Don't Argue With Mockers
Bible reading: Nehemiah 2
Focus verse: "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you." Proverbs 9:7-8
I want to share a portion of a devotion from Boyd Bailey of Wisdom Hunters:
"Sometimes servants of God are mocked and ridiculed for their sincere service... The cynic does... attack people’s motives and attempt to label their enemies as rebels. Hate demonizes good people and tries to discredit anyone who disagrees with them...
How should we handle intimidation from jealous schoolmates, co-workers or neighbors? One approach is to see critics as heavenly sandpaper meant to refine our intent into integrity. Like a master wood craftsman meticulously smooths away any rough edges with their tool of the trade, so God’s Spirit uses coarse words to purify our motives. If only 1% of a skeptic’s scorn is accurate, it can scrub our soul, so it shines for our Savior Jesus. Ridicule is proof God’s work is at hand.
It is futile to attempt to reason with a mocker. Their mind is made up, unable to change unless Christ does a mental miracle... Pray for them and avoid harboring anger against them. Forgive and stay focused on Christ’s calling.
Furthermore, remain faithful where the Lord has you. Persevere in prayer at your work... Rebuild where God is working. He will bring you success. Ignore the noise of loud mockers and persuasive ridiculers. Listen only to the Lord’s quiet voice and obey by faith. " ~Boyd Bailey
If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. Proverbs 9:12
Everyone who opposes you is not a mocker. Sometimes they are sent by God. Pray that God will give you courage to ignore those who mean harm and the discernment to listen to those whose intentions are honorable. You can also examine your own motives when you oppose someone. Have you been mocking and insulting a servant of God? ~Page Johnson; Interlocking Ministries
Friday, February 14, 2014
Friday, February 7, 2014
The Cost of Following Jesus
The Cost of Following Jesus
Scripture Reading: Mark 8:31-38
Focus Verses: Mark 8:34-35 "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me, For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it."
When Jesus was addressing the crowd about taking up their cross, they knew exactly what He was talking about. They had seen the Romans execute many people that way. Jesus said this to illustrate the submission required of His followers. Jesus wants us to know that following Him is not always easy, in fact many times it is hard. But we do not follow Him alone. He is right there beside us every step of the way.
Our earthly lives can't even compare to what we will gain for a life spent following Jesus. Jesus wants us to choose a joy filled life with Him, rather than a life of sin, self-satisfaction, and regret. He doesn't want us to try to control our own life, but let Him direct our life's path. God knows what will bring a life of satisfaction. After all, He should know. He created us.
Many people in this world seek a pleasureful life. But whatever you work so hard for on this earth is only temporary. You brought nothing into this world, and you will take nothing out of this world. Only what is done for Christ will have an eternal impact. So follow Jesus without compromise and you will live an abundant life here on earth, and in the life to come.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Scripture Reading: Mark 8:31-38
Focus Verses: Mark 8:34-35 "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me, For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it."
When Jesus was addressing the crowd about taking up their cross, they knew exactly what He was talking about. They had seen the Romans execute many people that way. Jesus said this to illustrate the submission required of His followers. Jesus wants us to know that following Him is not always easy, in fact many times it is hard. But we do not follow Him alone. He is right there beside us every step of the way.
Our earthly lives can't even compare to what we will gain for a life spent following Jesus. Jesus wants us to choose a joy filled life with Him, rather than a life of sin, self-satisfaction, and regret. He doesn't want us to try to control our own life, but let Him direct our life's path. God knows what will bring a life of satisfaction. After all, He should know. He created us.
Many people in this world seek a pleasureful life. But whatever you work so hard for on this earth is only temporary. You brought nothing into this world, and you will take nothing out of this world. Only what is done for Christ will have an eternal impact. So follow Jesus without compromise and you will live an abundant life here on earth, and in the life to come.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, January 31, 2014
Angels to Help Us
Scripture Reading: Acts 5:17-27
Focus Verse: Acts 5:19 "But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth."
