Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Focus Verse: Psalm 16:11 "You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
We can read in God's Word about signs that the coming of Jesus is soon. One of those signs is that people will pursue pleasure more than God. People are looking for an escape from the real world. They are trying to escape their problems with alcohol, immoral sex, their jobs, or gaining much education. 1 Timothy 5:6 says, "She who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives." When pleasure is placed above God it is wrong. When it takes the place of taking care of our responsibilities it is wrong. But God doesn't condemn all our pursuits of pleasure. God even promises us pleasure when we walk with Him.
When we pursue the pleasure the world gives, it doesn't satisfy. It might only bring a temporary happiness but also emptiness. Jesus put it so well in Luke 9:23 when He said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." We are to deny what our flesh desires, and set our hearts on following and obeying Christ. Then we will find the pleasure that God has us pursuing.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, May 31, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Maturing as a Christian
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Focus Verse: Psalm 119:71 "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes."
As soon as a baby is born it begins a path to maturity, but that path is not always easy. For Christians our goal is to mature in Christ, but that path is not always easy either. This week there are thousands of people in the mid-western part of America that are going through a very difficult time. Tornadoes destroyed hundreds of homes. It is hard to understand, but God is working out His plan. He knows the circumstances in every single life, and He knows what is best. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." Therefore, for those people who are Christians, maybe God wants them to mature in their faith through their struggles. For others who do not know Christ, God may use this storm to bring them to salvation.
No matter what we are going through, we can be at peace knowing that God sees every detail of what is happening in our lives. He will not allow anything that He can not work out for our ultimate good. So the next time you are in a difficult situation look for ways that God may want you to mature in your faith. God always has a purpose for everything.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Psalm 119:71 "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes."
As soon as a baby is born it begins a path to maturity, but that path is not always easy. For Christians our goal is to mature in Christ, but that path is not always easy either. This week there are thousands of people in the mid-western part of America that are going through a very difficult time. Tornadoes destroyed hundreds of homes. It is hard to understand, but God is working out His plan. He knows the circumstances in every single life, and He knows what is best. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." Therefore, for those people who are Christians, maybe God wants them to mature in their faith through their struggles. For others who do not know Christ, God may use this storm to bring them to salvation.
No matter what we are going through, we can be at peace knowing that God sees every detail of what is happening in our lives. He will not allow anything that He can not work out for our ultimate good. So the next time you are in a difficult situation look for ways that God may want you to mature in your faith. God always has a purpose for everything.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, May 17, 2013
What Are You Wearing?
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:1-17
Focus Verse: Colossians 3:14 "But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection"
One of the greatest human emotions that God has given us is love. We all have a deep need in our lives to be loved. As Christians, God wants us to give our love to others. I'm not speaking of the romantic love that a husband and wife share, but the love that will lead a lost world to Christ.
Paul says that we are to put on love. What do people see when they look at you? The world is watching us. They are watching to see how Christians love each other, and they are watching to see how we will love them. When I'm talking with someone, it doesn't take me very long before I can tell if someone has "put on love". 1 Peter 4:8 says "love covers a multitude of sins". You might know someone who has sinned against you, but if you now truly love them, your love can forgive and cover that sin that is between you.
When you really love someone (not just say it but show it) it empowers them to do great things. When Christians feel loved by other Christians they can accomplish great things for the Lord. So what are you putting on every day when you get up? Love for someone is one of the most important things you can do for that relationship.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Colossians 3:14 "But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection"
One of the greatest human emotions that God has given us is love. We all have a deep need in our lives to be loved. As Christians, God wants us to give our love to others. I'm not speaking of the romantic love that a husband and wife share, but the love that will lead a lost world to Christ.
Paul says that we are to put on love. What do people see when they look at you? The world is watching us. They are watching to see how Christians love each other, and they are watching to see how we will love them. When I'm talking with someone, it doesn't take me very long before I can tell if someone has "put on love". 1 Peter 4:8 says "love covers a multitude of sins". You might know someone who has sinned against you, but if you now truly love them, your love can forgive and cover that sin that is between you.
