June 10: Song of Solomon 1-4; Ephesians 6

Ever Ready!

Scripture: Ephesians 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Observation: It is not enough to just know about the armor of God, or to have studied it. It is not enough to have it handy, nearby. It must be “put on.” We must be wearing it. We must be walking in it. The next verse tells us the belt must be “buckled” and the breast plate of righteousness “in place.” The belt is not to be hanging on the back of a door in the closet. The breastplate of righteousness is not to be sitting on the floor near the door.

Application: As we patrolled the DMZ (demilitarized zone) between North and South Viet Nam we were always alert and ready. I do not recall the company commander or platoon leader spending a lot of time reminding us to keep our flak jackets on or our weapons cleaned and ready. We never knew when we would encounter the enemy. We had to live ready. I must learn to walk with that same awareness when it comes to my spiritual life.

Prayer: Lord, help me keep spiritually alert and well prepared for any temptation the enemy brings my way. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 9: Ecclesiastes 10-12; Psalm 94; Ephesians 5

In this same way…

Scripture: Ephesians 4:28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Observation: The Bible does not give husbands any wiggle room. They are commanded to love their wives. They have a choice to marry, but once married they do not have a choice about loving their wife. The Bible does not just command husbands to love their wives; it clearly gives an example to follow. Three verses earlier it reads: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her! It is a love of commitment and sacrifice. It is also a love with great rewards! Just ask Jesus!

Application: I have found that the last part of verse 28 is as true as the rest of the Bible. One of the best things I can do for myself is to love my wife. Other than lead them to Jesus, it is the best thing I can do for my children.

Prayer: Lord, your love for me is a great example of how I am to love Sharon. Love her through me today. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 8: Ecclesiastes 7-9; Ephesians 4

All for His glory!

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 4:1 ¶ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2 ¶ Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Observation: Paul, going through a hard time in prison, is writing to others going through their own hard times. He is aware that their lives are being observed by those around them on earth and in the heavenly realms. (Note: yesterday’s SOAP.) He is encouraging them to live in a way to bring glory to Christ Jesus who is obviously worthy. In chapter 4, Paul begins to list specific things that will bring glory to God.

Application: All of the nice details of a car (such as radio, windshield wipers, mirrors, bumpers, etc.) mean nothing if the tires that touch the road do not move. All the truth about God I claim to believe means nothing if it does not affect how I live my daily life. After all, faith without works, is dead!

Prayer: Lord, may your presence in my life be easily seen. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 7: Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalm 18; Ephesians 3

My purpose – on view!

Scripture: Ephesians 3:10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation: What an exciting thought that God is using the church to demonstrate His wisdom. His wisdom may not always be clear to us, for we do not see everything clearly. But the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms had a great view of the history of God in creation and Satan’s involvement in the fall of man. They viewed the crucifixion and the birth of the church. Now, they can view the wisdom of God in His working in the church.

The main character in the book of Job was unaware of the heavenly audience watching how he dealt with suffering he did not understand.

Hebrews 12:1 mentions the “great cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us.

Application: Sometimes I get to feeling like the world revolves around me. WRONG! I am to live my life in such a way that shows God’s wisdom, not just to the people around me, but also to the rulers and authorities in heavenly realms. My life on the floor of this grand arena we call earth is viewed by those in the heavens. The purpose of my life is that His glory may be easily seen in me.

Prayer: “In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified. In my Life, Lord, be glorified today.” (Bob Kilpatrick) Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 6: Ecclesiastes 1-3; Psalm 45: Ephesians 2

Jesus has company!

Scripture: Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Observation: Yesterday I saw that the One who is “far above” all rulers and authority lives in me. The fact that He lives in me means that I too am in that place “far above.” And here in chapter 2 of Ephesians, Paul verifies it. We have been raised up with Christ and seated with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Jesus is not alone seated in the “heavenly realms.” NOTE: I have heard it said of a president or a king that they are a “sitting president” or the “sitting king” not referring to being seated on a piece of furniture but meaning that they presently hold that office. So in the temporary physical world we may be walking on the earth or lying in a hospital bed, but in the permanent spiritual world we are “in Christ” and “seated in heavenly realms!”

