Scripture reading: Exodus 20:1-17
Focus verses: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3
We read in Exodus that God has given the ten commandments because the people needed to know what God requires. It is impossible to live a perfect life, but it is good for Christians to strive to walk in righteousness.
God sets up the lines of authority. God is to be our only god. We are to have no other things that come before him. He is our first authority. He also tells us that our parents are the earthly authority for their children. We are to obey our parents and honor them. Parents have had more years of experience and wisdom. This is increased greatly if the parents follow Christ and Godly wisdom.
Notice that the command to honor your parents doesn't end after you become an adult. Notice also that the command doesn't say to honor them only if they believe in Christ. Celebrate that this is for our own good, that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. If you are a parent, you should not abuse your authority. God warns, " And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." in Ephesians 6:4
What can you do today to show honor to your parents if they are still living?
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, March 15, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
The Perfect Authority
Bible Reading: Genesis 3:1-5
Focus verse: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. " Genesis 1:1
What do you think when you hear the word "Authority"?
There are police, Chiefs, Managers, Presidents, teachers, parents, and if you work, you might have a boss. It is necessary that we have authority and follow it or else there would be chaos. We don't always agree with them, we may not have voted for them, but we accept it.
When you are under someone's authority, you may feel like you struggle with your attitude toward their them. You may even feel like rebelling. But, how does it feel if you are the one in authority? Suddenly, you want everyone to listen and follow you. Which do you prefer? We think that we have less freedom when we are under someone else's authority.
Really? That's what Eve thought in the Garden of Eden. She was interested in getting out from under authority, but she had the best authority... God. He was perfect, gave Adam and Eve everything they needed and allowed them to have such freedom in the Garden. They were only forbidden to eat of the fruit of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Lots of freedom.
Did Adam and Eve find more freedom or less freedom by disobeying their authority? We all are under authority of someone, and the perfect authority is God. We must choose to give ourselves over to God's authority if we want to be FREE. Truly free.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus verse: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. " Genesis 1:1
What do you think when you hear the word "Authority"?
There are police, Chiefs, Managers, Presidents, teachers, parents, and if you work, you might have a boss. It is necessary that we have authority and follow it or else there would be chaos. We don't always agree with them, we may not have voted for them, but we accept it.
When you are under someone's authority, you may feel like you struggle with your attitude toward their them. You may even feel like rebelling. But, how does it feel if you are the one in authority? Suddenly, you want everyone to listen and follow you. Which do you prefer? We think that we have less freedom when we are under someone else's authority.
Really? That's what Eve thought in the Garden of Eden. She was interested in getting out from under authority, but she had the best authority... God. He was perfect, gave Adam and Eve everything they needed and allowed them to have such freedom in the Garden. They were only forbidden to eat of the fruit of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Lots of freedom.
Did Adam and Eve find more freedom or less freedom by disobeying their authority? We all are under authority of someone, and the perfect authority is God. We must choose to give ourselves over to God's authority if we want to be FREE. Truly free.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, March 1, 2013
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
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
Friday, February 22, 2013
Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Scripture Reading: Matthew 27: 20-44
Focus Verse: Matthew 27: 24 "Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd saying, I am innocent of the blood of this man. The responsibility is yours!"
Every person must decide who Jesus is for themselves and what they will do with Him. He is either a liar, crazy, or He is Lord. The people thought Jesus should prove who He was and save Himself by coming down off the cross. But instead He proved who He was by raising Himself from the dead and coming out of the tomb.
Pilate made a big mistake by listening to the public opinion and what the crowd wanted. He washed his hands of the matter and did what was easy rather than what was right. Every person on earth will either accept Him or reject Him, confess Him or deny Him. Only two choices. You must make the decision yourself. You might say "I just won't make any decision", but to make no decision is to reject Him, and by that decision you will spend an eternity in a place called hell.
Jesus went to the cross so that no person should ever go to hell. Choose Jesus, choose life today. Jesus is the Son of God, the Redeemer of all humanity. Repent of your sins and come to Him. He is waiting for you.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, February 16, 2013
God's Master Plan
Scripture Reading: Click to read: Romans 8: 18-30
Focus Verse: Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
Sometimes in our lives God will do things or allow things that we can't understand. Like when a child dies or when someone hurts us. Our human mind wonders about God's plan? It doesn't make any sense to us. Because we can't see the big picture, we think God may have forgotten us. We need to be careful how we pray to God and not demand things of Him. We should pray for specific things, but also to pray for God's will to be done.
I can remember as a young person, praying to God that I sure would like to marry a certain girl. God did not allow that to happen. I can see now that the marriage would have been a mistake. God saw the master plan and I could not. Romans 8:28 is a great promise. God is working out all things for good when we love Him. Not only some things for good, but ALL things for good.