When you really love someone (not just say it but show it) it empowers them to do great things. When Christians feel loved by other Christians they can accomplish great things for the Lord. So what are you putting on every day when you get up? Love for someone is one of the most important things you can do for that relationship.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, May 10, 2013
Why Are You Hiding?
Scripture reading: Genesis 3: 1-11
Focus verse: Gen 3:10 “I had you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid”
Nobody with sound mind would wish to be physically naked in public. Adam and Eve realized how awkward it was to be found naked, and so they chose not only to hide, but to sew fig leaves for their coverings. The Bible says, their eyes opened after eating the fruit, and realized they were naked. This informs that our eyes are never closed once we do something evil.
Very often our hearts have made a decision to create coverings and hide just like Adam chose to when he realized he was naked. We forget to realize the cause of our nakedness but concentrate more on wanting to hid and cover up. We may even end up losing jobs, good friends, Brethren fellowship, marriages etc, in our attempts to cover up our sin. But the question is, do all these attempts wipe the conviction in our hearts? Do we realize that we are losing? Is possible to hide forever? For how long will the coverings last?
Take a look at the beautiful words in Luke 15:18 “I will set out and go to my father and say to him: Father I have sinned against you…”, in other terms “I will not continue hiding but will go for forgiveness” The runaway son hid for a long time but found it wasting, hurting, depriving etc. and decided to return to the Father where he found forgiveness.
Maybe there is one whose eyes have opened due to sin. Have you created a covering for your heart, but find that you are suffering still? Will you choose to go Adam’s way or come back like the son did?
by Eliazar Wambo
Focus verse: Gen 3:10 “I had you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid”
Nobody with sound mind would wish to be physically naked in public. Adam and Eve realized how awkward it was to be found naked, and so they chose not only to hide, but to sew fig leaves for their coverings. The Bible says, their eyes opened after eating the fruit, and realized they were naked. This informs that our eyes are never closed once we do something evil.
Very often our hearts have made a decision to create coverings and hide just like Adam chose to when he realized he was naked. We forget to realize the cause of our nakedness but concentrate more on wanting to hid and cover up. We may even end up losing jobs, good friends, Brethren fellowship, marriages etc, in our attempts to cover up our sin. But the question is, do all these attempts wipe the conviction in our hearts? Do we realize that we are losing? Is possible to hide forever? For how long will the coverings last?
Take a look at the beautiful words in Luke 15:18 “I will set out and go to my father and say to him: Father I have sinned against you…”, in other terms “I will not continue hiding but will go for forgiveness” The runaway son hid for a long time but found it wasting, hurting, depriving etc. and decided to return to the Father where he found forgiveness.
Maybe there is one whose eyes have opened due to sin. Have you created a covering for your heart, but find that you are suffering still? Will you choose to go Adam’s way or come back like the son did?
by Eliazar Wambo
Friday, May 3, 2013
No Compromise
Scripture Reading: Daniel 1:8-20
Focus Verse: Daniel 1:8 "But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods."
As we look around us today we see sports figures, government officials and other people in the public spotlight that have made some of the most foolish choices for their lives. When temptation came their way, they took the bait that Satan offered. The result has been disgrace and living a wasted life. They hurt themselves and those that love them. Integrity and character need to be buried deep inside you so that when temptation strikes, you have already made the right choice.
We can be thankful for the story of Daniel in the Bible and the example he gives us to live a godly life. We find nowhere did he compromise even when faced with a den of lions. He simply said "no" when faced with temptations. He did not compromise when it came to following the laws that God established.
There are blessings or consequences following our decisions. One wrong choice could make a mess of your life. Let's be boldly obedient like Daniel, and we won't have regrets. There is a great reward in living an uncompromising life. Daniel was determined and God can help you make the right choice even before temptation comes your way.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Daniel 1:8 "But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods."
As we look around us today we see sports figures, government officials and other people in the public spotlight that have made some of the most foolish choices for their lives. When temptation came their way, they took the bait that Satan offered. The result has been disgrace and living a wasted life. They hurt themselves and those that love them. Integrity and character need to be buried deep inside you so that when temptation strikes, you have already made the right choice.
