many things in our lives. They say that these things will bring happiness into our lives. Some things are truly needed in our lives like, food, shelter, and clothing.
In our verses today Jesus gives us the two greatest commandments in all the Bible. Love God, and love others. That sounds simple, doesn't it? If you think about it, all of life comes down to those two things, loving God, and loving others. Everything else in this world will one day pass away. But God and people will last forever.
The things of this world do bring a kind of happiness. But it's not a lasting happiness. You have to keep looking for the next thing to keep your happiness. God designed us with a void or emptiness in our lives that only He can fill. He knew the value of our loving Him and loving others. He also knew how self serving we, as humans, can be, and that we would fill our lives with empty pursuits if He didn't command us to love Him and to love others. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 "there is coming a day when all our works will be tested by fire." Only what is done for Christ will last.
In true love and obedience to God is where we can find real happiness. We will experience real joy in giving of ourselves to God and others out of love. It is in this love that we find purpose in life, and it is from this purpose that we can gain true happiness.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: Matthew 22:37-39 "Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
The world spends lots of money on advertising products every year. They try to convince us that we need many things in our lives. They say that these things will bring happiness into our lives. Some things are truly needed in our lives like, food, shelter, and clothing.
In our verses today Jesus gives us the two greatest commandments in all the Bible. Love God, and love others. That sounds simple, doesn't it? If you think about it, all of life comes down to those two things, loving God, and loving others. Everything else in this world will one day pass away. But God and people will last forever.
The things of this world do bring a kind of happiness. But it's not a lasting happiness. You have to keep looking for the next thing to keep your happiness. God designed us with a void or emptiness in our lives that only He can fill. He knew the value of our loving Him and loving others. He also knew how self serving we, as humans, can be, and that we would fill our lives with empty pursuits if He didn't command us to love Him and to love others. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 "there is coming a day when all our works will be tested by fire." Only what is done for Christ will last.
In true love and obedience to God is where we can find real happiness. We will experience real joy in giving of ourselves to God and others out of love. It is in this love that we find purpose in life, and it is from this purpose that we can gain true happiness.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, May 4, 2012
Multiplying Christians
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4
Focus Verses: Ephesians 4:11-16
Some day in the future this earth will pass away. There are two things that will not pass away. People and God's Word. Both will last forever. We know that the human soul will exist forever in heaven or hell. God's Word will remain in heaven forever.
Why don't we spend our time on the things that are eternal? If I tell someone about Jesus and disciple them, and that person tells someone else about Jesus, then I have multiplied myself. This is how the world will be won for Christ. There is no way that I can talk with everyone in Kenya about Jesus, but many of you can. We can learn by Paul's example in the Bible to disciple others.
2 Timothy 2:2 "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." Some other examples of discipleship are: Paul discipling Timothy who had an important part in leading the early church. Moses discipled Joshua for many years before passing Israel's leadership to him. But the best example was Jesus who spent many hours teaching His disciples. Then the disciples went out and changed the world. That's multiplication of Christians.
I would encourage you to spend time in God's Word and learn the things God wants us to know to be more Christ like. Then go and speak these truths in love to others. The Bible says that God's Word will never return void. Isaiah 55:11 "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
Find someone today that you can speak some truth from God's Word into their life. This is how discipleship grows a church, a community, a fishing beach, and an entire world, one life at a time.
Bobby Johnson
Executive Director, Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: Ephesians 4:11-16
"11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This
will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and
knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up
to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."
Some day in the future this earth will pass away. There are two things that will not pass away. People and God's Word. Both will last forever. We know that the human soul will exist forever in heaven or hell. God's Word will remain in heaven forever.
Why don't we spend our time on the things that are eternal? If I tell someone about Jesus and disciple them, and that person tells someone else about Jesus, then I have multiplied myself. This is how the world will be won for Christ. There is no way that I can talk with everyone in Kenya about Jesus, but many of you can. We can learn by Paul's example in the Bible to disciple others.
2 Timothy 2:2 "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." Some other examples of discipleship are: Paul discipling Timothy who had an important part in leading the early church. Moses discipled Joshua for many years before passing Israel's leadership to him. But the best example was Jesus who spent many hours teaching His disciples. Then the disciples went out and changed the world. That's multiplication of Christians.
I would encourage you to spend time in God's Word and learn the things God wants us to know to be more Christ like. Then go and speak these truths in love to others. The Bible says that God's Word will never return void. Isaiah 55:11 "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
Find someone today that you can speak some truth from God's Word into their life. This is how discipleship grows a church, a community, a fishing beach, and an entire world, one life at a time.
Bobby Johnson
Executive Director, Interlocking Ministries
Friday, April 27, 2012
As for Me...
Scripture Reading: Joshua 24: 14-18 (<-- make sure you click the scripture to open the verses)
Focus Verse: "...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" Joshua 24:15
Moses was no longer leading the Israelites to promised land. Although he helped to start the journey, it was now time for Joshua to complete the mission. Joshua was leading the tribe and wanted them to know that they should follow God completely. They should put away their idols and serve God alone. It is a choice that each person should make on their own. He declared that for his family, that they would serve the Lord. The Israelites then committed to follow God, who had rescued them from their enemies and preserved them. They followed their leader's example and took a stand.
Many times we are tempted to follow the traditions of the past. The Israelites had lived with idols in Egypt and it was a part of normal life. Now they were challenged to never return to living that way. We are often challenged with following Christ and leaving behind some traditions. The more you learn of Christ and the Word of God, the more you realize that some of your traditions should change. This is true whether you live in America or Kenya.
Are you faced with the need of renewing your commitment to God. Maybe you have been falling back into some traditions that have been a part of your life before. Maybe you are looking at the path that you should take. Don't run from God. Renew your commitment to Him today. Take a stand. Proclaim your complete commitment to God: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Theodore Epp said, "Our strength is seen in the things we stand for; our weakness is seen in the things we fall for."
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: "...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" Joshua 24:15
Moses was no longer leading the Israelites to promised land. Although he helped to start the journey, it was now time for Joshua to complete the mission. Joshua was leading the tribe and wanted them to know that they should follow God completely. They should put away their idols and serve God alone. It is a choice that each person should make on their own. He declared that for his family, that they would serve the Lord. The Israelites then committed to follow God, who had rescued them from their enemies and preserved them. They followed their leader's example and took a stand.
Many times we are tempted to follow the traditions of the past. The Israelites had lived with idols in Egypt and it was a part of normal life. Now they were challenged to never return to living that way. We are often challenged with following Christ and leaving behind some traditions. The more you learn of Christ and the Word of God, the more you realize that some of your traditions should change. This is true whether you live in America or Kenya.
Are you faced with the need of renewing your commitment to God. Maybe you have been falling back into some traditions that have been a part of your life before. Maybe you are looking at the path that you should take. Don't run from God. Renew your commitment to Him today. Take a stand. Proclaim your complete commitment to God: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Theodore Epp said, "Our strength is seen in the things we stand for; our weakness is seen in the things we fall for."
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, April 13, 2012
Living To Please God
Scripture Reading: Romans 8
Focus Verses: Romans 8:5-8 "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God."
Living a life that pleases God can seem like a difficult thing. And for some people it is. They try to live according to a list of rules, trying to obtain God's favor through acts of kindness or compassion. No one has ever kept all of God's commandments, except for Christ. On our own we could never live a life that pleased God because we relied on our human - sinful nature. Romans chapter 8 teaches us that we can live a life that is pure and pleasing to God. The beginning verse explains that a relationship with Jesus Christ frees us from sin through the power of the Holy Spirit. The only way to be free from sin is to be "bound" to Jesus. We become a slave to Christ. Not because we have to, but because we want to. We want to serve Him.
That old sinful nature will continue to try and take control of our lives at times through thoughts that lead to sinful actions. But if you are following the leading of the Holy Spirit you will serve God out of love and gratitude. Your service will not be motivated by a desire to earn God's approval, but will be motivated by a desire to be closer to Jesus and bring Him the honor He deserves. We know we already have God's approval by what Jesus did for us on the cross, if we have accepted His forgiveness of our sins.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: Romans 8:5-8 "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God."
Living a life that pleases God can seem like a difficult thing. And for some people it is. They try to live according to a list of rules, trying to obtain God's favor through acts of kindness or compassion. No one has ever kept all of God's commandments, except for Christ. On our own we could never live a life that pleased God because we relied on our human - sinful nature. Romans chapter 8 teaches us that we can live a life that is pure and pleasing to God. The beginning verse explains that a relationship with Jesus Christ frees us from sin through the power of the Holy Spirit. The only way to be free from sin is to be "bound" to Jesus. We become a slave to Christ. Not because we have to, but because we want to. We want to serve Him.
That old sinful nature will continue to try and take control of our lives at times through thoughts that lead to sinful actions. But if you are following the leading of the Holy Spirit you will serve God out of love and gratitude. Your service will not be motivated by a desire to earn God's approval, but will be motivated by a desire to be closer to Jesus and bring Him the honor He deserves. We know we already have God's approval by what Jesus did for us on the cross, if we have accepted His forgiveness of our sins.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, March 23, 2012
My Determined Purpose
Scripture Reading: Romans 12
Focus Verses: Romans 12: 1-2 "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
This past February we saw 78 people come to faith in Christ during a trip to Kenya. We praise the Lord for that. The world is a very dark place and seems to be going from bad to worse. I think Satan knows that his days are numbered, and he is doing everything he can to keep God's Kingdom from growing. I believe there is only one way to live the Christian life during these times, and that is to be 100% sold out for Jesus, no turning back. There are to many people living a half-way Christian life. I was that way for 11 years after I got saved. I took my faith for granted. Then God showed me what I had been doing. I committed my life to Him 100%.