Application: The chorus I learned from Missionary Naomi Doude is true: “Keep looking down; keep looking down; from the heights where the glory does abound; for you are seated in heavenly places with the King; who are you to be moved by anything!” No wonder the devil wants me to forget about this truth. Jesus has company; I am seated with Him! Now that should keep a smile on my face!!!

Prayer: Lord, you have wonderfully blest me. Today, keep reminding me of who I am, whose I am, and where I am. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 4: Proverbs 28-29; Psalm 60; Romans 16

Giving appreciation

Scripture: Romans 16:14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them.
15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.

Observation: As Paul closes his letter to the Romans, he mentions many people by name. These are people with whom he has had contact in the past and are now living in Rome. They will either be present when this letter is read, or the people present will know them and can pass along his greeting. Mentioning them by name is Paul’s way of appreciating these people. He is saying I remember what you have done, and you are important to me.

Application: It is good for me to take opportunities to appreciate people. I can do it in person or with a letter or email. I can also do it by asking another to convey my appreciation. This increases the appreciation because others become aware of it and are involved it passing it along. It lets the one I appreciate know that people are speaking good things about them.

Prayer: Lord, I want everyone to know how much I appreciate you! Show me ways to express my appreciation to others. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 3: Proverbs 25-27; Romans 15

Unity in me!

Scripture: Romans 15: 5 ¶ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,
6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation: Not only is as important as endurance and encouragement, it also has the same source. It comes from God! God wants me to endure; God wants me to be encouraged; and God wants me to live in unity with my brothers and sisters.

Application: If I am to have one heart and mouth with others in the body of Christ, I must have one heart and mouth within my own body. There should be unity between the faith in my heart and the words in my mouth. I need to listen to myself talk and then ask myself, “Is that what I really believe?” Is my mouth being directed by the faith in my heart or running off some carnal response.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, set a guard by my mouth. May there be unity with what I believe and how I speak. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 2: Proverbs 22-24; Romans 14

Acting in Love

Scripture: Romans 14:14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.

Observation: I am beginning to understand that the invisible basis for the Old Testament law was love expressed in restraining our mistreatment of others. The basis for the New Testament commandments is also love, love that can be seen by what we do. It is an emphasis on the “do’s” rather than the “do not’s.” The “do not lie” becomes “do speak the truth humbly and kindly.” The “do not covet” becomes “do help them and rejoice in their blessings.”

Application: The emphasis of love is not on how I expect others to treat me, but on how I treat others. If people do not love me perfectly, I can still rejoice and love them because the Source of Perfect Love lives in me! With Jesus living inside His love fills my heart and overflows to others. My love for others is not a response to their love for me, but a response to His love for me!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me. May your love in me be visible in how I treat others. Amen.

NOTE: to the Senior Citizens in the church today, I think Paul may have written, “Do not by your insistence on the music of your generation destroy the younger brothers and sisters for whom Christ died.” As they mature they will need to learn this lesson we should have already learned. Let us show them how to gracefully apply this truth.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 1: Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13

An Inside Job

Scripture: Romans 13:9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Observation: One could say that the law was given to us to protect our neighbors from evil in our hearts. The law does not judge our thoughts, but the actions that may come from those thoughts. When the Spirit of God lives inside and helps us control our inner thoughts, we no longer need the law controlling our outward actions.

Application: The Spirit of the Loving and Holy God living within me now works on the inside. I do not have to focus on the law that says, “do not commit murder.” The Spirit works on my thoughts and helps me love the one I once wanted to kill. The Holy Spirit helps me lovingly give to the one from whom I once wanted to steal. His work on the inside helps me fulfill the law on the outside.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, how I appreciate your presence! Without you I would unable to live a life that pleases my Heavenly Father. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!