True Riches

 True Riches

Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-21

Focus Verse: 1 Timothy 6:6  “True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.”

The books of the Bible, first and second Timothy, were written by Paul to Timothy.   Paul has some good advice about being wealthy.  Possessions can have a strong pull in someone's life.  It doesn’t really matter whether you are rich or poor.  What matters is the condition of your heart.  A desire to make money should not be put above our desire to know God.  Paul says if you love money it can bring all kinds of evil into your life.  We are to put our trust in God and not in our money.  Paul said God will give us all that we need.  We should also enjoy what God has given us.  Our focus verse says if we are content with what God has given us, that in itself is great wealth.  Someone that has a lot of money has a big responsibility to manage that money well. And Paul says that person should be generous and share with those in need.  You see some day you’re going to die, then what will happen to your money.

I was reading in the news just this week that one of the richest men in the UK was sailing on his big beautiful boat in Italy with his family and friends.  The boat was at anchor for the night and everyone was asleep when a storm suddenly arose and capsized the boat and sank.  This man lost his life along with five of his family and friends.  I’m sure this man had no idea he would lose his life this week.  It really didn’t matter how much money he had because he left it all behind.  I hope that he knew Jesus because that’s what matters most now.

Jesus talked a lot about money while He was on this earth because He knew how money can take control of our lives.  Money can be a wonderful servant because it can do a lot of good when used wisely and with humility.  However, money can also be a terrible master.  When money controls us, many bad things can happen.  Let’s remember how to experience the true riches of being content with all that God has given us to enjoy.  

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Trust and Choose God Always

Trust and Choose God Always

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 26:1-15

Focus Verse:  Isaiah 26:8  “Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws, our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.”

I read a quote by Vance Havner that says,   “You can’t break the law of God.  Nobody ever broke the law of God.  You break yourself against the law of God.”  That is true.  When we disobey God we are the loser, not God.  Our focus verse says, “we show our trust in God by obeying His laws.”  Yes we can choose to disobey God, but then things are not going to go so well for us.  Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!"   We have been given a choice between life and death, blessings and curses.  I don’t know why so many people in the world today are choosing death and curses.

I also think about 1Kings 11 where King Solomon was given a choice.  When a rich person has a heart to compromise, that's a dangerous combination.  That usually means they have the resources to get deeper into sin.  Solomon's spiritual compromise grew over time into a rampage of sinful behavior looking for pleasure.  Yes, he found some temporary pleasure.  He had so much money he could build any size home he wanted.  He could have any woman he wanted. He did not deny himself any pleasure.  When he came to the end of all that he said “it was all emptiness, like chasing after the wind.”  He wrote in Ecclesiastes “here now is my final conclusion, Fear God and obey His commands, for this is everyone’s duty.”  He went on to say, “Here’s what I’ve learned in life. Don’t fight against the laws of God.  They were given to us for a reason.”

Whether you are rich or poor, you have the choice to trust and obey or to follow your own desires.  Maybe you're saying to yourself, “I’d like to find this out for myself.”   Someone once said, “a wise man learns for the mistakes of others.”   Choose God and His ways for this is the path to a satisfied life of trusting God. 

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Sadness Turned To Joy

 Sadness Turned To Joy

Scripture Reading:  John 16:16-33

Focus Verse: John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Jesus has just told His disciples about the suffering He will go through, but at the end of that suffering there will be great joy when they see what was accomplished.  We know that the whole world has an opportunity to be saved for all eternity because of Jesus' suffering.

Jesus tells us that we also will have suffering and problems on this earth.  We may go through sickness in our bodies.  Our houses have problems and need repair.  We may have broken relationships with our neighbor.  The list is long of the problems that we experience in this world.  Even though this world was created perfect with no problems, sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden then our problems started.  So we have nobody to blame but ourselves.   

 

It seems like every year that goes by the world is in a bigger mess than the year before.  This makes me look forward to heaven even more.  This world with all its problems is not my home.  This world will always disappoint us.  And there is no political government that can fix all these problems.  Only God can fix this world and He will do it one day.  But while we are still here God has a purpose for us to do, and that is to tell others to get ready for Jesus' return.  Jesus is coming back.  He made that promise to His disciples over two thousand years ago.  

