Following Jesus

Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:24-28

Focus Verse: Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me."

What does it mean to follow Jesus?  Back when Jesus was walking on the earth, and Jesus said to the disciples "follow me”, the disciples walked close behind Jesus and followed Him, and that is quite literally how it started.  Of course we know that for the disciples it involved much more than just walking behind Jesus.

For us today what does it mean for us to follow Jesus?  Many books have been written on this subject, but let's look at a few basic thoughts.  

If we are to follow Jesus, let's think first about "where did He go?"  As we read about Jesus in the New Testament we see that He was usually alone praying, or with His closest friends, or He was spending time with those that were looked down on. Example, the sick, tax collectors, sinners.  We like spending time with friends, but how are we doing with praying and spending time with those that are looked down on?

If we are to follow Jesus, what did He do?  As Jesus went His way he encountered people. All kinds of people.  The rich, the poor, the sick, the lost, the proud.  Jesus loved everyone He encountered, and knew just the right thing to say to each person.  The story of the woman at the well in John 4 shows Jesus’ love for her.  Even though she had sinned and was living with a man that was not her husband Jesus loved her, and she eventually became a believer.

If we are to follow Jesus, how did He feel?  Jesus' primary purpose in coming to earth was to reconcile people to God.  He felt this way because He had compassion for people and loved them.  Right now this world is lacking love for each other.  What if the outside world saw a genuine love within the church?  

 

Most importantly, Jesus did the will of the Father. (John 14:31)   You may call yourself a Christian but are you really following Jesus?  Let’s follow Jesus by doing what God would want us to do.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

God's Gift of Life

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-18

Focus Verse: John 1:10 “He came into the very world He created”…

On December 27th I welcomed my first grandchild into the world.  Eloise Rose Johnson was born to my son Caleb and our daughter in law Abby.  It has been such a great blessing to receive this gift of life into our family.  As you can imagine I am a proud grandfather.  We recognize that God gave the gift of life to each one of us at birth.

Over two thousand years ago, God sent His plan of eternal life into this world. We have just finished celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior at Christmas time.  The Savior, Jesus, is a gift that God is offering to each one of us.  Sadly many in the world have rejected this gift of Jesus and salvation.  I’m thankful that at the age of six years old I received the gift of salvation that God offered to me.  At that time I began a relationship with God that I have never regretted.  God is offering this gift of life to everyone.  Eternal life with God in heaven one day is a  promise from God for whoever believes in His Son Jesus, the One who died on the cross for your sins and mine.  Why not confess your sin and need of His forgiveness, repent and put your faith and trust in Him today.

 

God gave us all the gift of life when we were born and now He offers the gift of eternal life.  John 3:16-17 says, "“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Let God Lead You

Let God Lead You  

Shared from The Encouraging Word

 Bible reading: Psalm 23

Focus Verse: "He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name." NLT

Life is full of choices, decisions, and options. It’s also full of people with strong opinions who will try to tell you which way they think you ought to go. If we could turn back the hands of time, nearly all of us would alter some of our past choices because they have caused us to find ourselves in the path of “wrongness” rather than “righteousness.” Sheep will gravitate toward whatever appeals to their instincts, such as a berry bush, even though it will take them away from the flock and the shepherd’s protective care. They think they know the right path when they really have no clue. 

Question: Have you been following your appetites and instincts rather than your shepherd? You say, “But God has given me a brain to use.” Sure, and you need to develop it. But it’s limited, and it will only take you so far. The Holy Spirit desires to take you beyond those limits. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). 

How does God lead us? Objectively through His Word, and subjectively through His Spirit. As you read His Word, you hear His voice, and as you “lie down” (Psalm 23:2), He impresses upon your heart what He wants you to do. If you have gotten onto the wrong path, turn to God and He will guide you back onto the right path. You say, “Would God actually speak to someone like me?” Yes, “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:3-4 NKJV). Today, let God lead you!

His Christmas Presence

 His Christmas Presence, written by Greg Laurie

Bible Reading: Matthew 1

“For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.” —Colossians 1:27

Abraham was called the friend of God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego experienced Christ walking with them through the fiery furnace. The Lord appeared to Manoah and his wife, Samson’s parents. And Jacob wrestled with God. But as close as these people were to God, they weren’t as close to Him as we could be. How is that possible? Jesus didn’t live inside their hearts, but He does live inside the hearts of Christians, inside the hearts of those who have committed their lives to Him. The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Colosse, “And this is the secret: Christ lives in you” (Colossians 1:27 NLT). Here is the remarkable thing that we need to realize: No one is closer to God than those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. The real message of Christmas is that God came to Earth, and we’re not alone. When we get hold of that message, all other things won’t matter as much as they used to. Of course, we can celebrate Christmas and enjoy it as much as anyone else, but if we focus on what it’s really about, it becomes so much more meaningful. The essential message of the birth of our Lord is that we’re not alone in this world. Yes, Jesus came to Abraham, Jacob, Samson’s parents, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in a preincarnate appearance. But one day, God came to this world as a child, who grew into a man, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Jesus has always been there, and He will be there to the very end. He said, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT). The real message of Christmas is not presents; it’s Jesus’s presence. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.