Demonic activity is on the increase, because Satan knows that his time is short. I have seen the influence of Satan on some lives in Kenya. Sometimes I think Satan works extra hard on someone who has abandoned his old life and is working to spread the Gospel. God knows all about these evil forces. He has sent His angels to help us and to watch over us. In our passage in Acts we see that the angel of the Lord came to the apostles at night and released them from jail. God did this because He had a job for them to do, to take the message of life to the people at the temple.
As a believer in Christ, God has a job for you to do also. He will not allow Satan to stand in the way. So the next time Satan attempts to block your efforts, remember God's angels are all around you. God will make a way for you to obey.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Acts 5:19 "But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth."
Demonic activity is on the increase, because Satan knows that his time is short. I have seen the influence of Satan on some lives in Kenya. Sometimes I think Satan works extra hard on someone who has abandoned his old life and is working to spread the Gospel. God knows all about these evil forces. He has sent His angels to help us and to watch over us. In our passage in Acts we see that the angel of the Lord came to the apostles at night and released them from jail. God did this because He had a job for them to do, to take the message of life to the people at the temple.
As a believer in Christ, God has a job for you to do also. He will not allow Satan to stand in the way. So the next time Satan attempts to block your efforts, remember God's angels are all around you. God will make a way for you to obey.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, January 24, 2014
The Truth of the Gospel Never Changes
Scripture Reading: John 1:1-18
Focus Verse: 1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus."
I have preached the Gospel in many different places to many different people in Kenya Africa. The same Jesus is good for all. I have used different illustrations to help different groups of people to understand the truths of the Bible, but the truths of the Bible will never change. The fact of Jesus' virgin birth, Jesus' sinless life, and His sacrificial death and resurrection are truths that have never changed and they never will.
Jesus is not only the Christ, but He is God Almighty. In our scripture reading John says "And the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jesus was the Word. Then John continues, "and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." The full deity of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. Many people say Jesus was a good teacher. Yes He was, but He was so much more than that. He was fully God and fully man. That is the truth of the Bible, and that will never change.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: 1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus."
I have preached the Gospel in many different places to many different people in Kenya Africa. The same Jesus is good for all. I have used different illustrations to help different groups of people to understand the truths of the Bible, but the truths of the Bible will never change. The fact of Jesus' virgin birth, Jesus' sinless life, and His sacrificial death and resurrection are truths that have never changed and they never will.
Jesus is not only the Christ, but He is God Almighty. In our scripture reading John says "And the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jesus was the Word. Then John continues, "and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." The full deity of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. Many people say Jesus was a good teacher. Yes He was, but He was so much more than that. He was fully God and fully man. That is the truth of the Bible, and that will never change.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, January 17, 2014
Look Up
Bible reading: Psalm 5
Focus verse: "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up." ~Psalm 5:3
"The phrase "look up" occurs four times in the Bible (NKJV), and it conveys four different truths. In Psalm 40:12, the writer was so discouraged by looking around him that he found it difficult to look up: "Innumerable evils have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up." But Mark 8:25 says Jesus helps us look up, even when we can't see straight. Referring to the blind man of Bethsaida, Jesus put His hands on the man's eyes "and made him look up." Our Lord offers the same encouragement to us, especially in these Last Days, for in Luke 21:28, Jesus said, "When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
So we can say with the psalmist: "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up." Whatever is happening in your life today, look up. When we turn our eyes heavenward and celebrate what we see, our hearts will overflow with joy."
~David Jeremiah
Do you struggle when you look at your world around you? Look up, look to the Lord.
Focus verse: "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up." ~Psalm 5:3
"The phrase "look up" occurs four times in the Bible (NKJV), and it conveys four different truths. In Psalm 40:12, the writer was so discouraged by looking around him that he found it difficult to look up: "Innumerable evils have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up." But Mark 8:25 says Jesus helps us look up, even when we can't see straight. Referring to the blind man of Bethsaida, Jesus put His hands on the man's eyes "and made him look up." Our Lord offers the same encouragement to us, especially in these Last Days, for in Luke 21:28, Jesus said, "When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
So we can say with the psalmist: "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up." Whatever is happening in your life today, look up. When we turn our eyes heavenward and celebrate what we see, our hearts will overflow with joy."