God has already seen tomorrow. He already knows next week. And His plans for next year have been made. He knows what is best for us because we are His children. On every piece of American money is printed "In God We Trust". We can trust that God has our best interest at heart. So the next time you are going through something that you don't understand, have peace that God knows exactly what is going on and He will work out that situation for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Because He has a master plan for your life. So, trust Him.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
Sometimes in our lives God will do things or allow things that we can't understand. Like when a child dies or when someone hurts us. Our human mind wonders about God's plan? It doesn't make any sense to us. Because we can't see the big picture, we think God may have forgotten us. We need to be careful how we pray to God and not demand things of Him. We should pray for specific things, but also to pray for God's will to be done.
I can remember as a young person, praying to God that I sure would like to marry a certain girl. God did not allow that to happen. I can see now that the marriage would have been a mistake. God saw the master plan and I could not. Romans 8:28 is a great promise. God is working out all things for good when we love Him. Not only some things for good, but ALL things for good.
God has already seen tomorrow. He already knows next week. And His plans for next year have been made. He knows what is best for us because we are His children. On every piece of American money is printed "In God We Trust". We can trust that God has our best interest at heart. So the next time you are going through something that you don't understand, have peace that God knows exactly what is going on and He will work out that situation for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Because He has a master plan for your life. So, trust Him.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, February 8, 2013
Ready or Not Jesus is Coming
Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:1-13
Focus Verse: Matthew 25:6 "And at midnight a cry was heard, behold, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him".
When I was young, as children we would play a game called hide and seek. Before we would search for the one hiding we would say "ready or not here I come". Jesus will come back one day whether you are ready or not. Some people may think they are going to heaven, but never became a Christian. They may even be looking for the return of Christ, but not be prepared.
Jesus told the story of the ten virgins to illustrate this point. You can appear to be a Christian. You can even go to church and sit next to other Christians. You can carry a Bible like Christians. But that doesn't necessarily mean that you know Jesus. If you truly have a relationship with Jesus then it would dramatically impact the way you live. 1 John 3:3 says "Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure". Do you put your hope in Christ alone? Have you decided to follow Him?
If you are a true follower of Jesus Christ, and believe that He is coming back soon, then you will desire to live a godly life to honor Him. One thing we know for sure, Jesus is coming back one day. He is coming whether you are ready or not. So if you are not sure, why not bow your head right now and ask Jesus to forgive your sins and invite Him into your life to be your Lord and Savior.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Matthew 25:6 "And at midnight a cry was heard, behold, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him".
When I was young, as children we would play a game called hide and seek. Before we would search for the one hiding we would say "ready or not here I come". Jesus will come back one day whether you are ready or not. Some people may think they are going to heaven, but never became a Christian. They may even be looking for the return of Christ, but not be prepared.
Jesus told the story of the ten virgins to illustrate this point. You can appear to be a Christian. You can even go to church and sit next to other Christians. You can carry a Bible like Christians. But that doesn't necessarily mean that you know Jesus. If you truly have a relationship with Jesus then it would dramatically impact the way you live. 1 John 3:3 says "Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure". Do you put your hope in Christ alone? Have you decided to follow Him?
If you are a true follower of Jesus Christ, and believe that He is coming back soon, then you will desire to live a godly life to honor Him. One thing we know for sure, Jesus is coming back one day. He is coming whether you are ready or not. So if you are not sure, why not bow your head right now and ask Jesus to forgive your sins and invite Him into your life to be your Lord and Savior.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, January 25, 2013
Taking Care of the Flocks
Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 34:1-16
Focus Verse: Ezekiel 34:8 My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd...
Pastors have a big responsibility to look after the flock, that is the local Body of Christ the church. God has called shepherd's (pastors) to watch out for their flock (other believers). He gives a warning to the pastors who only watch out for their own needs and protection. Aren't we to follow Christ example? He came to serve others.
There are a lot of hurting people on this earth. So what are we going to do about it. You say, "well I can't help everyone in the whole world." But you can help the ones close to you. Maybe you know a family that is over burdened with taking in so many orphans. You might be in a position to take in one of those children. Or maybe you know of a widow that doesn't have enough to eat, and you have some you can share. Just imagine what could happen if we reached out to some of these people. Ask your neighbors to help you care for others.
Pastors lead by example in caring for the flock.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Ezekiel 34:8 My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd...
Pastors have a big responsibility to look after the flock, that is the local Body of Christ the church. God has called shepherd's (pastors) to watch out for their flock (other believers). He gives a warning to the pastors who only watch out for their own needs and protection. Aren't we to follow Christ example? He came to serve others.
There are a lot of hurting people on this earth. So what are we going to do about it. You say, "well I can't help everyone in the whole world." But you can help the ones close to you. Maybe you know a family that is over burdened with taking in so many orphans. You might be in a position to take in one of those children. Or maybe you know of a widow that doesn't have enough to eat, and you have some you can share. Just imagine what could happen if we reached out to some of these people. Ask your neighbors to help you care for others.
Pastors lead by example in caring for the flock.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
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