God Incarnate

God Incarnate; written by Greg Laurie

Bible Reading: John 1:1-18

Focus Verse:"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed"  John 20:29

Did Jesus ever claim to be God? As a matter of fact, He did. For example, He said, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:23–24 NKJV). That was a clear statement of equality with God the Father.

We also know that on many occasions, Jesus accepted worship, something that was reserved for God alone. In fact, in the wilderness, when the Devil tempted Jesus to worship him, Jesus quoted Scripture: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Matthew 4:10 NKJV).

Jesus was underscoring the fact that worship is to be given to God alone. Yet, He accepted worship on many occasions. If He was not God, then He would have immediately stopped the people who worshiped Him.

As we read in the book of Revelation, an angel revealed some great truths to the apostle John. As a result, John was so overwhelmed that he fell down to worship the angel. But the angel told him, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God” (21:9 NKJV).

Yet Jesus accepted worship. We find an example of this after the resurrection, when He appeared before Thomas, who said, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 NKJV).

Jesus replied, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (verse 29 NKJV).

Now, if Jesus wasn’t God, He would have basically said, “Thomas, stop right now! That’s blasphemy!” But Jesus accepted worship because He was—and is—indeed God.

 

Reference: https://harvest.org/resources/devotions/

The Christmas Story is True

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 and Luke 2

Focus Verses: 1 Corinthians 1:18,28  “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!  But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.  v.28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.”

The story of Christmas is the story of Jesus!  When I read the story of Christmas in Luke chapters 1-2, I believe this to be true.  I think, "How could someone even make up such a story?"  A virgin gave birth, angels appeared to people, wise men traveled from another country following a star to see a child, shepherds went to a stable to see a king born, and another king wanted to kill the baby fearing he would take over his throne. A person could not make up this kind of story even if they had a good imagination.  Yet a lot of people in the world do not believe this and say the things written in God’s Word the Bible are foolishness.  The above passage in 1 Corinthians says these unbelievers are headed for destruction.

God's Word says that Mary pondered in her heart all the things the angel told her.  I enjoy looking forward to the month of December and more specifically December 25th.  I find myself pondering the things of the Christmas story in my heart as well.  I wonder what it would have been like to live back in the day when Jesus came from heaven to earth to be born.  I am so glad He came!

Let’s not be like so many people who think this story is false and say it’s foolishness.  This Christmas story has great implications for all of humanity living on this earth.  The question is do you believe it?  The evidence is overwhelming that the Christmas story happened, but it takes faith for us to believe it, and one day our faith will be made sight.

 

Now, if you believe it, tell it!

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

The Distraction of Contempt vs Thanksgiving

 The Distraction of Contempt vs Thanksgiving

 

Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5

Focus verse: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

PSALM 123:3

What we must beware of is not damage to our belief in God but damage to our Christian disposition or state of mind. “Take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously” (Malachi 2:16). Our state of mind is powerful in its effects. It can be the enemy that penetrates right into our soul and distracts our mind from God. There are certain attitudes we should never dare to indulge. If we do, we will find they have distracted us from faith in God. Until we get back into a quiet mood before Him, our faith is of no value, and our confidence in the flesh and in human ingenuity is what rules our lives.

Beware of “the cares of this world…” (Mark 4:19). They are the very things that produce the wrong attitudes in our soul. It is incredible what enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention away from God. Refuse to be swamped by “the cares of this world.”

Another thing that distracts us is our passion for vindication. St. Augustine prayed, “O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.” Such a need for constant vindication destroys our soul’s faith in God. Don’t say, “I must explain myself,” or, “I must get people to understand.” Our Lord never explained anything— He left the misunderstandings or misconceptions of others to correct themselves.

When we discern that other people are not growing spiritually and allow that discernment to turn to criticism, we block our fellowship with God. God never gives us discernment so that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.

 

The above is written by Oswald Chambers in his book "My Utmost for His Highest".

 

I want to focus on Thanksgiving, the attitude that is the cure for contempt.

On this American holiday of Thanksgiving, we realize that being thankful is a good step away from contempt.  We must be aware of keeping our mind trained on heavenly attitudes as we go through life.  

 

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.  "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."2 Corinthians 10:5

 

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

 

I will end this devotion with asking that you read again 1 Thessalonians 5.  We much give thanks in all things. 

 

~Page Johnson

Interlocking Ministries, Kenya