~David Jeremiah
Do you struggle when you look at your world around you? Look up, look to the Lord.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Training for Service
Scripture Reading: Daniel 1
Focus Verse: Daniel 1:5 They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service.
Training is important before entering service. Even a blade of steel needs careful attention before it can slice through a piece of meat. Just as the knife needs sharpening, our spiritual skills need to be sharpened before God can effectively use us. Maybe you don't have the resources to attend Bible college or go to seminary, but you can gain a great deal of biblical knowledge through your church and personal Bible study. It is wise to prepare, instead of rushing off unequipped to serve.
Daniel and his friends did not compromise their conviction in God. Even as they trained under ungodly authority, they held to their Godly instruction from their youth. God still worked His purposes in their lives. Sometimes the training process is not always pleasant. Hebrews 12:11 says, "No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening, it is painful. But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way."
Most importantly stay in the training process so you can be a better servant for God. He will see you through. He is training you for the task He has planned for your life.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Daniel 1:5 They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service.
Training is important before entering service. Even a blade of steel needs careful attention before it can slice through a piece of meat. Just as the knife needs sharpening, our spiritual skills need to be sharpened before God can effectively use us. Maybe you don't have the resources to attend Bible college or go to seminary, but you can gain a great deal of biblical knowledge through your church and personal Bible study. It is wise to prepare, instead of rushing off unequipped to serve.
Daniel and his friends did not compromise their conviction in God. Even as they trained under ungodly authority, they held to their Godly instruction from their youth. God still worked His purposes in their lives. Sometimes the training process is not always pleasant. Hebrews 12:11 says, "No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening, it is painful. But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way."
Most importantly stay in the training process so you can be a better servant for God. He will see you through. He is training you for the task He has planned for your life.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, January 3, 2014
Hope of Success
Scripture reading: Numbers 13
Focus verses: “The Lord said to Moses, "Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites… Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." Numbers 13:1a, 30-31
The Lord told Moses to send some men to explore the promised land that He is giving to them. (He didn't tell them to decide if they could take it, but that it was being given.) After the appointed men explored, they saw that the land was very good, but most of them complained that it would be too difficult to take over the powerful people and fortified cities. They began to spread lies about the land, saying that it was a bad land and the people were giants. They lost their hope and treated God with contempt.
Caleb saw the good land and trusted in the God who said that He was giving them the land. In Numbers 14 we see that Joshua joins Caleb in declaring the land to be good and trusting in God's protection and promise.
We may not always know what God is giving us, but we can trust God to deliver us if we are trusting in Him, even in the face of our own personal giants. Do not give up hope in God. Do not treat God with contempt and rebel against Him. Walk in confidence as Caleb and Joshua did.
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus verses: “The Lord said to Moses, "Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites… Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." Numbers 13:1a, 30-31
The Lord told Moses to send some men to explore the promised land that He is giving to them. (He didn't tell them to decide if they could take it, but that it was being given.) After the appointed men explored, they saw that the land was very good, but most of them complained that it would be too difficult to take over the powerful people and fortified cities. They began to spread lies about the land, saying that it was a bad land and the people were giants. They lost their hope and treated God with contempt.
Caleb saw the good land and trusted in the God who said that He was giving them the land. In Numbers 14 we see that Joshua joins Caleb in declaring the land to be good and trusting in God's protection and promise.
We may not always know what God is giving us, but we can trust God to deliver us if we are trusting in Him, even in the face of our own personal giants. Do not give up hope in God. Do not treat God with contempt and rebel against Him. Walk in confidence as Caleb and Joshua did.
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
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