December 21, 2015:  SOAP #2209:  

Scripture:  John (NIV) 10:14 [Jesus speaking] “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—  15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Observation:   Jesus is the good shepherd; He knows His sheep, not just knows about them.  His sheep know Him; not just know about Him.  Jesus is the good shepherd.  He does more for the sheep than the sheep can do for Him!  He does so much for them that their service in return is a response of thanksgiving and love.

Application:   People today need to be careful about who they follow.  Good leaders do not just use their followers to build their own kingdoms.  Good leaders are willing to lay down their lives for their followers.  Good leaders know their followers and their followers know them.  It is more than what is available on a TV screen or through a web site.

Prayer:   Lord, You are the Good Shepherd!  I am glad I can say as the Psalmist said, “You are ‘my shepherd.’”  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 20, 2015:  SOAP #2208:  

Scripture:  John (NIV) 7:51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?”

Observation:   The Temple Guards had been sent to arrest Jesus but had returned to the Chief Priest and Pharisees to report they had no reason to arrest him.  It made them angry but one of them, Nicodemus, had the above question.  In our nation we have had several such incidents recently.  A young serviceman supposedly held by the enemy was traded for war prisoners we were holding; he was brought home as a hero but now charges of treason are being considered!  Also, several recent incidents involved police officers who were publically accused of wrong doing, yet investigations showed differently.  In another the jury could not reach a clear decision.  Our leaders look foolish.

Application:   I must examine myself:  do I condemn others without hearing their side of the story?  It is so easy to jump to conclusions.  It is easy to go along with the public.  It is so easy to copy someone’s Facebook post without checking for the truth.  (Matthew 18:15-20 are the scriptural guidelines I should follow.)

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, stir in my spirit when I start to condemn someone without personally checking it out.  Make me an instrument of peace and not division.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 19, 2015:  SOAP #2207:  

Scripture:  John (NIV) 5:44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?

Observation:   Many enjoy the praise that comes from their family, friends, and fellow workers.  Some work hard to win their praise.  How foolish to seek, listen to, and accept that praise yet make no effort to earn the praise that comes from God.
Praise from men is temporary, its effects last for only a short time.  If that is what one seeks, they will need to seek it again tomorrow, and then again the next day.  Praise from God has eternal consequences!
Praise from men can be biased.  People often see what they want to see.  Their praise may be tainted in a good way or bad way.  God’s praise is always proper and according to reality.  Praise from God is of great value!

Application:   May my life be an example of one who likes the praise of God more than the praise of men.  To gain His praise, it will be necessary for me to know what pleases Him.  I need to know why He likes what He likes.  I need to know what He thinks is important.

Prayer:   Lord, I want to make a good effort to obtain the praise that comes from you.  I want to know you. –to know all about you. –to know your likes and dislikes.  –to know what brings you joy.  –to excel in loving and pleasing you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 18, 2015:  SOAP #2206:  

Scripture:  John (NIV) 4: 28  Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29  “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”… 39  Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”… 42  They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Observation:   She had come to get water but her time with Jesus changed her.  She had to tell someone.  The water could wait.  The jar she had carried to the well was left behind as she went off to tell others.  Her enthusiasm brought others to Jesus.  Once they met Jesus, they too were convinced.

Application:  When was the last time my enthusiasm for Jesus caused me to forget why I was there?  When was the last time my love for Jesus caused others to want to know Him too?   Was I so focused on the purpose for which I was at that location that I did not take time for Jesus to reveal Himself to me? …or reveal Himself through me?

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep reminding me that pleasing Jesus and being an instrument of His grace is the reason for my life.  It is the reason we live in Andover.  It is the reason I drive a school bus.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 17, 2015:  SOAP #2205:

Scripture:  2Peter (NIV) 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. …  14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Observation:   A great concern in our nation is about the 2016 elections.  People and businesses try to know who the new president will be and how he will govern.  But One is coming who will set up the Kingdom of God.  With His reign comes judgment.  Peter asks the logical question: “What kind of people ought you to be?”  So many people today call themselves Christians, yet seem to have no concern that Jesus is soon to return.  They are careless with their language, their conversations, their Facebook posts, their friends, their schedule, etc.

