July 20, 2016: SOAP #2421: 2Chronicles 29-31; James 4

Scripture: 2Chronicles (NIV) 30:22 Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding of the service of the LORD. For the seven days they ate their assigned portion and offered fellowship offerings and praised the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Observation:  The previous king had abandoned the LORD God and worshipped the gods of the nations. Yet it seems the Levites kept themselves aware of their responsibilities. Perhaps they longed for the day a godly king would come to power and restore the worship of Jehovah. And now Hezekiah is king and he recognizes that the Levites had good understanding of their ministry. He encourages them.

Application: Although I am not the king, yet I too can speak encouragingly to people around me. When I see someone who is skillfully carrying out their assignments, I can bless and encourage them by expressing my appreciation.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, make me aware of those serving around me. Use me to bless and encourage them. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 19, 2016: SOAP #2420: 2Kings 17; 2Chronicles 28; Psalm 46; James 3

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 46:7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah … 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Observation:  In an email I received from Peggy Musgrove: “I have always liked the refrains in Psalm 46 which say “The God of Jacob is our refuge.” Had it said, “the God of Abraham” I might have been intimidated because Abraham was the man of great faith. “The God of Isaac” would also be intimidating because Isaac seems to me to be the perfect example of Christ. But “the God of Jacob” — -Jacob was so much like the rest of us. If God can love Jacob surely He can love me. So glad to be reminded that God talked with Jacob.”     God gave the same promise to Jacob that He gave to Abraham and Isaac.

Application: The God of Jacob is my God too! He is with me! I share the same promise of eternal life as all the great saints in history. I should walk with great humility.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help my finite mind to grasp the infinite promises You have given me. My I live in humble appreciation for Your Presence and what You have in store for me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 18, 2016: SOAP #2419: Isaiah 32-35; James 2

Scripture: James (NIV) 2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Observation:    The issue is value and respect.

Application: First: Man was created in the image and likeness of God. I should value and respect people for they carry His image and likeness.

Second: I have seen works of art that were beautiful in my eyes, but they were not worth nearly as much as another that did not appeal to me nearly as much. The difference was the artist. The value was based on the painter. And so it is with people. I should value and respect every person based on His Creator.

Third: The value of our home is based on what someone was will to pay for a similar home in a similar neighborhood. And so it is with people. Their value is based on what someone paid. I should value and respect every person according to what God the Father paid for their redemption.

Fourth: Some things are more valuable because of what they contain. Ore that contains gold has more value than ore that contains copper. And so it is with people. I should value and respect people in whom Christ dwells by His Spirit based on my value of God’s Presence.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, remind me of these thoughts when I need them most. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 17, 2016: SOAP #2418: Isaiah 29-31; James 1

Scripture: James (NIV) 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

Observation:  Our mouth and our words are a very important part of our religion. We enter our relationship with God by our words. Romans 10:10 says “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” 1John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Although not the only expression of our faith, words are commonly the first expression. James tells us that our words are important as we continue in our relationship with God.

Application: My words are a window through which others can see into my soul.  My words reveal my attitudes and my priorities.   My words bring the thoughts of my heart out into the open.   (Matthew 12:34)

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help my words not to be a quick response to what is happening around me, but a sure expression of Your Presence within me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 16, 2016: SOAP #2417: Isaiah 25-28; Hebrews 13

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 13:14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Observation: A lot of effort has gone into digging up the ruins of cities once filled with people. They try to learn about the people who lived in the city and the culture of their time. In looking at everything they can discover; they can overlook the most obvious thing: the city did not last. The economy changed, the rulers changed, the people changed and the city was overgrown by its environment. Cities may outlast their inhabitants but on earth there is no “enduring city.”

God who created man with an eternal soul also created eternal destinations to which we will go when we die. We can go to a place of eternal judgment (hell) or eternal bliss (heaven). The child of God has citizenship in an eternal city, the New Jerusalem. They have something special for which to look forward!

