All Together

All Together

Scripture Reading:  Acts 2:40-47

Focus Verse: Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."

Sometimes when I preach in Kenya and I see many people accept Christ I wonder if they all knew what they were doing, and if they understand.  What kind of life do believers have after receiving Christ?  What should it look like to begin a Christian community.

As we continue our devotional study on "Christian community" let's observe a few things about the early church in Acts.  In this passage we see that about 3000 people were saved when Peter preached.  We see that right away these new believers were united with the other believers.  Verse 42 says they had fellowship with them, continued in the doctrine (teachings), they shared in the Lord's supper together, and they prayed together.

We see that these early believers shared what they had so that all could benefit from God's gifts.  Sometimes governments of some countries take taxes from those that earn money and then give to those that are in need.  Its a nice plan, but God says that it is the church's responsibility to help those in need, not just the government's.  When the outside world sees the church helping each other they will know something is different.  But so many times the outside world sees the church divided and not able to get along with each other.  This is damaging to our testimony.

A healthy Christian community attracts people to Christ.  The early church's passion for worship and love for each other was contagious.  A church that is healthy and loving will grow in numbers.  What can you do today within your church that will attract others to Christ?  Who is in need that you can help?


Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Peace on Earth

Peace On Earth by Boyd Bailey
Bible Readings: Jeremiah 33:9; Zechariah 9:10; Colossians 1:20; Revelation 1:5
Focus Verse: Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men! Luke 2:14 NKJV

Peace on earth begins with peace in the hearts of people. Outward peace is the product of inward peace. Once a soul has experienced peace with God there is a serenity that seeps into human relationships and calms the rough waters of conflict. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2).

It is a grace based belief system that allows citizens and countries to get together and accept one another’s differences. Without conversations of grace, there is no context for peace. Indeed, nations that believe “might is right”, with whom forgiveness is a foreign language, will remain restless with no peace in sight. However men, women, children and governments who embrace reconciliation will experience an incomprehensible peace.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). Jesus came to earth first and foremost as a peace envoy on behalf of Almighty God. Do you have peace in your heart this Christmas season? Or is there restlessness in your soul that needs the comfort of Christ’s peace? The peace of God is your best prescription for insomnia. Peace brings deep abiding sleep.

Does this mean that we can experience 100% peace on earth? No, because the truth is divisive and not everyone believes the truth. So while Jesus is the “Prince of Peace”, listen to His challenging words, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three” (Luke 12:51-52).

So what is the role of Christians in promoting peace on earth and good will toward men? Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). Followers of the Lord know grace best governs relationships, families, cities and countries. It is God’s grace that allows you to influence the process of peace.

So, stand for the truth in a spirit of grace and humility this Christmas season, and trust God for His peace to reign in your heart and in the hearts of those around you. Take the high road of heaven and proclaim in celebration of Christ’s birth, “Peace on earth and goodwill toward men.” Christmas is God’s gift of peace in the person of His son Jesus.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I praise You for the peace on earth You offer through Your son and our Savior Jesus Christ, in His name I pray, amen.

Application: Am I submitted to God, and am I allowing His peace to reign in my heart and mind? How can I, in humility and love, bring peace to a hard family issue this holiday season?

Real Faith

Real Faith

Scripture Reading:  Hebrews 11: 1-16

Focus Verse:  Hebrews 11: 3  “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

Do you have real faith?  Can you believe what you haven't seen?  Scientists have written hundreds of books on the origin of the universe.  But we, as Christians, have the faith that God spoke it into existence.  In fact everything was spoken into existence by God.  We can only understand this if we have faith.  None of us has seen God.  None of us were there when God created everything.  We take these things by faith.  Hebrews 11:3 is a good definition of real faith.  “We know that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.”  Anybody can take something and mold or fashion it into something else. Example, a business can make an automobile or vehicle.  But only God can create from nothing.  Everything that we see around us teaches us to trust in a God that we cannot see.  That is Real Faith.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Grateful to God

Grateful to God  by Boyd Bailey

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 2 Corinthians 2:14

Gratitude to God is a guarantee for an attitude of humility and happiness. It is hard to be grateful and not be full of joy and contentment. When we reflect on His salvation and grace in Jesus Christ, we are left awestruck that almighty God would freely give us the gift of His only Son. Indeed, grateful Christians never get over the forgiveness and freedom they have in Christ Jesus. Gratitude gives us the right attitude!

How can we renew our thinking each day to be appreciative when so many negative thoughts assault our minds? What is a wise process to keep us praising God for His provision? One way is to recount His blessings by writing them in a journal. Take the time to pen what the Lord has done for you, and your sorrow will turn into a smile of satisfaction. Your glow comes back when you remember Christ’s incredible love and acceptance. When was the last time you spent your entire prayer time just praising and thanking God?

“Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness” (Psalm 150:2).

Perhaps you praise Him in the morning for life and love. Praise Him midmorning for fulfilling work. Praise Him at the noon hour for health and happiness. Praise Him midday for forgiveness and faith. Praise Him at dinner for family and friends. Praise Him before bed for His Word and the wonder of His grace. Praise God, and gratitude will follow.

Your gratitude goes a long way in leading others to be grateful. A grateful life is like a sea of thanksgiving that buoys all boats with hope. Appreciation attracts great people. Your thanksgiving to God for His favor and blessings and for the incredible people in your life sets you up for success. Gratitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy for peace, joy, and love.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).

Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with Praise.  Be thankful to Him and bless His name, for the Lord is good. Psalm 100:4

O, give thanks to the Lord for He is good!  His mercy endureth forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

Giving Thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

In everything Give thanks, for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

We Love

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13 and to go deeper 1 John 4:7-21
Focus Verse: "We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19 and "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

We love.  Why are Christians to be known by our love? (John 13:35)  The root of the answer is because God is love. (1John 4:8)  Notice that I said that God IS love and that is better than God loves because love is not just something that God does, but it is the essence of who He is. 

Because God is unfailing love, He would not leave us in our sin, but sent his only son Jesus, to take the sin punishment in our place. (John 3:16)  No greater love is there than this. The failure in humanity (sin) was a reason to love all the more, because it is needed and not because it is deserved.

Because we have been redeemed and have experienced the greatest love known to mankind, we can, in turn love others as God has commanded us to do.  Love, even if love isn't returned. (2 Cor. 12:15)

Because our flesh often gets in the way due to our selfishness, pride, self-righteousness, and unforgiveness, loving others can be a challenge and we often do a poor job of representing our role as a Christian.  Paul so loved the Corinthians that though they didn't love him in return, he continued to love them. (2 Corinthians 12:15)

Because we are not left alone in our struggle to love one another, we can allow the Holy Spirit to show us our sin and convict us of the lack of love in our lives.  We can approach God in confession and ask Him to work in our hearts to love others as the Holy Spirit equips us to do so.

Love should be who we are.  Loving others is not our achievement to be proud of, but the work of God in our lives that we can praise Him for.  Love should be flowing through so that others may understand our Heavenly Father and praise Him.  We love imperfectly, but God loves perfectly.

I recently went to a funeral of a lady named Pearl.  She was not considered accomplished by the world's standards, but her legacy was that of love.  She cared for the children in the church as their parents could go to worship without being disturbed.  She loved each child completely and they each thought they were favored.  I know this well, because she also cared for my children and they knew that she loved them well.  She loved the parents and the pastors.  She loved in a way that was not just flat, but deeply, even telling truth in love sometimes. A failure in another person was a reason to love all the more because it is needed, not because it's deserved.  She loved.  We love.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Settled in Heaven

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:89-136

Focus Verses: Psalm 119:89-90, 129-130  “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in Heaven.  Your faithfulness endures to all generations,  You established the earth, and it abides.  Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.  The entrance of Your works give light, it gives understanding to the simple.”

It is said “the only permanent thing in this world is change.”  But there is something that is absolutely permanent.  God’s Word is here in in scriptures and will last for all eternity.  The Bible says “the word of the Lord is settled in heaven.  The Hebrew word for settled means, absolutely, irrevocably, and fixed.  Most of the millions of words we speak here on earth will one day be forgotten.  But God’s words will still be truthful trillions of years from now.  People have tried to destroy God’s word, say it has contradictions, say it is irrelevant for today.  Don’t believe any of that.  The Bible is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  It is our guide for life.  So let God’s Word that is settled in heaven, also be settled in our hearts.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Walking Step by Step

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4: 7-18

Focus Verses: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18   Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

As we walk through this Christian life we understand that we will go through difficult times.  Most times we would like to see what is ahead for us, especially when difficult times are coming.  Sometimes we even face storms in life when are doing our best to be in a right relationship with the Lord.  You may have read the verse in Psalm 34:19 that says “many are the afflictions of the righteous”.  But sometimes we fail to read the rest of the verse that says “But the Lord delivers us from them all.” 

Today's scripture reading tells us to make a comparison between the temporary with the eternal.  The light afflictions we have here on earth compared to the glory of heaven,  and the seen to the unseen.  If we have the right perspective on life with God’s help we can endure any trial by taking it one step at a time.  The unseen of heaven one day we will see.  Then the trials of this world will just be a faded memory.  So take this journey with the Lord step by step and remember to look for the unseen eternal.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries