Scripture Reading: Psalm 73
Focus Verse: Psalm 73:28 “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart, he is mine forever.”
Why do we face adversity in this life? I don’t fully know, but the Bible has a lot to say about our troubles. First of all Jesus promised us in John 16:33 “in this life you will have many trials and sorrows.” I can testify that is true. Although I’ve not had as many as some people, I've had my share. James 1:2 tells us “when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” God does not really speak to us out loud today, but He can speak to us through our trials. When we are suffering He knows we are paying attention. So if you are going through a storm, be on the lookout because God is up to something in your life. He as well has promised to help you through it. John 16:33b Jesus said “take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Jesus suffered greatly on the cross. It was for the purpose of saving all of mankind. Maybe one day when we reach heaven we will look back at our time on earth and see the trials we went through, and be able to see how God was working His purpose in our lives.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Friday, October 14, 2016
Do You Know?
Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:11-13
Focus Verse: 1 John 5:13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.
Doubt is something that Satan loves to use against Christians. If you fall to doubting your salvation, then you either don’t have a true relationship with Christ or your life's struggles have caused you to question God's promises. If we doubt our relationship with Christ, then we are not walking a victorious Christian life. So many times Christians look to the past to get assurance about their salvation. It’s true our relationship with Jesus had to start somewhere, but in our scripture reading John is talking about believing now, in the present, not just in the past. So if you want assurance of your salvation, explore what your relationship with Jesus is like today. Don’t just look at some experience you had years ago. Live for God today and take assurance that what God's Word says is true. You can move from doubting to a deeper relationship with God.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: 1 John 5:13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.
Doubt is something that Satan loves to use against Christians. If you fall to doubting your salvation, then you either don’t have a true relationship with Christ or your life's struggles have caused you to question God's promises. If we doubt our relationship with Christ, then we are not walking a victorious Christian life. So many times Christians look to the past to get assurance about their salvation. It’s true our relationship with Jesus had to start somewhere, but in our scripture reading John is talking about believing now, in the present, not just in the past. So if you want assurance of your salvation, explore what your relationship with Jesus is like today. Don’t just look at some experience you had years ago. Live for God today and take assurance that what God's Word says is true. You can move from doubting to a deeper relationship with God.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Choose Your Master
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:19-24
Focus Verse: Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.”
Joshua’s message to the Israelites was that they had to choose who they would serve. Then he said, “as for me and my house, we will sere the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) You must choose the master of your life. Many people serve themselves and are their own master. When you are serving yourself, you are not serving the Lord. Also, when you serve the Lord, you are not serving yourself. God, your Creator, wants to have the number one spot in your life. God gave you the freedom to choose who will be the master. Although the world will tell you otherwise, if you choose anything other than God, your life will become a mess. Satan decided that he wanted to be his own master and that he would be greater than God. We know that can't be true and he will end up in Hell forever. We can not deceive ourselves to think that we can be a better master than our Creator God. God will always do a better job at running your life than you will. So give Him full control of your life today and walk in obedience to Him.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.”
Joshua’s message to the Israelites was that they had to choose who they would serve. Then he said, “as for me and my house, we will sere the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) You must choose the master of your life. Many people serve themselves and are their own master. When you are serving yourself, you are not serving the Lord. Also, when you serve the Lord, you are not serving yourself. God, your Creator, wants to have the number one spot in your life. God gave you the freedom to choose who will be the master. Although the world will tell you otherwise, if you choose anything other than God, your life will become a mess. Satan decided that he wanted to be his own master and that he would be greater than God. We know that can't be true and he will end up in Hell forever. We can not deceive ourselves to think that we can be a better master than our Creator God. God will always do a better job at running your life than you will. So give Him full control of your life today and walk in obedience to Him.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, September 23, 2016
Humble in the Eyes of the Lord
Bible reading: Isaiah 66:1-6
Memory verse: “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts,
who tremble at my word. But those who choose their own ways—
delighting in their detestable sins will not have their offerings accepted." Isaiah 66:2b-3a.
Have you ever heard the expression “It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.”? I remember the first time I heard it. I was slightly shocked because it didn’t seem like it was ethical. As I pondered it, I came to realize that it could be true if your parents or your boss was very forgiving. You could really get into a habit of taking advantage of that forgiveness. You could do things your way with your ideas and it will be much easier. The attitude behind that thought process is not humility, but pride. You are putting your own selfish desires above your authority.
The scripture reading today reminded me of this, because the Lord our God is the ultimate boss. He is big and mighty. He lives in heaven and puts his feet on earth. If we know what is wrong and we do it anyway, we are living in pride. Even if we come asking for forgiveness, it is does not honor God. It reminds me of 1 Samuel 15:22 that says,
“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
God says that He looks on us with favor when we are humble and recognize the authority of God. When we hear His Word and tremble at His Word we are blessed. Do you know what God expects from you? Will you take advantage of his grace by sinning more or will you submit yourself to Him and humbly do His will?
It is better to ask for permission than forgiveness.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Memory verse: “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts,
who tremble at my word. But those who choose their own ways—
delighting in their detestable sins will not have their offerings accepted." Isaiah 66:2b-3a.