Application:  I need to take this verse to heart and ask myself, “What kind of person should I be?”   It is easy to be careless and allow my guard to drop.  The verse above says I should live “holy and godly.”

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I need your help to live “holy and godly” in this world.  Work in my life to make it a priority.  Please keep me from being careless.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 16, 2015:  SOAP #2204:  

Scripture:  1Peter (NIV) 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Observation:   Satan is on the prowl.  He is out looking for people he can control.  He is looking for people who are spiritually asleep and not alert.  To resist the devil, one needs to first identify him—recognize who he is.  One needs to have a firm foundation.  And it is good to know that we are not alone in our struggle against Satan.

Application:   I should not be surprised by the devil’s attacks.  He is prowling around looking for someone to attack.  I should not be surprised because I am to be alert and paying attention to what is happening around me.   I can take heart in knowing that others are experiencing the same attacks.  I am not to wish him away; I am to resist him!  If I follow Jesus example, I speak to him; I speak the Word to Him.  The better I know the Word, the better I am prepared to resist the devil.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, when I am involved in a struggle with the devil, bring the Word back to my remembrance.  Put thoughts into my mind as I pray and resist him.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 14, 2015:  SOAP #2203:  

Scripture:  James (NIV) 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

Observation:   Earlier (James 1:5) tells us that if we lack wisdom we should ask of God who gives it generously.  Here James tells us that wisdom comes with humility.  Recognizing the source of their wisdom, wise people will be humble, not smugly boasting as though they are so smart.  They will acknowledge their wisdom comes from God.  Humility is an outward expression of wisdom that can be seen by others.

Application:  If I am the reservoir of my wisdom, then there is a limit to how much wisdom is available to me.   BUT if God is the reservoir—then there is no limit to the wisdom he can channel through me.  If I am truly wise, I will be humble.

Prayer:   Lord, help me to be a channel of Your wisdom! And may all the wisdom you give me be used for Your glory and the good of others. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 14, 2015:  SOAP #2202:   

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.  16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.         

Observation:   My interest is alerted when I see verses about pleasing God.  Knowing God, it should be very normal to want to please Him.  And where can one find better information on pleasing God than in His word, the Bible.  So these verses caught my attention.

Application:     For something to be a sacrifice, it must cost me something.  A sacrifice of praise is the fruit of my lips, not the fruit of my circumstances.   It is praising God because He is worthy, in spite of the difficult time I am experiencing.  Doing good and sharing with others involves going out of my way to do something for the good of someone else.  It may cost me more or take more time than I want to give.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, pleasing you is high priority.  Thank you for verses in the Bible that show me how to please you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 12, 2015:  SOAP #2200:

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Observation:   In the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, the High Priest would take the sacrifice for the sins of the people behind the curtain into the Holiest of Holies to present it before God on behalf of the people.  This had to be done every year on the day of atonement because the blood of animals did not cover the sins of man.  Those sacrifices were made in faith that God would one day provide a sacrifice that would indeed cover sin.  The blood of Jesus, the sinless man, in His death on the cross, was sufficient to cover the sins of man and needed only be made once!  Wow!

Application:  Jesus went before me and on my behalf.  He went before me because He is expecting me to follow Him!  He went on my behalf to do for me what I could not do for myself!

Prayer:   Lord, thank you for covering my sins so completely that I can stand unashamedly in the presence of a Holy God!  What an amazing sacrifice you made on my behalf!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 11, 2015:  SOAP #2199:  

Scripture:  Philemon (NIV) 4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.

Observation:   Someone had been talking about Philemon.  But instead of spreading gossip and bad news, they had been spreading good news.  Paul had heard the good reports about Philemon, about his faith and his care for all the saints.  Those reports caused thanks to God from Paul.  If someone had not passed along a good report, Paul would not have given thanks to God for Philemon.

Application:  I want to be the middle man who spreads good reports to my brothers and sisters about my brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep me focused on what You are doing in and through my brothers and sisters in the Lord.  May I always be ready to give a good report.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!