 

Let us live in such a way that we will be ready for His return at any moment.  If you are not ready for His return, put your faith and trust in Him today.  We have God’s promise that our sadness will be turned to joy.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

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

Influence Your World

Influence Your World

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 5:13-16

Focus Verses:  Matthew 5:13-14  “You are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world.”

In our passage of scripture Jesus is telling His disciples and us today what our responsibility is as we live in this world.  He is referring to two things that are very common, salt and light.  We use salt to preserve food or to make food taste better.  Light is used to help us find our way in the darkness.  

 

As we share our faith with others, Jesus says we are to be like salt and light.  We need wisdom in doing this so we get this wisdom from God through prayer.  How much salt and light are needed?  Have you ever eaten something that had too much salt added?  It doesn’t taste very good.  Or eaten something with not enough salt? You say "oh this needs more salt" so it will taste good.  Perhaps you have looked at the sun before.  Which is not a good idea because it can cause blindness because it is so bright.  Or maybe you have walked a path with your torch that had a weak battery and you could not see where you were going.  When we share our faith with others we need to use the right amount of salt and light so that others will be attracted to Jesus.  Many times the Holy Spirit will guide you as you talk with others about their lost condition.  So as a cooking recipe calls for the right amount of ingredients, today let’s use our salt and light in the right amounts that will attract people to Jesus.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

God Sees Everything

Scripture Reading: Psalm 139

Focus Verses: Psalm 139:11-12

“I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night, but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.  To you the night shines as bright as day.  Darkness and light are the same to you.”

The United States Military has a new technology.  It’s called “Enhanced Night Vision Goggles.”  These glasses enable the soldier to see the enemy at night just as if it was day.  The enemy might think he is moving under the cover of darkness, but he is being watched.  You don’t want to lose these glasses because they cost about two million shillings.

Some people think that darkness covers up what they are doing.  They think that God doesn’t see in the dark.  But God sees.  There’s no secrets with God.  Night and day are the same to Him.  I don’t think anyone fully understands the awesomeness and power of our God.  God is all knowing.  As our scripture says God knows every detail about you.  He knows what you’re going to think before you think it.  God is ever present.  There is no place you can go that God is not there.  If you travel to the farthest star in the universe, God is there.  God is all powerful.  There is no one more powerful than God.  God controls the whole universe, yet He cares about you individually.  You might be facing a big mountain in front of you, and you don’t know how you can continue on.  Just remember you have an all knowing, ever present, all powerful God on your side.  And He already knows how He’s going to get you over that mountain.  

There’s an element of fear in knowing a God like this, but when we realize just how much God loves us then there’s an element of peace that should come over us.  Romans 8:38  says, “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.  Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow, not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”   Knowing that God sees everything should help keep us on the right path, and when we get off the path we can have peace in knowing that He’s there to guide us back.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

The Protective Fence

 Bible Reading:  Genesis 43:1-9 

Focus Verse: " I personally guarantee his safety. You may hold me responsible if I don’t bring him back to you. Then let me bear the blame forever." Genesis 43:9

Judas was convincing his father that he would watch out for his little brother Benjamin.  His words were very strong.  How many of you helped look after a younger brother or sister?  The Bible says that when we are "born again" that we are babies in Christ and we drink the milk of the Word of God in order to grow.  Our older brothers and sisters in Christ help watch out for us.  There is evil in this world that would desire to damage and destroy these young believers.  There are false teachers who will tickle their itching ears with things that are easy to hear, but lead away from God's truth.  There are traps set.  What are the older believers to do?

If you want a young plant to thrive when you plant it, you must water it and put a fence around it.  This keeps the hungry goats and cows from doing damage and destroying the young plant.  This keeps people from stepping on it.  It helps you remember to water it when the rains don't come.

We need to think of this in our church.  We need to put a fence around the younger believers and protect them from the wolves that would destroy their lives with immorality and false teaching.  We need to train them up in the truth of God's Word.  If you are an older believer, you should watch over the younger ones.  Take care that you do not lead the young believers astray!  Study the scriptures well so that you are teaching the truth to them.  Do you know any younger believers who need someone to disciple them and protect them?  What is God leading you to do?

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries