S.O.A.P.

February 9: Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16

On duty

Scripture: Leviticus (NIV) 10:8 Then the LORD said to Aaron,
9 "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.
10 You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean,
11 and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses."

Observation: Two things were of vital importance. FIRST: Both for their sake, and for the sake of the nation, it was important that the priests hear from God. They must be sensitive to the voice of God the Holy Spirit. They were to serve the nation of Israel by making good judgments and for this they could not have their minds numbed by strong drink.

SECOND: It was important that they be able to teach. They must be able to communicate clearly. Those receiving the teaching must be able to have confidence that God’s words were being explained and applied correctly.

Application: In Viet Nam I took a turn each night with the radio, taking reports from our listening posts. In Hawaii I had duty every third or fourth evening and weekend in the dispensary at Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station. In the Old Testament, the priest served in the temple on a rotation as “duty priest.” However since the New Testament days, we do not taking turns serving in a temple made of wood and stones. My body is a living temple of the Holy Spirit and I am on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For me to be useful to God and to others, I must keep myself sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, I am always on duty serving you. Holy Spirit, may nothing keep me from hearing what you speak to me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

February 8: Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15

The sufficiency of the Sacrifice!

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 15: 9 He (GOD) made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Observation: Peter was speaking to the leaders of the church on behalf of the Gentiles who have been recently saved. Some in the church wanted the Gentiles to become Jews and keep the Jewish law. I hear Peter saying two things: First, the Jews have not been able to live up to the law, how can they expect the non-Jews to do it. And second: both the Jews and the non-Jews are saved by God’s grace, not on the basis of how well they kept the law. Everyone is accepted into the church on the basis of God’s grace.

Application: How wonderful is grace! It is the personal expression of God’s love to me! I am accepted not on the basis of how perfectly I have lived my life, but on the basis of the sufficiency of the sacrifice on the cross. And now in response, I live my life only for His glory!

Prayer: Lord, May my thankfulness be seen in all I do! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

February 7: Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14

Appreciation

Scripture: Acts 14: 26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Observation: They had been sent out to take the good news of Jesus to other parts of the Roman world. They had completed their work and now had returned home to give an account of what God had accomplished. Romans 10:14-15 says “…and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they are sent?” How right it is to give credit where credit is due. Those who send and those who work behind the scenes must be given opportunity to rejoice. Those who have given encouragement, those who have passed along the benefit of their knowledge and experience, those who stood by in hard times—they all deserve opportunity to rejoice.

Application: I need to be careful to express appreciation to those who enable me to accomplish what God gives me to do. They deserve the opportunity to rejoice in any victory that I may experience.

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for the special people who started me in ministry, and for those who have supported me along the way. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

February 3: Exodus 35-36; Acts 10

Tradition

Scripture: Acts 10:15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

Observation: In a vision Peter had just been told to kill and eat animals that the law of Moses had set as unclean. Peter refused. Being a Jew he had never eaten meat from these animals. However the vision was a special set-up by God preparing Peter for the visitors very soon to arrive to invite Peter to a Gentile’s (non-Jewish) home which would break another long held tradition.

Application: I wonder how many of my traditions have become a barrier to reaching out to those Jesus loves. Tattoos, music styles, clothing styles, sport teams…

Prayer: Lord, help me to lay aside my traditions/preferences in order to do your will and reach out to those YOU love. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 1: Exodus 30-32; Acts 8

Amazing God!

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 8:4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

Observation: They had been scattered because of persecution. The persecution came because they believed that Jesus Christ was the promised Jewish Messiah who had come to earth and died for their sins, then rose to life again. The religious leaders in Jerusalem were jealous that people were listening to them and went to great lengths to stop them from spreading their message. Instead of quieting their preaching, the persecution only served to spread it. It motivated them toward fulfilling the great commission of going into all the world and preaching the gospel to every person.

Application: If I walk humbly before God and man, God can take what Satan means for bad and turn it for good. I never need to worry about Satan’s works messing up God’s plans.

Prayer: Lord, I need never fear, for You can take the worst Satan throws at me and turn it around for my good and Your glory! You are amazing! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!