Scripture Reading: Isaiah 1:2-20
Focus Verse: Isaiah 1:4 “Oh what a sinful nation they are, loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.
What does it mean to pledge allegiance? If you pledge allegiance to a country, like Kenya or America, it means you are a citizen of that country and that you will love and be loyal to that country. If you pledge your allegiance to God, it means you are a citizen of heaven and you will be loyal to and love God. It means you allow God to have control over your life. But sometimes we may become tempted to be loyal to other things: our money, our jobs, our educations, our friends, our material possessions. Satan would like for us to be loyal to all these different things. He would rather you be loyal to anything but God.
As we read in the Bible Israel had turned their back on God. They were no longer loyal to God. Sometimes I feel that America is taking the same path of turning their backs on God. Maybe you feel the same way about Kenya. If everything is going great, then we turn our backs on God and act as if we don’t need Him. It seems like we only turn to God if we are having trouble. The apostle Paul says it best in Philippians 3:19-20 “They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.” Today I hope you will think about to whom or what you are pledging your allegiance. God does not want to share you with anyone or anything. God wants all of your allegiance.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, May 20, 2016
Saturday, May 7, 2016
No Need to be Fearful
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 41:8-16
Focus Verse: Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
As Christians what a great encouragement this verse is to us. God has promised to be with us, strengthen us, help us, and hold us up. Are there reasons today that you walk in fear or are loosing confidence? This should give us great confidence because we have no reason to walk in fear. You may have circumstances in your life that you see no way out, but take heart because God sees all of it. He already knows the outcome of your troubles. He has promised to strengthen you and to uphold you through it all. Just because you can’t see God doesn’t mean He’s not there. If you are a believer in Christ, He is always with you. So don’t let fear or discouragement take control of your life. God always has you in His hand, and will never let you go.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
As Christians what a great encouragement this verse is to us. God has promised to be with us, strengthen us, help us, and hold us up. Are there reasons today that you walk in fear or are loosing confidence? This should give us great confidence because we have no reason to walk in fear. You may have circumstances in your life that you see no way out, but take heart because God sees all of it. He already knows the outcome of your troubles. He has promised to strengthen you and to uphold you through it all. Just because you can’t see God doesn’t mean He’s not there. If you are a believer in Christ, He is always with you. So don’t let fear or discouragement take control of your life. God always has you in His hand, and will never let you go.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Always Trusting God
Always Trusting God
Scripture Reading: Psalm 18:30-50
Focus Verses: Psalm 18:30-32 “As for God, His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is proven, He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.”
God’s ways will always be much higher than our ways. Why is that? Because God is all knowing and all powerful. No one knows more than God, and no one is more powerful than God. This is the God that created the universe with everything we see. He cares for you individually and loves you individually. Today’s verses tell us that God’s ways are complete. God is our shield, our defense, and our rock when we place our faith in Him. God Almighty is a sure foundation that can not be shaken, not even by Satan himself. The Lord our God can be completely trusted at all times. Even when we don’t understand what is going on, God can still be completely trusted. Where else can you turn when troubles arise? It only makes sense to turn to the most powerful One. So trust God at all times and walk in His ways. Obey what He says in His word. There is no one like our God. You can always and completely trust Him.
What area of your life are you needing to trust God more than trusting your own strength?
Additional study of the life of Gideon and God's ways in Judges chapters 6-7
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Scripture Reading: Psalm 18:30-50
Focus Verses: Psalm 18:30-32 “As for God, His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is proven, He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.”
God’s ways will always be much higher than our ways. Why is that? Because God is all knowing and all powerful. No one knows more than God, and no one is more powerful than God. This is the God that created the universe with everything we see. He cares for you individually and loves you individually. Today’s verses tell us that God’s ways are complete. God is our shield, our defense, and our rock when we place our faith in Him. God Almighty is a sure foundation that can not be shaken, not even by Satan himself. The Lord our God can be completely trusted at all times. Even when we don’t understand what is going on, God can still be completely trusted. Where else can you turn when troubles arise? It only makes sense to turn to the most powerful One. So trust God at all times and walk in His ways. Obey what He says in His word. There is no one like our God. You can always and completely trust Him.
What area of your life are you needing to trust God more than trusting your own strength?
Additional study of the life of Gideon and God's ways in Judges chapters 6-7
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, April 22, 2016
God is Always Calling
Scripture Reading: Hosea 6
Focus Verses: Hosea 6:1-2 “Come, let us return to the Lord, for He has torn, but He will heal us, He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us, on the third day He will rise us up, that we may live in His sight."
God will always call us back to Himself. Sometimes God’s plan is for us to walk through difficult days of pain. We wonder, " Lord when will this end?" Sometimes we don’t even sense God’s presence. God seems to be so far away. Thinking that God has left us, we wander away from Him. But God’s invitation for us to return is always there. He is ready and willing for us to return to His will for our lives. Maybe you have strayed a long way from the path that God has placed you on. There is hope. God is still calling for you to return to Him. God always wants you back. Don’t let Satan burden you down with the guilt of carrying past sins. Jesus took all those sins to the cross so you would not have to carry them.
If God seems distant it’s not because He has left you, it’s because you have left Him. So be encouraged today, and return to God. He is always calling you back.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: Hosea 6:1-2 “Come, let us return to the Lord, for He has torn, but He will heal us, He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us, on the third day He will rise us up, that we may live in His sight."
God will always call us back to Himself. Sometimes God’s plan is for us to walk through difficult days of pain. We wonder, " Lord when will this end?" Sometimes we don’t even sense God’s presence. God seems to be so far away. Thinking that God has left us, we wander away from Him. But God’s invitation for us to return is always there. He is ready and willing for us to return to His will for our lives. Maybe you have strayed a long way from the path that God has placed you on. There is hope. God is still calling for you to return to Him. God always wants you back. Don’t let Satan burden you down with the guilt of carrying past sins. Jesus took all those sins to the cross so you would not have to carry them.
If God seems distant it’s not because He has left you, it’s because you have left Him. So be encouraged today, and return to God. He is always calling you back.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Who Are You Crying To?
Scripture Reading: Psalm 55
Focus Verse: Psalm 55:2 Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.
In this Psalm David has come to the "end of his rope", as we like to say, because there is nothing left for him to hold on to in this world. He is letting the Lord know how he feels. We all go through times in our lives when we don’t know where else to turn. God wants to be the one you turn to. Just like any loving parent, God want to be the one to help, when you have nowhere else to turn. He has promised He would never leave us or forsake us. Sometimes God will allow us to get to that point where we can only turn to Him. We may try to fix our situation by going to many different people or places. We may even doubt God, His love, or His power to help. We must go to God anyway because He can help you, and he wants to help you. Your problems are never bigger than God. God will meet you where you are and help you to overcome. So cry out to Him in your time of need. He will hear you, and He will do something about your situation.
"Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD." Psalm 27:14
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Psalm 55:2 Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.
In this Psalm David has come to the "end of his rope", as we like to say, because there is nothing left for him to hold on to in this world. He is letting the Lord know how he feels. We all go through times in our lives when we don’t know where else to turn. God wants to be the one you turn to. Just like any loving parent, God want to be the one to help, when you have nowhere else to turn. He has promised He would never leave us or forsake us. Sometimes God will allow us to get to that point where we can only turn to Him. We may try to fix our situation by going to many different people or places. We may even doubt God, His love, or His power to help. We must go to God anyway because He can help you, and he wants to help you. Your problems are never bigger than God. God will meet you where you are and help you to overcome. So cry out to Him in your time of need. He will hear you, and He will do something about your situation.
"Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD." Psalm 27:14
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, April 1, 2016
God Knows What’s Best
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55
Focus Verses: Isaiah 55: 8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
We have just finished celebrating Easter. Jesus’ disciples did not understand Jesus’ death. To them it was the darkest day in human history when Jesus died on a cross. But God had a plan. The darkest day in human history was followed three days later by the greatest day in human history, when Jesus came out of that grave.
Many times God does things in our lives that we don’t understand. Storms and trials are always hard to understand. We wonder how any good can come from them. It all comes down to trust. Do you trust that God is doing what is best for you? It is during the storms of life that Satan want you to doubt God’s love for you. But you can know that God is always faithful, and He knows what is best even when we don’t know what is best for ourselves. We can trust Him that His ways and thoughts will always be higher than ours. So be encouraged today. God will never leave you alone in a storm. He knows what’s best, and will always bring you through.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: Isaiah 55: 8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
We have just finished celebrating Easter. Jesus’ disciples did not understand Jesus’ death. To them it was the darkest day in human history when Jesus died on a cross. But God had a plan. The darkest day in human history was followed three days later by the greatest day in human history, when Jesus came out of that grave.
Many times God does things in our lives that we don’t understand. Storms and trials are always hard to understand. We wonder how any good can come from them. It all comes down to trust. Do you trust that God is doing what is best for you? It is during the storms of life that Satan want you to doubt God’s love for you. But you can know that God is always faithful, and He knows what is best even when we don’t know what is best for ourselves. We can trust Him that His ways and thoughts will always be higher than ours. So be encouraged today. God will never leave you alone in a storm. He knows what’s best, and will always bring you through.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Thursday, March 24, 2016
I am Barabbas
Bible Reading: Matthew 27:11-26and Luke 23:15–22
Memory Verse: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23
Barabbas was a well known criminal and trouble maker that was in jail for murder. He was headed for a punishment of death. He did not deserve a release. There was no evidence of repentance or sorrow for the sins that he committed.
Romans 5:8 says this: " But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
Jesus, the innocent, gave his life first for Barabbas, an unrepentant sinner. Barabbas did nothing to deserve this, but had the same love and opportunity as everyone.
Jesus loved you first while you were in the worst of your sin. You don't deserve this love, but He gives it freely. You have the opportunity to respond to this love by accepting the free gift that God offers through Jesus.
We are all guilty and deserve condemnation but because of the willing substitution of the innocent Christ in our place, there is a free gift of freedom from those sins for those who accept. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick,” Jesus says in Mark 2:17. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I identify with Barabbas as a sinner who was released from the deserved punishment of the sin. I am Barabbas.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Memory Verse: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23
Barabbas was a well known criminal and trouble maker that was in jail for murder. He was headed for a punishment of death. He did not deserve a release. There was no evidence of repentance or sorrow for the sins that he committed.
Romans 5:8 says this: " But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
Jesus, the innocent, gave his life first for Barabbas, an unrepentant sinner. Barabbas did nothing to deserve this, but had the same love and opportunity as everyone.
Jesus loved you first while you were in the worst of your sin. You don't deserve this love, but He gives it freely. You have the opportunity to respond to this love by accepting the free gift that God offers through Jesus.
We are all guilty and deserve condemnation but because of the willing substitution of the innocent Christ in our place, there is a free gift of freedom from those sins for those who accept. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick,” Jesus says in Mark 2:17. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I identify with Barabbas as a sinner who was released from the deserved punishment of the sin. I am Barabbas.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
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