For the Sake of Peace

Scripture reading, Genesis 13:6-9.

Focus verse:  Gen 13:8  "So Abram said to Lot “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

Abram and Lot had been living together as relatives and friends. Their friendship was good such that when God called Abram he decided he would not leave his nephew (Lot) back, but would go with him to the unknown destination God told him. Lot on the other hand trusted Abram such that he was willing to go with him to unknown destination. God blessed them with many animals and other possessions that later brought unrest between the two and their herdsmen.  Hence Abram was never living in peace again with his friend/relative. Neither was there peace between Abram’s workers and Lot’s workers. Maybe the end result of this quarrel would have been a big fight that would have resulted into injuries or even death.

Abram decides to take a step that would let him stay in peace with his brother but more so with God who called him and had a mission for his life. He decided to take a bold decision that would make him have peace for his life. Yes, he understood the relationship between him and Lot but strongly proposes a separation between them for the sake of peace. Peace is a key need in everyone’s everyday life and that’s why even Christ himself came that the world may have it.

Have you ever felt in your life that someone you had loved like your friend you had always hanged around with? May be your relative or your workmate is not allowing you to have peace? Have you found it so hard to let go your old friends who still lure you into your old nature? Have you ever felt like each day you fall into the same sin you repent of? Or maybe wanting to always please your friends to the expense of relationship with God? Maybe you have even tried through dialogue/consensus meetings which have not worked well for you?

It reaches a time in our lives when we must let go for the sake of our peace and more so peace with God no matter how helpful or beautiful they might be. We must accept to let go our old nature and stay away from things that makes us to lose peace. Separating your friendship with a friend who causes you to sin is the best remedy. Stay as far as east is from west of right from left just like Abram. When we think about having peace let us be ready to separate from things that causes us not to have peace and be ready to let go for our peace to come. Peace is always there waiting for us to say no to things that keeps it (peace) away.

Eliazar Wambo
pastor of Makira Baptist Church, Mfangano, Kenya
 

When Life Isn't Fair

Scripture Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

Focus Verse: Luke 23:42  Then the thief said to Jesus, "Lord remember me when You come into Your Kingdom."

Have you ever felt at times that life isn't fair?  I sure have.  Maybe you weren't treated fairly as a child when compared to brothers or sisters.  Or perhaps a situation at your job was not handled fairly for you.  I'm sure that Joseph in the Bible didn't think it was fair when he was wrongly accused of attacking Potiphar's wife.  He then spent the next two years in prison for it.  He must have thought that God had forgotten him.  But the Bible says "God was with Joseph".

We see in our passage that laborers were paid the same wage even though they work different amounts of time.  That doesn't sound fair.  We also read in the Bible that the thief that died on the cross next to Jesus was granted eternal life because he believed in the last hour of his life.  That's not fair, some people have served God many years and both get the same eternal life.  Let's look at it this way.  We all deserve Hell after the first sin we commit.  That is fairness in God's sight.  What is not fair is that Jesus died on a cross having done nothing wrong.  He did that in our place.  We should be so thankful that this is not fair.  We should be so glad as believers in Christ that we are not getting what we deserve: death.  Hell is fair.  You can think about what Jesus did for you on the cross, and be thankful that life isn't fair.

Bobby Johnson 
Interlocking Ministries

Jesus Is Watching Out For You

Scripture Reading:  Romans 8:31-39

Focus Verse: Romans 8:34  "Who then is the one who condemns [God's chosen ones]?  No one.  Christ Jesus who died, more than that, who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."

Did you know that Satan goes before God accusing you of things?  But Jesus is right there covering our case before God.  Some of what Satan is saying to God about us is true because as believers we are still sinful creatures.  But I'm glad it is all forgiven with the blood of Jesus.  Jesus is seated at the right hand of God watching out for you.  He is qualified because He never sinned.  When God looks at us He sees His Son Jesus, and He sees the righteousness.  Hebrews 7:25 says, "Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through Him.  He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf."

Jesus also has another job to do.  When we pray to God, He makes our prayers to be appropriate for God.  Jesus knows just the right thing to say to God on our behalf.  Hebrews 9:24 says, "For Christ has entered into heaven itself to appear now before God as our Advocate.  He did not go into the earthly place of worship, for that was merely a copy of the real Temple in heaven."

So, thank Jesus today for watching out for you before a Holy and Awesome God.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Seeing The Invisible

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Focus Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:18 "So we don’t spend all our time looking at what we can see. Instead, we look at what we can’t see. What can be seen lasts only a short time. But what can’t be seen will last forever."

We have all come to points in our lives where we feel like giving up and quitting.  I think it is during those times that we get too focused on the things that are seen.  Maybe our job is not going well, or you are having trouble with your grades in school.  Maybe there are issues in your marriage. In 2 Corinthians, Paul talks a lot about an inner strength that we can call on from the Holy Spirit.  Remember it is only through our weakness that God can be made strong in our lives.

Our ultimate hope during times of trouble or discouragement is the realization that this life is not all that there is.  We have life after death. Knowing that we will live in a place with God forever where there is no more sin, no more trouble, no more problems should give us great encouragement.  So let us not forget all that is waiting for us that we cannot see right now.  It is "earning for us a glory that will last forever."

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Someone's Watching You

Someone's Watching You

Scripture Reading:  Psalm 139

Focus Verse: Psalm 139:1  "O Lord You have examined my heart and know everything about me."

Recently governments around the world have been accused of keeping too much personal information on computers about its citizens.  People are saying this is an invasion of privacy.  We should not forget that God is keeping detailed information on each one of us.  He is keeping much more information about us than any government could keep.  God knows more about you than you know about yourself.

Hebrews 4:13 says,  "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight .  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."  It amazes me that God knows all my shortcoming, my weaknesses, my sins, and all the things I thought were hidden from everyone, yet He loves me.  God desires to forgive me and help me overcome them in order to live a life more like His Son, Jesus.

Those of us who have repented and follow Christ have reason to rejoice.  Jesus has removed all these things from us just as if we never did them.  2 Corinthians 5:19 says, "For God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people's sins against them."  This is the wonderful message He has given us to tell others.  We have hope today because the One that is watching us is also the One forgiving us, as we place our trust in Him.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Who Will Teach Them?

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Focus Verses:  “Samuel continued as judge over Israel all the days of his life. From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places” (1 Samuel 7:15–16). “But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice” (1Samuel 8:3).

Samuel was a judge over Israel and kept busy traveling and working.  The work he did was good.  Although he served God, he neglected his sons.  When he appointed them to be judges too, they weren't ready to withstand the temptations.  In the end, they were a shame unto him and caused the people to reject God as King.

It will be especially easy for those in ministry to be obsessed with their work and even with what God is doing.  Please, when you are home, be a father or be a mother.  Invest in your kids' lives and minister to them.  They need to know you care about them.  They need to know that they can trust God.  They need to know why they should obey God.

Deut. 6:7 says, "You shall teach them (God's commands) diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

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