Application: The house in which I live is temporal. The city in which I live is not an “enduring city.” The government under which I live will not last. My only hope is in Jesus. He has prepared a mansion for me in the New Jerusalem, the eternal city.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, when I get frustrated with my house, my government, remind me that this world is not my home.   I am looking for a city whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:10) Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 15, 2016: SOAP #2416: Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men…

Observation: The command to make every effort to live at peace with those around me suggests that at time it may be impossible to do so. “Every effort” implies that one is quick to forgive and to not hold grudges. “Every effort” would mean that this problem has been a subject of our prayers. It may mean gracious confrontation one on one. If necessary, that could be followed by a second confrontation accompanied with a trusted person who will evaluate the problem and faithfully tell me if I am part of the problem.

Application: There may be times when it is impossible to live peaceable with people around me, however it should never be because I did not make every effort to do so. Should there be no way to peace, may the Holy Spirit guide my thoughts, my words and my actions. May He give me strength to be gracious, causing Jesus to be seen in me. I must remember that my life is surrounded by a great many witnesses, (Hebrews 12:1) both in heaven and earth.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to live peaceable with those around me. Help me to be a quick forgiver and forgetter. Show me how to pass along to others the grace I have received from You. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 14, 2016: SOAP #2415: Isaiah 19-21; Hebrews 11

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Observation: What an amazing experience Enoch had. According to verse 5, it was because He pleased God.    How did Enoch please God? Verse 6 tells us it was by his faith. He believed that God exists and that he rewards those who are serious about getting to know him.

Application: Like Enoch, I also want to please God. I believe that God exists and that he values our relationship. I believe God speaks to me and is pleased that I try to put into words what He is saying to me.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep speaking to me. Help me to push aside things that interfere with hearing your voice. Help me be faithful to pass along what you are saying to me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 13, 2016: SOAP #2414: Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 10:3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, … 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

Observation: Because the sacrifices made under the Old Testament covenant could not free people from their sins, they served as an annual reminder of their sin. What a difference in the New Covenant! Jesus made one sacrifice which ended all the sacrifices required in the law of Moses! His sacrifice is not a reminder of our sins, it cleanses us from the sins!

Application: His death on the cross justifies me. It makes me clean “just-as-if-I’d” never sinned!   His sacrifice does not remind me of my sins—it helps me forget them.   He makes everything new. Walking as a new creation in Christ Jesus, the past becomes like something we once read in a book.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for what you help me remember, AND for what you help me forget! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 12, 2016: SOAP #2413: Isaiah 11-14; Hebrews 9

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Observation:  The Old Testament law required an animal blood sacrifice as a temporary payment for sin. However, the blood of animals could never serve as an atonement for the sins of man. A sufficient sacrifice could only be made by a man who had never sinned. The only one who met that criteria was the Son of Man, Jesus the Christ, God’s Son sent to live fully as a man and to make the required blood sacrifice. His sacrifice honored the faith of all Old Testament believers making animal sacrifices and the faith of New Testament believers trusting His sacrifice to be the payment for their sins.

Application: Many people do not appreciate the necessity of a blood sacrifice because they do not appreciate the evilness of sin. When I appreciate the terribleness of sin and its consequences I truly appreciate the blood sacrifice of Jesus as payment for my sins.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, mere words cannot express adequate appreciation for the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus. I dedicate my life to live for you as He lived. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 11, 2016: SOAP #2412: Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 8:1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.

Observation: The preceding context tells us of the perfect high priest, one who would never need to be replaced, one who makes himself to be the perfect sacrifice on our behalf, and one who intercedes for us.

Application: The verse above tells me that is exactly what I have!   Jesus has completed His sacrifice and is now seated at the majestic throne in glory! From that place of honor, He is interceding for me before the highest court in all creation!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus to be the sacrifice I needed. Thank you for hearing his intercession on my behalf. I am so unworthy, but so thankful. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!