Have you ever heard the expression “It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.”? I remember the first time I heard it. I was slightly shocked because it didn’t seem like it was ethical. As I pondered it, I came to realize that it could be true if your parents or your boss was very forgiving. You could really get into a habit of taking advantage of that forgiveness. You could do things your way with your ideas and it will be much easier. The attitude behind that thought process is not humility, but pride. You are putting your own selfish desires above your authority.
The scripture reading today reminded me of this, because the Lord our God is the ultimate boss. He is big and mighty. He lives in heaven and puts his feet on earth. If we know what is wrong and we do it anyway, we are living in pride. Even if we come asking for forgiveness, it is does not honor God. It reminds me of 1 Samuel 15:22 that says,
“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
God says that He looks on us with favor when we are humble and recognize the authority of God. When we hear His Word and tremble at His Word we are blessed. Do you know what God expects from you? Will you take advantage of his grace by sinning more or will you submit yourself to Him and humbly do His will?
It is better to ask for permission than forgiveness.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Beat By a Girl
Bible Reading Judges 9:34-56
Memory verse: Matthew 23:12 "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Abimelech was the king. He forced his way to the throne. He and his hired men killed seventy brothers. His plan worked and he was king. He had a few good years until Gaal came into town saying bad things about Abimelech and his position. Abimelech heard about it and it bothered him so much that he set out with four companies of men. People were killed in the fighting and Gaal and his brothers fled the city. The next day, the attack continued against the people in the city and many were killed. Some people who were in the city fled into a tower. Abimelech ordered his men to burn the tower and the people died. The rampage continued to the next city of Thebez. When they attacked, the people fled to the tower. As Abimelech led the men to burn it, a woman dropped a millstone on Abimelech's head and cracked his skull. Not wanting to be killed by a woman, he asked his armor-bearer to kill him.
A lot of people died because of the selfishness of Abimelech and his ambition. I never plotted to kill people in order to get to be king, but I know I have been selfish. God doesn’t want us to selfishly knock people down in order to be at the top. I remember when I was a kid, playing a game called “King of the mountain”. We would have to try to be the one standing at the top of a hill of dirt. It was just the right size mound that only one person could stand at the top. If I ever was able to shove my way to the top, it wouldn’t last long because someone would shove me back.
Examine your life to see if you are shoving people around in order to be at the top. Are you wanting to be a leader in your community or church? If you talk bad about others in order to make yourself look better, is that right? Abimelech got paid back for his crimes when a woman dropped the stone on him in self defense. He was beat by a girl. The Bible says that if you exalt yourself, you will be humbled.
by Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, September 2, 2016
Holding On
Holding On
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 13:1-4
Focus Verse: Deuteronomy 13:4 “Serve only the Lord your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him.”
What are some things that you depend on in your life? We all depend on the sun to rise each morning. We depend on gravity to hold us here on the earth. Maybe you would say you depend on your job, or you depend on your money, or your government. Do you depend on God as much as you depend on these other things? This world is always changing. Just like shifting sand at the beach, the waves move the sand around and it is not secure. Nothing in this world is 100% dependable. But God has never changed, and He never will. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His love and mercy for us is never changing, no matter how we change. God wants you to put your anchor into the rock that can never move. God will never let you go. There is nothing in all of creation that can separate us from the love of Christ. So hold on to the things that never change in this world, God and His Word. Our focus on Him can keep us from going astray.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 13:1-4
Focus Verse: Deuteronomy 13:4 “Serve only the Lord your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him.”
What are some things that you depend on in your life? We all depend on the sun to rise each morning. We depend on gravity to hold us here on the earth. Maybe you would say you depend on your job, or you depend on your money, or your government. Do you depend on God as much as you depend on these other things? This world is always changing. Just like shifting sand at the beach, the waves move the sand around and it is not secure. Nothing in this world is 100% dependable. But God has never changed, and He never will. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His love and mercy for us is never changing, no matter how we change. God wants you to put your anchor into the rock that can never move. God will never let you go. There is nothing in all of creation that can separate us from the love of Christ. So hold on to the things that never change in this world, God and His Word. Our focus on Him can keep us from going astray.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, August 26, 2016
Where is Your Treasure?
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:19-34
Focus Verses: Matthew 6:20-22 “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.”
It is not wrong for us to possess treasures or things. But it is wrong to let those things to possess us. 1 Timothy 6:10 does not say money is the root of all kinds of evil. It says “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Jesus said “do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.” 1 John 2:15-16
You see, what you love the most is where your heart is. If you love the world more than God, that’s where your heart is. Jesus told us not to invest in things that wear out. Our security is not found in our possessions, but our security is only found in Jesus. So don’t allow your possessions to get too tight of a grip on you. Hold Jesus tight and your possessions loosely.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: Matthew 6:20-22 “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.”
It is not wrong for us to possess treasures or things. But it is wrong to let those things to possess us. 1 Timothy 6:10 does not say money is the root of all kinds of evil. It says “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Jesus said “do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.” 1 John 2:15-16
You see, what you love the most is where your heart is. If you love the world more than God, that’s where your heart is. Jesus told us not to invest in things that wear out. Our security is not found in our possessions, but our security is only found in Jesus. So don’t allow your possessions to get too tight of a grip on you. Hold Jesus tight and your possessions loosely.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
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