March 21: Joshua 9-11; 1Corinthians 6

Respecting my body

Scripture: 1Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Observation: I just noticed that Paul jumps over some obvious reasons to keep sexually pure. He did not mention the harm done to the family and especially the spouse. He did not mention the many diseases to which one can be exposed. He simply says that your body belongs to God who lives in you. Honor God by the way you respect it.

Application: If I paid $100 for a used car and it breaks down after six months, I do not feel like I lost much. I got more than I expected. However if I paid $40,000 for a new car and it breaks down after six months, I would be quite upset.
I not only belong to God because He created man, I belong to God because I was “bought at a price”—a great price! A whole lot more than $40,000! God paid a big price for Leon; He expects and deserves the best from my life. I must respect and treat my body for what it really is—nothing less than the temple of the Holy Spirit! Wow!

Prayer: Lord, may the way I live my life demonstrate to the world that I both understand and appreciate how great the sacrifice you made for me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 20: Joshua 7-8; Psalm 69; 1Corinthians 5

Depending on God!

Scripture: Psalm 69: 13 ¶ But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.
…
16 Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.

Observation: The Psalmist was in trouble and looking for an answer from God. He was not approaching God on the basis of how he deserved God’s love, but on the basis of God’s character. He was counting on God’s goodness and love. He was counting on God to show him favor and be merciful.

Application: It is humbling to realize how holy, just and righteous God is and how unworthy I am. I have to depend on His mercy and His love for me. He made a sacrifice so awesome that it more than covers my sins. Not only do I need to depend on Him, He wants me to depend on Him. I must depend on Him when I am in trouble, when I am tempted, when I am tired, when I am disappointed, when I am happy, when things are going my way and when they are not.

Prayer: Lord, I am so thankful I can count on you. You help me maintain a life of victory and restore victory to me when I fall. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 19: Joshua 3-6; 1Corinthians 4

Servants

Scripture: 1Corinthians 4: So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (NIV)

Observation: A servant is how Paul sees himself, and how he wants others to see him. He is not about promoting himself. He is all about serving Christ and those to whom he has been sent. The secrets were given to him not so that he and God could have something special that no one else would know, but so that he could share them with others. God wanted them to be known and Paul was a servant doing God’s will.

Application: A servant is how I should see myself, and how I want others to see me. It is not about promoting me. I am all about serving Christ and those to whom I have been sent. The things God shows me in His Word (things He has shown to many, many others) are not only just so God and I can have something special, but so that I can share them with others.

Prayer: Lord, SOAP is a major avenue you provide for me to share with others the things you give me. May each reader recognize the opportunities you bring their way to share with others what you give them. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 18: Joshua 1-2; Psalm 37; 1Corinthians 3

Depending on God!

Scripture: Joshua (NIV) 2:10 We (the Canaanites) have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you (the Israelites) when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.
11 When we heard of it, our hearts sank and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

Observation: Forty years earlier the Israelites became afraid of the Canaanites when the 10 spies brought back the report that they would not be able to defeat the Canaanites, however, the Canaanites had been afraid of the Israelites before that. The plagues on Egypt and the drying up of the Red Sea were God’s way of serving notice to the Canaanites that their days were numbered. Before the twelve spies ever entered the land, God had prepared the hearts of the Canaanites for defeat. God was giving this land to the Israelites like He had promised Abraham. They would have to fight, but the outcome would not depend on their ability to fight, but on God’s ability to keep His word!

Application: Yes, there are struggles in life, but as I trust and obey God, I discover that the outcome of those struggles does not depend on my abilities, but on God’s faithfulness to keep His word!

Prayer: Lord, I am depending on you! I am depending on your faithfulness and ability to keep your word! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 17: Deuteronomy 32-34; 1Corinthians 2

…but God…

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"—
10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Observation: There is nothing like the two words “but God” to turn negatives into positives. No one can see it, no one can hear it, and no mind can even think it but God reveals it to us!