If you are living the Christian life half-way, please don't tell anyone that you are a Christian. You heard me right, "please don't tell anyone you're a Christian". Because if you call yourself a Christian and live like the world, then unsaved people will look at you and wonder why they would need Salvation. There is no difference between you and the world.
The apostle Paul said that his determined purpose is to know Christ (see Philippians 3:10-14). What is your determined purpose in life? When you get up in the morning, what do you live for? I know you may have your job to provide for your family, you may go to school, or you may take care of your children all day. But you can do all those things with a Christlike attitude, and live in such a way that people will see Christ in you. The only Jesus that most people in this world will ever see is the Jesus that is lived out in our lives. Can you say with Paul, "My determined purpose in life is to know Him"? I hope so. Think of how God used Paul: many people were saved, many churches were started, he wrote a lot of the New Testament that we hold as the very inspired Word of God. Yet Paul realized he had so much more to learn. It's hard to believe that Paul had the same struggles and temptations that we face, but he did. Therefore, how much more should we be saying "I want to be more like Christ this year." Read Romans 12 again. Paul gives us some good advice on how to be more like Christ. As we seek to know Him, we will be transformed. (changed)
Let it be our goal to have someone look at our life and say "if that's a Christian, then I want to follow Christ too."
~Bobby Johnson
Focus Verses: Romans 12: 1-2 "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
This past February we saw 78 people come to faith in Christ during a trip to Kenya. We praise the Lord for that. The world is a very dark place and seems to be going from bad to worse. I think Satan knows that his days are numbered, and he is doing everything he can to keep God's Kingdom from growing. I believe there is only one way to live the Christian life during these times, and that is to be 100% sold out for Jesus, no turning back. There are to many people living a half-way Christian life. I was that way for 11 years after I got saved. I took my faith for granted. Then God showed me what I had been doing. I committed my life to Him 100%.
If you are living the Christian life half-way, please don't tell anyone that you are a Christian. You heard me right, "please don't tell anyone you're a Christian". Because if you call yourself a Christian and live like the world, then unsaved people will look at you and wonder why they would need Salvation. There is no difference between you and the world.
The apostle Paul said that his determined purpose is to know Christ (see Philippians 3:10-14). What is your determined purpose in life? When you get up in the morning, what do you live for? I know you may have your job to provide for your family, you may go to school, or you may take care of your children all day. But you can do all those things with a Christlike attitude, and live in such a way that people will see Christ in you. The only Jesus that most people in this world will ever see is the Jesus that is lived out in our lives. Can you say with Paul, "My determined purpose in life is to know Him"? I hope so. Think of how God used Paul: many people were saved, many churches were started, he wrote a lot of the New Testament that we hold as the very inspired Word of God. Yet Paul realized he had so much more to learn. It's hard to believe that Paul had the same struggles and temptations that we face, but he did. Therefore, how much more should we be saying "I want to be more like Christ this year." Read Romans 12 again. Paul gives us some good advice on how to be more like Christ. As we seek to know Him, we will be transformed. (changed)
Let it be our goal to have someone look at our life and say "if that's a Christian, then I want to follow Christ too."
~Bobby Johnson
Friday, March 16, 2012
We Are Jesus Representative
Scripture Reading: John 15
Focus Verse: John 15:20 "Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
It's hard for some new believers in Jesus to understand why their friends and family turn against them when they accept Jesus. People they have been close to suddenly turn against them simple because they have decided to trust Jesus. In our focus verse Jesus said we will be persecuted for our faith. The world is against God, and against Jesus. Remember when Saul, later to become the apostle Paul was persecuting Christians? Then one day he met Jesus. Jesus said "Saul, Saul why are you persecuting Me? Acts 9:4. Saul thought his fight was with the Christians. But it wasn't it was with Christ Himself.
People will persecute you because you are God's representative. Sometimes I talk with people and when they find out I'm a Christian they begin to tell me all these things they have against God. That's because I'm God's representative, just as all Christians are. It's a great honor to be God's representative. But with that honor comes a great responsibility. We should be careful how we are living our lives. People are watching how we live. We want to represent Christ well. If you are attacked, persecuted, or criticized for being a Christian consider it a great honor. If we are not being persecuted for Christ sake, then we may not be making a difference for His Kingdom.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Keep Growing
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2
Focus Verse: 2 Timothy 2:15 "Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth."
Every believer is going to face troubles in this life. These difficulties will not go away until we get to heaven. God uses these hard times in our lives to grow our faith. I have noticed in my own life that during times of difficulties I pray and read my Bible a lot more. The Christian life is about constant growth, learning, and transformation. When we got saved that was immediate, but becoming more like Jesus takes a lifetime. I don't have anything better in which to invest my life than that. Do you?
