February 17, 2016:  SOAP #2267:   

Scripture:  Numbers (NIV) 1:1 The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: 2 “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.”

Observation:   God was not satisfied with how many there were.  He wanted them listed individually.  He wanted their names listed.  The number was important to God—that is why He had them count.  Every individual was important to God—that is why He had each name listed!

Application:  It is easy to rush by people, seeing them as a mass.  I must remember that God sees them as individuals.  Each has a name.  Each one is important.  God wants each of their names to be written in His book.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, when I get to moving so fast that I cannot see the individuals around me, slow me down.  Help me to love individuals as Jesus loves them. May their names be important to me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!