S.O.A.P.

May 31: Proverbs 16-18: Romans 12

What a difference!

Scripture: Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Observation: We are not to let our lives be copies of the world. Since we are becoming like Jesus, the difference in how we think and act should be obvious.

Application: This starts with the transforming of my mind. My actions start as thoughts. It is only as my mind is made new that I am able to understand and do God’s will. With a renewed mind I am able to recognize how good God’s will really is. It is pleasant. It is enjoyable. It is perfect!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, today show me the difference between your thoughts about certain people and my thoughts about them. Help me see them through your eyes. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 30: Proverbs 13-15; Romans 11

Love AND Holiness

Scripture: Romans 11:22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

Observation: There are two sides to the character of God: kindness, coming from His love, and sternness, coming from His holiness. From the verses in this chapter His kindness is seen in His grace allowing foreign branches to be grafted into Himself. His holiness is seen in His sternness removing the faithless original branches. The grafted branches need to be careful to continue in His grace or they, like the original branches will be cut off. His kindness is seen in his willingness to re-graft the original branches if they return.

Application: I should be thankful, humble, and faithful. I should be thankful that God has “grafted” me into his family! I should be humble because I did not start out as his child, but he still accepted me! I should be faithful because I too can be removed if I do not “continue in his kindness.”

Prayer: Lord, I am eternally thankful for your grace to me. I am amazed that you use me for your purposes. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit I am committed to faithfully serving you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 29: Proverbs 10-12; Romans 10

My Heart – His Home

Scripture: Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Observation: The heart and mouth are very closely tied together. Spoken words are the window of the heart. By listening to words we can see what is in the heart. Anger, love, displeasure, compassion, etc.—they all come from the heart but are easily recognized by the words coming from the mouth.

The words “confess” and “believe” are present tense words. This is not something that happened in the past; this is the way it is now!

If I think I am saved because once in my past I made a confession of faith, I should probably think that I am a sinner because I recently said a curse word. This is more than what I did at one time—this is how I live!

Application: My heart expresses itself through my actions and words. People can see my heart by watching what I do and listening to what I say. When I am alone my words reveal more about my heart than when I am in church or around others I want to impress. I need to listen to myself, because I know the Lord hears every word and knows every thought. I want Him to feel at home in my heart! I want Him to enjoy living in me.

Prayer: Lord, I am confessing you as my Lord because I am believing that you died for my sins and rose again. You are alive and living in me! Holy Spirit, check me when I say things that do not line up with the truth that Jesus is living in my heart. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

On this Memorial Day, let’s remember those who gave their lives that we might continue to enjoy our freedom. Freedom is costly! Freedom brings the responsibility of bringing freedom to others for if we do not fight so others can experience the freedom we have, we will soon experience the oppression they have. The responsibility of bringing freedom to others is costly too! (Just ask Jesus!)

Enjoy your family times knowing that if those we miss were here, they would be joining with us and celebrating Memorial Day too. Pastor Leon J

S.O.A.P.

May 28: Proverbs 7-9; Romans 9

A Stumbling or Standing Stone

Scripture: Romans 9:33 As it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Observation: Jesus is the rock laid in the nation of Israel. He came in God’s plan, to God’s place, and in God’s time. He was sent with the purpose of providing a proper sacrifice for man’s sins. To those refusing to believe the simplicity of the gospel, He is a stumbling stone. But to those choosing to stand on His promises He is a foundation stone!

Application: I made it over the stumbling stone and discovered that trusting Jesus for forgiveness and salvation really is that easy. Now I am learning to stand in the storms of life and finding He is a solid foundation—a good place to stand!

Prayer: Lord, I can sing: “Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.” (RK Carter) Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 27: Proverbs 4-6; Romans 8

The Law of The Spirit!

Scripture: Romans 8:2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. …
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Observation: Every one working in the airplane industry is working according to the laws of aerodynamics. If they were only thinking of the law of gravity, there would be no airplanes. Obviously the laws of aerodynamics would continue to be true but they would have no effect on us today. What a good picture of our spiritual walk! Just as “the law of aerodynamics” releases us from “the law of gravity,” the law of “the Spirit of life” releases us from “the law of sin and death.”

Application: Those in airplane factories must think and work as though the law of aerodynamics is really true; I must think and live as though the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is really true. God’s Spirit really does live inside me and He really talks to me. He really is greater than anything I will face today. I will always accomplish more when listening to the Holy Spirit than I will ever be able to do depending on myself.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, continually remind me of your Presence. There will not be a minute of this day that you will not be with me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 26: Proverbs 1-3; Romans 7

What a difference!

Scripture: Romans 7:6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Observation: Once the way to serve God, was to work to keep the Law. Our goal is still to serve God, but now we serve Him by allowing the Holy Spirit to direct our lives. Instead of focusing on a list of things that we should not do, we focus on hearing what the Spirit would have us do moment by moment.

Application: Once I relied on my memory of the law, now I rely on the Presence of the Holy Spirit. Once the emphasis was on remembering, now the emphasis is on hearing. Once I sharpened my reading skills, now I sharpen my listening skills. Once the emphasis was on what I had heard, now it is on what I hear. Once I relied on what He said, now I rely on what He is saying!

Prayer: Lord, you knew I needed help to please you so you sent your Holy Spirit to live inside me! I am glad to know you will be walking and talking with me all day. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 25: 1Kings 10, 11; 2Chronicles 9; Romans 6

Set free; Kept free; Live free!

Scripture: Romans 6:9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

Observation: Christ’s death took place in history. We know the time and place. It is a completed task that never will take place again. In contrast, His life continues! His death is a fact of history, His life is eternal. He is alive today!

I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord and I am to “count” myself dead to sins control over me. Jesus death set me free and His life keeps me free! I do not claim to be dead to make it true but because it is true, I make the claim. Sin no longer has legal authority over me.

Application: Verse 12 is my application. Not being legally bound to sin, I am to refuse it. A good example is the issue of slavery and the American Civil War. When the war was won, slavery was legally defeated, however not all the problems connected to slavery were solved. It took years for black people to get the right to vote. And some issues are still unsettled.

Christ’s victory and presence does not keep sin from knocking at my door. With the authority I have in the Name of Jesus I am now able to refuse his to obey his desires. In Christ I can live free!

Prayer: Lord, You are the Victor! Only with your Presence in my life can I have victory over sin. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 24: 1Kings 9; 2Chronicles 8; Psalm 136; Romans 5

His death – His life

Scripture: Romans 5: 10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Observation: It took His death to get us, but He keeps us through His life! And what a life it is. It is a life that has been tempted and tested in every way yet without sin. It is a life that has been through death, rising in triumph over death, hell, and the grave!

In Christ’s death, God paid for our sins, justifying us, making us just as if we had never sinned, giving us a standing like Adam. But unlike Adam, God did not just visit us in the "cool of the evening" to walk with us in the garden. He knew that we would end up doing the same thing Adam and Eve did. We would sin. He does not just visit WITH us, He takes up residence IN us! This is not a "cool of the evening" "walk with God" relationship. This is a 24/7 relationship. This is 24 hours a day and 7 days a week! This is so much better!

In reconciling us, the emphasis is on His atoning death; in keeping us, the emphasis is on His indwelling life!

Application: I need to remind myself every morning and many times during the day that the God who created me loves me and lives in me!

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for loving me enough to die for me, and enough to make your home in me! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 23: 2Chronicles 6, 7; Psalm 135; Romans 4

Great Coordination

Scripture: 2Chronicles 6:15 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it — as it is today.

Observation: In Solomon’s prayer he appreciates a great characteristic of God. God is coordinated! God has great coordination. With His mouth God made the promise and with His hand He fulfilled it!

Application: Sometimes I try to coordinate my colors. I want the color of my shirt to go well with the color of my pants. But God is much more interested that my mouth be coordinated with my hands. I please Him when my words and deeds are coordinated.

Prayer: Lord, my words and my actions flow out of the same heart. May they be an expression of Your presence! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 22: 1Kings 8; 2Chronicles 5; Psalm 99; Romans 3

He loves justice!

Scripture: Psalm 99:4 The King is mighty, he loves justice—you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right.

Romans 3:26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Observation: It is comforting to think of God’s love. Oh, how He loves us. But He also loves justice. God is completely holy. He is just and those He loves must be willing to be made just. They are powerless to make themselves just, so this God, who loves justice and loves people, sent His son to pay the price for the sins of the people. How foolish to refuse such a gift offered with such a love.

Application: I am a person. I believe that Christ died for my sins and has forgiven me. I have been justified—made “just as if I’d” never sinned! Wow!!! I now have the privilege of a close relationship with God. God did not treat sin as though it was no big thing; I must not treat sin as though it is no big thing. (1John 1:8-10)

Prayer: Lord, you walk with me and you talk with me. And you tell me I am your own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known. (C.A. Miles) Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!