Application: As I look back I recall times I should have failed, times I should have been killed, times I should have lost my way, BUT GOD was with me and brought me through. As I look ahead I know that there will be times when my strength will fail, times when I will not know what to do or say, times when things will appear over, BUT GOD will be there to bring me through!

Prayer: Lord, seeing you in my past encourages me to look for you in my future! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

March 16: Deuteronomy 30-31; Psalm 40; 1Corinthians 1

Scripture: 1Corinthians 1:30 (The Message) Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ.
31 That’s why we have the saying, "If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God."

Observation: When Christ enters a life, He makes everything new. All past sins are forgiven. He gives a new perspective—a new way of thinking. He begins a new way of living—the way of love.

Application: When I realize just how much God has done for me, I have no reason to boast. All the glory goes to Him! He gets all the credit!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, check me when I start to talk like it was all up to me. And help me to let people know that what you have done for me you will do for them. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

March 15: Deuteronomy 28-29; Galatians 6

Doing Good

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Observation: Paul recognizes the possibility of becoming weary in doing good. He gives a word of encouragement. A harvest is coming from the seeds sown. Sometimes we do not want to wait for the harvest. We want instant results. We want to give up and quit! But Paul’s statement is sure: "…we will reap…" No doubt about it!

Application: I know that doing good is in itself its own motivation. I should do good just because that is what I should do. However there are times when I am not so spiritual; I need other motivation. I need to be reminded that sowing good seed will bring a good harvest. I need to do good to others because I can expect to harvest a crop of good myself.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for doing me good. Thank you for showing me to sow seeds of good into the lives of others. Thank you for pulling out weeds and watching over my harvest. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 14: Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5

Faith & Love

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision (being under the Jewish law) nor uncircumcision (not being under the Jewish law) has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Observation: Paul is saying that neither being under the Jewish law nor not being under the Jewish law matters. The only thing that matters is a faith in Christ Jesus that is expressed by love. Those who have faith in Jesus love God and love people. Love may not be the only expression of faith, but without love, the others are not believable.

Distances are measured in inches, feet, yards and miles. Liquids are measured in pints, quarts and gallons. Solids are measured in ounces and pounds. Love is measured by sacrifice.

Application: If faith expresses itself through love, then the depth of my love will show the strength of my faith.

Prayer: Lord, may my faith grow strong and my love for you be well known. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 13: Deuteronomy 22-24; Galatians 4

That’s just the way He is!

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Observation: What a change: from being a slave to sin to being a son of God! From serving sin because we were in bondage, to serving God because we love Him. And we love Him because He first loved us!

Application: I do not have to serve God—I get to serve God. It is my privilege to serve Him. Because I love Him I consider myself His servant. Because He loves me He considers me His son! Because I love Him and see myself as His servant, I serve Him joyfully. Because He loves me and considers me His son, He makes me His heir! He is always outdoing me! That’s just the way He is!

Prayer: Lord, I am your creation. I am your child. I am your friend. I am your servant. I am your son. I am your heir. I am blest! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 12: Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

How can I say thanks!

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 3:22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Observation: The scripture makes it clear. The Law declares without exception that we are all sinners. We can escape neither the fact nor the undesirable judgment at the end. The obvious result is that we must find a way out, and there is no way out EXCEPT through Christ. What we have available as an escape from judgment is extended to us through the grace of God in a promise which we accept by exercising our faith.

Application: God says, “Leon, I kept my promise and gave my Son as the sacrifice to pay the price of your sins. In Him you will have my forgiveness.” Leon says, “God, I believe you kept your promise. I believe your Son Jesus died for my sins; I accept your forgiveness not because I am worthy nor have accomplished anything for which I should be rewarded, but only on the basis that you love me and that the death of Jesus is more than sufficient to atone for my sins.”

Prayer: Lord, as Andre Crouch wrote: “How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me; things so undeserved, yet you did to prove your love for me; the voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude; all that I am, and every hope to be, I owe it all to Thee!” Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!