December 2021

DIVINE DIRECTIVE!

12/30/21

If you know that God loves you, you should never question a directive from Him. It will always be right and best. When He gives you a directive, you are not just to observe it, discuss it, or debate it. You are to obey it.

- Henry Blackaby

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” - Jesus

John 14:15

Since there is no one who can love us as much as our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus, we should without hesitation obey their directives. Even if it is a very difficult one in our view, we should obey immediately because our Lord will give us His strength to do everything He directs us to do (Philippians 4:13). Obedience brings His richest blessings!

If you do not belong to Him, come to the Lord Jesus NOW, while you can!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE AND LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

OUR EVERY WHIM!

12/28/21

God loves us too much to indulge our every whim.

- Max Lucado

“The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”

Psalm 34:10

Our Lord is all-wise as well as loves us as no one else can and desires nothing but what is good and best for us. We think we know what is best but we are so limited in knowledge and wisdom. As a wise parent through experience and love for their child desires the best for him or her and does not grant their every whim, I am so thankful our Lord who is much wiser and loves so much better does not grant our every whim. Many times we do not know what is truly good for us. So live every day surrendered to His Lordship and will and experience His very best in all areas of your life, which may include loving discipline so you can you can His very best for you!

If you do not belong to the Lord Jesus, come to Him NOW!

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Romans 10:13

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST

THE GLORY OF THE INCARNATION!

12/26/21

The glory of the incarnation is that it presents to our adoring gaze not a humanized God or a deified man, but a true God-man - one who is all that God is and at the same time all that man is: one on whose almighty arm we can rest, and to whose human sympathy we can appeal.

Benjamin B. Warfield (1851–1921)

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

What an awesome Lord and Savior we have in the perfect God-Man, Jesus Christ!

He loves us, cares for us and can sympathize with us as no one else can. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

This truth ought to thrill our souls every day and cause us to yield to His Lordship, rendering to Him and for Him faithful, loving service.

If He is not your Lord and Savior, come to Him NOW!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

FAITH BEGINS

12/24/21

Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends.

- George Mueller

“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2 Corinthians 5:7

It is a real temptation in our serving the Lord to depend upon our own strength and to do what we know we can do. In so doing, we suffer spiritually and do not grow in the likeness of Christ. Also, we do not see great thngs accomplished for His honor and glory. We miss out on His richest blessings. May we surrender ourselves completely to Him every day, recognizing our human weaknesses and limitations and by faith trust Him to enable us to become more like Him and to serve Him in His power and wisdom and to accomplish all that He wants us to accomplish.

If you do not belong to the Lord Jesus, come to Him NOW!

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

1 John 5:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

FURNACE OF AFFLICTION

12/22/21

As sure as God puts His children in the furnace of affliction, He will be with them in it.

C.H Spurgeon

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Hebrews 13:5

“Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”

Psalm 119:67

“I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.”

Psalm 119:75

I am so glad that the Lord is with us when we are in the furnace of affliction and will never abandon us but will teach us the important lessons that we need to learn to be have His character developed in us and to enable us to serve Him effectively. He gives the amount of grace needed for the degree of heat that is needed in the furnace experience.

If you do not belong to the Lord Jesus, come to Him NOW!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY!

12/20/21

“You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read.” – John MacArthur

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

What an awesome responsibility all born-again believers have! We must submit to the Lordship of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Light of the world (John 8:12), and allow Him to be seen and exalted and glorified in our attitudes, actions, and all the areas of our lives that those who do not belong to Him will see through the ministry of the Holy Spirit with the Word their desperate need to surrender their lives to Him and receive Him as thei Lord and Savior. If your heart is nott right with the Lord as a believer, get things right with Him today (1 John 1:9) and live passionately for Him, because the day of accountability is coming!

If you do not belong to the Lord Jesus, come to Him NOW, before it is too late!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:23

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

1 John 5:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

A TRUE DISCIPLE!

12/18/21

Our Lord said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." It is evident, then, that a true disciple is a soul-winner. It is possible to sit on the shore discussing the signs of the times when we ought to be driven by the signs of the times to launch out into the deep and let down our nets for a draught.

- Vance Havner

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”

Proverbs 11:30

The problem with many of born-again Christians, many of our churches, and the state of our nation is that many born-again Christians are not doing what every disciple should be doing, seeking to lead others to Christ. In fact, many are not walking close to the Lord and so are compromising, looking a lot like the unsaved people, and not exalting Christ in all the areas of their lives. They show that they don’t have a lot of wisdom because they are not diligently seeking to be a soul-winner. Christ came to seek and to save those who are lost (Luke 19:10), and as His disciples, we should be ing the same. If we have that type of passionate relationship with our Lord, it will also be revealed in our political stands, etc.

If you do not belong to the Lord Jesus, come to Him NOW!

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

1 John 5:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

GRACE!

12/16/21

Grace is a ring of gold, and Christ is the sparkling diamond in that ring.

Thomas Brooks (1608–1680)

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

I am so glad that my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is full of grace and truth. By His grace He has given the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 2:8-9) and gives every type of grace needed for every type of situation (1 Peter 5:10; Hebrews 4:16). How wonderful it is to be the continual object of His grace and to know that He loves to give His grace every day!

He is the truth (John 14:6) and, thereforth the source of all truth! I am glad that I can come to Him and His Word and find out what the truth is for every area of my life.

If He is not your Lord and Savior, come to the Lord Jesus NOW, before it is too late!

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 14:6

Pastor Fred Johnson, Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

WHAT WE OWE!

12/14/21

His great act of condescension in becoming man and His willingness to be completely humiliated in the death on the cross is set before us here as the supreme example of what our attitude should be. If Jesus Christ the Lord of glory was willing to be obedient unto death, how much more should sinners saved by grace who owe everything to God give back to the God who saved them the life which He has redeemed.

John F. Walvoord

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

If you are a born-again believer, bought with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19), and you do not passionately love and serve Him faithfully and enthusiastically at all times and in every situation after all He has done to save your soul and make you His forever, you are manifesting the greatest ingratitude possible. Does your daily living indicate that your “first love” is Jesus Christ?

If you do not belong to Him, come to the Lord Jesus NOW!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:23

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

DO NOT BE A COWARD!

12/12/21

To risk reputation and affection for the truth's sake is so demanding that to do it constantly you will need a degree of moral principle that only the Spirit of God can work in you. Do not turn your back like a coward, but play the man. Follow boldly in your Master's steps, for He has made this rough journey before you. Better a brief warfare and eternal rest than false peace and everlasting torment.

- Alistair Begg

“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.” - Joshua 1:7

Are you a cowardly born-again believer and failing to follow boldly in your Savior’s footsteps? Are you more concerned with following the thoughts and positions of your friends, coworkers, etc. than living all areas of your life according to the Word of God? Are you more concerned about being “politically correct” that “Scripturally correct?” Are bowing to the pressure of government leaders instead of surrendering to the Lordship of Christ? Are you boldly sharing the Gospel with the Lost and seeking to help fellow believers to grow up in Christ?

If you do not belong to the Lord Jesus, come to Him NOW!

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - 1 John 5:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

FAITH

12/10/21

Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ.

A.W. Tozer

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” - John 14:15

Faith is obtained from the Word of God! “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). You will only have as much faith as you possess the knowledge and application of God’s Word by total submission to the Lordship of Christ and the control of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:22-23). You can talk about how much faith you have but the reality of how much is revealed by how much you are totally surrendered to the Lord and are obeying Him. So where do you stand regarding the matter of faith?

If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, come to Him NOW, while you can!

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - 1 John 5:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

HOMECOMING DAY!

12/08/21

The presence of Jesus makes every day a great and glorious day. His presence gives us indescribable peace, joy, and assurance now and regarding eternity!

Fred Johnson

“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” - John 14:2-3

Many schools, colleges, churches, etc., have a homecoming event. However, the greatest one is when our Lord and Savior comes and takes us home to be with Him! That will be an awesome celebration and we, who belong to Him, will be free forever from stress, separation from born-again loved ones and friends who are already home, disappointments, heartaches, health problems, and every type of suffering! The most important thing is that we will enjoy HIS glory forever and all our eternal riches that we have in HIM!

If you are not one of His and do not have this assurance, come to the Lord Jesus NOW, before it is too late!

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - 1 John 5:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

A COWARD!

12/06/21

A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent. - John Calvin

“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” - Philippians 1:20

Every born-again believer should be bold as a lion in standing for standing for their Lord and His Word!

We should be bold in standing against sin and in sharing the Gospel with unsaved friends, neighbors, relatives, coworkers, etc.

We should be bold in helping fellow believers to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word and in the likeness of Christ.

We should be bold in using our natural talents and spiritual gifts to the praise and glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

If you are not one of His, come to the Lord Jesus NOW, before it is too late!

“ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

John 3:18

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

TUNE YOUR INSTRUMENT INWARD!

12/04/21

“Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him.” – James Hudson Taylor

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

Psalm 55:17

The Jewish day began at evening. We should start every day with our Lord and His Word so that we will live in harmony with Him and do His will in all the areas of our lives. The our lives will produce super-abundant fruit to the praise of His glory. Our lives, like a finely tuned instrument, will be used effectively in service to Him.

If you are not one of His, come to the Lord Jesus NOW!

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

1 John 5:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

THE SOLID ROCK!

12/02/21

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.

— Edward Mote (1797–1874)

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12

Yes, everyone who has repented of all their sin (Luke 13:3,5) and received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, are established on the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ, and have the firm foundation not only regarding eternal life but the firm assurance of a close relationship with Him now and the provision of all their needs for every area of their life.

If He is not your Lord and Savior, come to Him NOW!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:23

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!