Near to God

Bible Reading: Psalm 34:17-22

Focus verse: Psalm 34:18  "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite (or crushed) spirit."

Did you ever wonder if God is near or far?  If you are struggling in your life, you need to understand that everyone struggles.  Even if you do good and right, you will still have troubles in this world. 

The key is to know that you don't have to struggle alone.  God hears those who call out to Him.  He is close to those whose hearts have been broken.  He saves those who's spirits are crushed.  If you serve the Lord, he will set you free.  Run to God and He will be near to you.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Jesus Cleans From The Inside

Scripture Reading:  Mark 7:1-23

Focus Verse: Jeremiah 17:9-10   "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked.  Who really knows how bad it is?  But I know!  I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.  I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve."

Most of us never think about how bad our heart is until we've done something wrong.  Jesus teaches us in Mark 7 that our defilement comes from within.  The Pharisees always talked about how righteous they were.  But Jesus could see right through them and knew how wicked their hearts were.  God sees our hearts too.  He knows the deepest secret motives of our hearts.  You can be sure that the sins listed in our passage, anyone of us are capable of committing.  Don't ever follow your heart.  It will take you down the wrong path every time. You must lead your heart.  Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do."

We must ask God to show us any wicked thing in our hearts and to cleans us.  1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us from all unrighteousness."  So today take a look at your heart.  Make things right with God and then teach others how to have a clean heart as well.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Human or Spirit Led

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:13-26

Focus verse: "As for you, my friends, you were called to be free. But do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you. Instead, let love make you serve one another." Galatians 5:13

Jesus called me.  I began to follow Him and was set free from my sins.  I find the fruits of the Spirit nature coming in my life.  Sometimes, the human, selfish nature comes out in front and I fail.

In my freedom, I do not give excuses for following my own selfish desires.  My human nature will lie to me and so will the enemy.  My human nature will lead me astray and will not honor God.  My human nature will lead me to anger, jealousy, selfish ambition, fighting, and separation from other believers.  If I follow my human nature long enough, I can become blinded by it and fall deeper into sin.  I will blame others and make excuses for my decisions and actions.  I will not even see the pit that I am in, until suddenly, God makes it clear.

I need to decide every day to love, forgive and serve others.  This is what the Spirit produces:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. Is this what my life looks like?  You can not follow selfish human desires and the Spirit at the same time.

Today is a good day to examine your life.  Do you see the fruits of human nature or the fruits of Spirit nature?  Commit to spend some time in prayer today about anything that you need to change in your life.  Ask God to show you anything that needs to change.  Allow Him to change your heart so that you can change your actions.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries