Scripture Reading: Daniel 1:8-20
Focus Verse: Daniel 1:8 "But
Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine
given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission
not to eat these unacceptable foods."
As we look around us today we see sports figures, government officials and other people in the public spotlight that have made some of the most foolish choices for their lives. When temptation came their way, they took the bait that Satan offered. The result has been disgrace and living a wasted life. They hurt themselves and those that love them. Integrity and character need to be buried deep inside you so that when temptation strikes, you have already made the right choice.
We can be thankful for the story of Daniel in the Bible and the example he gives us to live a godly life. We find nowhere did he compromise even when faced with a den of lions. He simply said "no" when faced with temptations. He did not compromise when it came to following the laws that God established.
There are blessings or consequences following our decisions. One wrong choice could make a mess of your life. Let's be boldly obedient like Daniel, and we won't have regrets. There is a great reward in living an uncompromising life. Daniel was determined and God can help you make the right choice even before temptation comes your way.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, May 3, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
Jesus Said, "You Will Have Troubles"
Scripture Reading: Job1:1-22
Focus Verse: Job 2:10 Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never adversity? So in all this Job said nothing wrong.
Sometimes in our lives we tend to remember all the bad things that have happened to us and forget the good things. We remember Job for all the bad that happened to him. But we should remember how Job had victory in spite of his adversity. There were four things that were important to Job: his faith, family, friends and his fortune. Satan tried to take all of them from Job hoping he would curse God. Instead we see Job thinking on the goodness of God and worshiping His greatness. Satan was probably the one cursing and not Job. At no time do we see Job blaming God for these things. God was enough for Job, with or without the other things Job had. Job said in 13:15 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him."
Do you bless God and praise Him even when you don't understand what is going on in your life? Job's faith is a great lesson to us on how we can trust in God even though we may be going through unexplained trials. Job did express his grief to God, and God wants us to cry out to Him also. Remember Job for his victory during the trials and we can do the same with God's help. Almighty God is enough. We need nothing else.
"He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only".
C.S. Lewis
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Job 2:10 Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never adversity? So in all this Job said nothing wrong.
Sometimes in our lives we tend to remember all the bad things that have happened to us and forget the good things. We remember Job for all the bad that happened to him. But we should remember how Job had victory in spite of his adversity. There were four things that were important to Job: his faith, family, friends and his fortune. Satan tried to take all of them from Job hoping he would curse God. Instead we see Job thinking on the goodness of God and worshiping His greatness. Satan was probably the one cursing and not Job. At no time do we see Job blaming God for these things. God was enough for Job, with or without the other things Job had. Job said in 13:15 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him."
Do you bless God and praise Him even when you don't understand what is going on in your life? Job's faith is a great lesson to us on how we can trust in God even though we may be going through unexplained trials. Job did express his grief to God, and God wants us to cry out to Him also. Remember Job for his victory during the trials and we can do the same with God's help. Almighty God is enough. We need nothing else.
"He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only".
C.S. Lewis
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Monday, April 22, 2013
Three Words to Overcome Temptation
Scripture Reading: Luke 4:1-12
Focus Verse: Psalm 119:11 Your Word I have Hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
How did Jesus stand up to the temptations of Satan in the wilderness? He did it by quoting Scripture. "It is written".
If Jesus needed the Bible to overcome temptation, how do we think we can live a pure life without it. So many times we find ourselves in a mess and can't understand why, but we haven't gone to the only source that can really help us. We make Satan weak and defeated in our lives when we pray and read the Bible. Satan knows that his time is limited here on earth, and he's going to do all he can to destroy God's greatest creation, "us".
God has given us everything we need to stand up to his attacks. The question is, "will we use it, or try to resist on our own?" I have seen in my own life I can never be victorious on my own. I must rely on Christ and the power of His Word every day to overcome the evil powers of this world. As believers we have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. "It is written "we can have victory".
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Psalm 119:11 Your Word I have Hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
How did Jesus stand up to the temptations of Satan in the wilderness? He did it by quoting Scripture. "It is written".
If Jesus needed the Bible to overcome temptation, how do we think we can live a pure life without it. So many times we find ourselves in a mess and can't understand why, but we haven't gone to the only source that can really help us. We make Satan weak and defeated in our lives when we pray and read the Bible. Satan knows that his time is limited here on earth, and he's going to do all he can to destroy God's greatest creation, "us".
God has given us everything we need to stand up to his attacks. The question is, "will we use it, or try to resist on our own?" I have seen in my own life I can never be victorious on my own. I must rely on Christ and the power of His Word every day to overcome the evil powers of this world. As believers we have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. "It is written "we can have victory".
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, April 12, 2013
Obeying God and Doing His Purpose
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 7:23-26
Focus Verse: Jeremiah 6:16 "This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."
God's chosen people, Israel, had a challenge with being obedient. We also have a hard time with our obedience to God. We know the good path, but do not always take it.
I believe that every Christian has been given a purpose and a mission by God. God has given us talent and gifts to fulfill that purpose. Through our obedience in all areas of our lives we can fulfill that purpose and mission. If we are disobedient we run the risk of the mission being given to someone else to fulfill. If we repent, then God may choose to show mercy and give another chance, but we are not guaranteed a second chance at the mission. God's work will be done, either by us or by someone else. There have been people, churches, ministries, and nations that have missed out on a blessing because of disobedience. There are many Christians that will come to the end of life and say "I wonder what God could have done through me had I been obedient to Him? That is a tragedy.
When I am standing at the crossroads and given the choice to do right or wrong, God can give me the strength to do what is right and follow the ancient path every time! I pray that I remain faithful.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Jeremiah 6:16 "This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."
God's chosen people, Israel, had a challenge with being obedient. We also have a hard time with our obedience to God. We know the good path, but do not always take it.
I believe that every Christian has been given a purpose and a mission by God. God has given us talent and gifts to fulfill that purpose. Through our obedience in all areas of our lives we can fulfill that purpose and mission. If we are disobedient we run the risk of the mission being given to someone else to fulfill. If we repent, then God may choose to show mercy and give another chance, but we are not guaranteed a second chance at the mission. God's work will be done, either by us or by someone else. There have been people, churches, ministries, and nations that have missed out on a blessing because of disobedience. There are many Christians that will come to the end of life and say "I wonder what God could have done through me had I been obedient to Him? That is a tragedy.
When I am standing at the crossroads and given the choice to do right or wrong, God can give me the strength to do what is right and follow the ancient path every time! I pray that I remain faithful.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Authority Disobeyed to Obey God
Scripture Reading: Acts 4:13-22
Focus Verse: Acts 4:18 "So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus."
The Bible commands us to obey the authority that is placed over us. Is there ever a time that God would want us to disobey that authority? I believe that whenever that authority gives a command that keeps us from obeying God then we must follow the Bible and not the authority.
In our scripture reading Peter and John are told by the Jewish Sanhedrin council not to speak in Jesus name. Their response was, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." Clearly Peter and John had to talk about the things of Jesus they had witnessed. Jesus commanded them to do this. In fact they believed so much in what they were talking about, they were willing to die for it.
Are you willing to speak about Jesus no matter what kind of opposition you get? The Bible has given us as believers to take this Gospel to the whole world. So if you have opposition to speaking in Jesus name, be encouraged, it's been happening for centuries. There are many in the world that will continue to reject the message of Jesus. But there are some that will believe and receive.
Focus Verse: Acts 4:18 "So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus."
The Bible commands us to obey the authority that is placed over us. Is there ever a time that God would want us to disobey that authority? I believe that whenever that authority gives a command that keeps us from obeying God then we must follow the Bible and not the authority.
In our scripture reading Peter and John are told by the Jewish Sanhedrin council not to speak in Jesus name. Their response was, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." Clearly Peter and John had to talk about the things of Jesus they had witnessed. Jesus commanded them to do this. In fact they believed so much in what they were talking about, they were willing to die for it.
Are you willing to speak about Jesus no matter what kind of opposition you get? The Bible has given us as believers to take this Gospel to the whole world. So if you have opposition to speaking in Jesus name, be encouraged, it's been happening for centuries. There are many in the world that will continue to reject the message of Jesus. But there are some that will believe and receive.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Why Submit to Authority?
Scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:18-25
Focus verse: Matthew 27:32 "Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross."
Jesus is our example. Jesus submitted to the authority of those who condemned him to die. He allowed them to lead him to the cross without fighting back. Because Christ suffered for us, we should also suffer patiently for the sake of God's will. Christ was our example. He did not sin or tell a lie. When he was insulted, he did not insult his persecutors. In fact, he blessed them and asked God to forgive them. When he suffered at their hands, he did not threaten to pay them back, but put his trust in God the true judge.
The suffering that Christ endured, even unto death, made it possible for us to live in righteousness. It is because of His wounds that we can be healed from our sins. He was raised from the dead so that we can walk in the newness of life. Why submit? Because God commands it here as well as Romans 13.
The Roman soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross of Jesus. He obeyed. God does not condone or approve of poor authority, but we are responsible for how we react to it. We are called to follow the example of Christ as we walk in the new life. If we patiently endure suffering from a husband, boss, slave owner, or soldier that we don't deserve, then God says that we will be blessed for it in verse 20.
Happy Easter!
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus verse: Matthew 27:32 "Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross."
Jesus is our example. Jesus submitted to the authority of those who condemned him to die. He allowed them to lead him to the cross without fighting back. Because Christ suffered for us, we should also suffer patiently for the sake of God's will. Christ was our example. He did not sin or tell a lie. When he was insulted, he did not insult his persecutors. In fact, he blessed them and asked God to forgive them. When he suffered at their hands, he did not threaten to pay them back, but put his trust in God the true judge.
The suffering that Christ endured, even unto death, made it possible for us to live in righteousness. It is because of His wounds that we can be healed from our sins. He was raised from the dead so that we can walk in the newness of life. Why submit? Because God commands it here as well as Romans 13.
The Roman soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross of Jesus. He obeyed. God does not condone or approve of poor authority, but we are responsible for how we react to it. We are called to follow the example of Christ as we walk in the new life. If we patiently endure suffering from a husband, boss, slave owner, or soldier that we don't deserve, then God says that we will be blessed for it in verse 20.
Happy Easter!
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, March 22, 2013
Respecting Poor Authority
Scripture reading: 1 Samuel 24
Focus verse: 1 Samuel 24:5-6 " Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”"
also: Ephesians 6:5 "Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;"
David had been anointed by Samuel the priest to be the next king (1 Samuel 16). He would rule after king Saul died. David knew how to wait and patiently honored his king, his authority. This was not always easy for him. King Saul was often depressed and had a troubling spirit ever since he disobeyed God (1 Samuel 15). Once, he threw a spear at David as he played music for the king. (1 Samuel 18:10-11) He even spent time hunting David down. This is what was going on when we come to read 1 Samuel 24.
David could have easily killed Saul and become king, but he chose to cut off a piece of his robe. Even this action caused David regret. David knew the Lord would want him to have total respect for authority, even though the King was doing a poor job and even though the King was hunting him to kill him.
David's life is a good example of how we can obey and respect authority that we don't agree with or think is wrong. I am not responsible for how our authority behaves, but I am responsible for how I react and respect that authority. Pray that God will give you the grace and mercy to respect and obey the authority that has been placed over you.
Author's note: Realize that this is not talking about following a leader that prevents you from obeying God's commands or leads you into sin. This does not include false prophets either. That is a different subject. You might also like reading Romans 13 that relates to authority.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus verse: 1 Samuel 24:5-6 " Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”"
also: Ephesians 6:5 "Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;"
David had been anointed by Samuel the priest to be the next king (1 Samuel 16). He would rule after king Saul died. David knew how to wait and patiently honored his king, his authority. This was not always easy for him. King Saul was often depressed and had a troubling spirit ever since he disobeyed God (1 Samuel 15). Once, he threw a spear at David as he played music for the king. (1 Samuel 18:10-11) He even spent time hunting David down. This is what was going on when we come to read 1 Samuel 24.
David could have easily killed Saul and become king, but he chose to cut off a piece of his robe. Even this action caused David regret. David knew the Lord would want him to have total respect for authority, even though the King was doing a poor job and even though the King was hunting him to kill him.
David's life is a good example of how we can obey and respect authority that we don't agree with or think is wrong. I am not responsible for how our authority behaves, but I am responsible for how I react and respect that authority. Pray that God will give you the grace and mercy to respect and obey the authority that has been placed over you.
Author's note: Realize that this is not talking about following a leader that prevents you from obeying God's commands or leads you into sin. This does not include false prophets either. That is a different subject. You might also like reading Romans 13 that relates to authority.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
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