Some people say, "Oh, I tried the Christian life, and it didn't work for me." First, I wonder about their conversion. Did they truly repent? Then my question to them is, "Did they do their part?"
There are many things the Bible tells us we should do as a result of truly being saved. For example, did they begin to study and memorize Scripture? The Bible says that we should hide God's word in our hearts. (Psalm 119:11) Did they meet regularly with believers as a church? Did they turn from all known sin in their lives? Did they follow Jesus teachings for living a Godly life? The Bible says, "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked" (1 John 2:6). New Christians or old, the way we face obstacles is to keep moving forward and to keep on growing. Even if you fall, you can get back up and move forward.
God will examine what kind of servant we have been for Him. We should build our lives on His Word and build His Word into our lives. The Bible alone tells us how to live for Him and to serve Him. Christians who ignore the Bible will be ashamed at the judgment. Constant study of God's Word is most important in our lives. Otherwise neglecting God and the Bible will cause us to loose our true purpose for living.
“For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:9 NLT
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
www.interlockingministries.org
Focus Verse: 2 Timothy 2:15 "Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth."
Every believer is going to face troubles in this life. These difficulties will not go away until we get to heaven. God uses these hard times in our lives to grow our faith. I have noticed in my own life that during times of difficulties I pray and read my Bible a lot more. The Christian life is about constant growth, learning, and transformation. When we got saved that was immediate, but becoming more like Jesus takes a lifetime. I don't have anything better in which to invest my life than that. Do you?
Some people say, "Oh, I tried the Christian life, and it didn't work for me." First, I wonder about their conversion. Did they truly repent? Then my question to them is, "Did they do their part?"
There are many things the Bible tells us we should do as a result of truly being saved. For example, did they begin to study and memorize Scripture? The Bible says that we should hide God's word in our hearts. (Psalm 119:11) Did they meet regularly with believers as a church? Did they turn from all known sin in their lives? Did they follow Jesus teachings for living a Godly life? The Bible says, "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked" (1 John 2:6). New Christians or old, the way we face obstacles is to keep moving forward and to keep on growing. Even if you fall, you can get back up and move forward.
God will examine what kind of servant we have been for Him. We should build our lives on His Word and build His Word into our lives. The Bible alone tells us how to live for Him and to serve Him. Christians who ignore the Bible will be ashamed at the judgment. Constant study of God's Word is most important in our lives. Otherwise neglecting God and the Bible will cause us to loose our true purpose for living.
“For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:9 NLT
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
www.interlockingministries.org
Friday, March 2, 2012
Rooting Out Evil
Bible Reading: (click to view in web browser)
Jeremiah 18: 1-10
Focus verse: "I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you. " Psalm 119:11
God gives Jeremiah an example. He says that we are like the clay that the potter uses to make bowls and other things. The part of these verses I want you to focus on is the beginning of verse ten. God is giving another example. He is talking about a nation and what He would do to the people who are doing evil.
God says that evil in His sight is disobeying His voice.
When we hear the word evil, that is not what most people think. Evil is not just murder or adultery or major sins. Evil is disobeying God's voice.
So how do we hear God's voice? Through His Word - the Bible. The way to know God's voice is to read His Word. Daily. It is important to hear pastors speak from God's Word, but always read it for yourself too.
Psalm 119:11 speaks of hiding God's Word in our hearts, so as not to sin against Him. Hiding His Word, remembering it. Then we will know His voice and obey - and not do evil.
~written by Amy Warr
*Some of you remember Amy Warr. She came to Mfangano a few years ago. She provided this devotion for you. If we belong to Christ, we do not need to follow evil any more. It is the choice that we must make EACH day.
Jeremiah 18: 1-10
Focus verse: "I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you. " Psalm 119:11
God gives Jeremiah an example. He says that we are like the clay that the potter uses to make bowls and other things. The part of these verses I want you to focus on is the beginning of verse ten. God is giving another example. He is talking about a nation and what He would do to the people who are doing evil.
God says that evil in His sight is disobeying His voice.
When we hear the word evil, that is not what most people think. Evil is not just murder or adultery or major sins. Evil is disobeying God's voice.
So how do we hear God's voice? Through His Word - the Bible. The way to know God's voice is to read His Word. Daily. It is important to hear pastors speak from God's Word, but always read it for yourself too.
Psalm 119:11 speaks of hiding God's Word in our hearts, so as not to sin against Him. Hiding His Word, remembering it. Then we will know His voice and obey - and not do evil.
~written by Amy Warr
*Some of you remember Amy Warr. She came to Mfangano a few years ago. She provided this devotion for you. If we belong to Christ, we do not need to follow evil any more. It is the choice that we must make EACH day.
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