We can be thankful for the story of Daniel in the Bible and the example he gives us to live a godly life. We find nowhere did he compromise even when faced with a den of lions. He simply said "no" when faced with temptations. He did not compromise when it came to following the laws that God established.
There are blessings or consequences following our decisions. One wrong choice could make a mess of your life. Let's be boldly obedient like Daniel, and we won't have regrets. There is a great reward in living an uncompromising life. Daniel was determined and God can help you make the right choice even before temptation comes your way.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, April 26, 2013
Jesus Said, "You Will Have Troubles"
Scripture Reading: Job1:1-22
Focus Verse: Job 2:10 Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never adversity? So in all this Job said nothing wrong.
Sometimes in our lives we tend to remember all the bad things that have happened to us and forget the good things. We remember Job for all the bad that happened to him. But we should remember how Job had victory in spite of his adversity. There were four things that were important to Job: his faith, family, friends and his fortune. Satan tried to take all of them from Job hoping he would curse God. Instead we see Job thinking on the goodness of God and worshiping His greatness. Satan was probably the one cursing and not Job. At no time do we see Job blaming God for these things. God was enough for Job, with or without the other things Job had. Job said in 13:15 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him."
Do you bless God and praise Him even when you don't understand what is going on in your life? Job's faith is a great lesson to us on how we can trust in God even though we may be going through unexplained trials. Job did express his grief to God, and God wants us to cry out to Him also. Remember Job for his victory during the trials and we can do the same with God's help. Almighty God is enough. We need nothing else.
"He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only".
C.S. Lewis
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Job 2:10 Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never adversity? So in all this Job said nothing wrong.
Sometimes in our lives we tend to remember all the bad things that have happened to us and forget the good things. We remember Job for all the bad that happened to him. But we should remember how Job had victory in spite of his adversity. There were four things that were important to Job: his faith, family, friends and his fortune. Satan tried to take all of them from Job hoping he would curse God. Instead we see Job thinking on the goodness of God and worshiping His greatness. Satan was probably the one cursing and not Job. At no time do we see Job blaming God for these things. God was enough for Job, with or without the other things Job had. Job said in 13:15 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him."
Do you bless God and praise Him even when you don't understand what is going on in your life? Job's faith is a great lesson to us on how we can trust in God even though we may be going through unexplained trials. Job did express his grief to God, and God wants us to cry out to Him also. Remember Job for his victory during the trials and we can do the same with God's help. Almighty God is enough. We need nothing else.
"He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only".
C.S. Lewis
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Monday, April 22, 2013
Three Words to Overcome Temptation
Scripture Reading: Luke 4:1-12
Focus Verse: Psalm 119:11 Your Word I have Hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
How did Jesus stand up to the temptations of Satan in the wilderness? He did it by quoting Scripture. "It is written".
If Jesus needed the Bible to overcome temptation, how do we think we can live a pure life without it. So many times we find ourselves in a mess and can't understand why, but we haven't gone to the only source that can really help us. We make Satan weak and defeated in our lives when we pray and read the Bible. Satan knows that his time is limited here on earth, and he's going to do all he can to destroy God's greatest creation, "us".
God has given us everything we need to stand up to his attacks. The question is, "will we use it, or try to resist on our own?" I have seen in my own life I can never be victorious on my own. I must rely on Christ and the power of His Word every day to overcome the evil powers of this world. As believers we have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. "It is written "we can have victory".
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Psalm 119:11 Your Word I have Hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
How did Jesus stand up to the temptations of Satan in the wilderness? He did it by quoting Scripture. "It is written".
If Jesus needed the Bible to overcome temptation, how do we think we can live a pure life without it. So many times we find ourselves in a mess and can't understand why, but we haven't gone to the only source that can really help us. We make Satan weak and defeated in our lives when we pray and read the Bible. Satan knows that his time is limited here on earth, and he's going to do all he can to destroy God's greatest creation, "us".
God has given us everything we need to stand up to his attacks. The question is, "will we use it, or try to resist on our own?" I have seen in my own life I can never be victorious on my own. I must rely on Christ and the power of His Word every day to overcome the evil powers of this world. As believers we have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. "It is written "we can have victory".
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
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