July 07, 2016: SOAP #2408: Micah 5-7; Hebrews 7

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 7:16 one [Jesus] who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.

Observation: Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament priesthood not because he descended from the tribe of Levi, for he came through the tribe of Judah. Hebrews mentions another priest who did not come from the line of Levi—Melchizedek, to whom Abraham gave a tithe before Levi was ever born. Jesus was not a priest because he had the right lineage, but because he had an indestructible life.

Application: I have hope in living a life pleasing to God, not because I am a good person, or because I know what the Bible says, or because my parents were Christians, but because the One with the indestructible life is living in me!!! He is my hope!

Prayer:   Jesus, thank you for living in me. Thank you for the hope and strength and wisdom you give me every day. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 09, 2016: SOAP #2410: Micah 1-4; Hebrews 6

Scripture: Micah (NIV) 4:11 But now many nations are gathered against you. They say, “Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!” 12 But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing-floor. 13 “Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hoofs of bronze and you will break to pieces many nations.” You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

Observation: The nations will gather against Israel. They will come expecting to destroy her. But they do not know the plans of the Lord. The Lord will turn the situation around; He will use Israel to punish their wickedness! God uses their hatred of Israel to draw them together and to one location where He can deal with them.

Application: As a child of God, I need never fear when circumstances are lined up against me. The world does not know the plans God has for me. There is no one like God to change things that others mean for my harm to work for my good.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of this truth. What the enemy means for evil, God plans to use for my good. May I never have more faith in satan’s ability to do me harm than in God’s ability to use it for my good. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 08, 2016: SOAP #2409: Hosea 13-14; Psalm 100, 102; Hebrews 5

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 102:25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. 27 But you remain the same, and your years will never end.

Observation: This verse informs me that the Creator will outlast His creation. What an amazing Creator! He remains the same; His years will never end! He is as old now as He will ever be. He is as young now as He has ever been. This earth was not created to last forever. We are told there will be a new heaven and a new earth. (Revelation 21:1) Like clothing is to be worn, the earth is to be used. Like clothing should be properly cared for to prolong its usefulness, the earth’s resources should not be wasted. But like clothing that will wear out and need to be replaced, the earth will wear out and God will replace it. No one understands the limitations of this earth more than its Creator!   He understands fault lines and pressure. He understands weather patterns. He understands sink holes and rogue waves.

Application: People who do not know our Creator may become concerned that we will use up the resources of the earth. But those of us who know our Creator know that He has sufficient resources for everything He has planned. And we can joyfully anticipate the new heavens and earth that He is preparing for us!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, your plans were made before this earth was created and extend long after this earth will have served its purpose as a living and preparation place for your church. I trust your plans. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 07, 2016: SOAP #2408: Hosea 10-12; Psalm 73; Hebrews 4

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 73:27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.   28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Observation:  Truth affects everyone. No one can escape God’s Holiness. No one can escape having to answer to God. The Psalmist recognized that everyone “far” from God would answer to God and God would deal with each according to his actions.  The Psalmist also discovered truth of being “near” to God. It is good to share one’s life with God. God is an amazing refuge!

Application: Others may live as though God is far away, BUT AS FOR ME, I have discovered that it is “good to be near God.”   It is near to God where I find His fellowship. It is there He shares His wisdom. It is there He shares with me the little part I have in His big picture!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, as for me, it is good to be near you! It is better than good! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 06, 2016: SOAP #2407: Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

Observation: The Bible does not tell us how to feel, but often tells us how to think. The battle is often in our mind. We are to fix our thoughts on Jesus. We are to “consider attentively” Jesus.

Application:  I am not to try to think about Jesus, I am commanded to think about Jesus. I am to make a choice to think about Jesus. 1Peter 1:13 tells me to prepare my mind for action. Instead of letting circumstances crowd Jesus out of my thinking, I want my mind to be filled with an awareness of His Presence and what He would do in my current circumstances.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep reminding me today of how I am to be thinking. Guide me in taking proper steps to only think thoughts that would please you. You dwell in my heart and with my thoughts. Forgive me for allowing thoughts that make you uncomfortable. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 05, 2016: SOAP #2406: Hosea 2-5; Hebrews 2

Scripture: Hosea 3:4 For the Israelites will live for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or idol. 5 Afterwards the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days.

Observation: Since Israel became a nation in 1948, many Jews have returned to their homeland. The verse above does not say they will return and seek their homeland, but “return and seek the LORD their God and David their king.” I am thinking there is a great difference. I am thinking that we have yet to see the revival referred to in these verses.

Application: As elections are coming for the USA, we need to be careful what we seek. We should not be seeking candidates for office; we should not be seeking a president; we should be seeking the LORD God! God has not promised to save our government, but He has promised to save His church! God knows what is needed for His church to be ready.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you have not called me to be a recluse but you have called me to be salt and light in the world around me. I want to be seeking your face. I want to be hearing your heart. Then lead me to vote for the candidate who is most inclined to do your will. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 04, 2016: SOAP #2405: 2Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 1:10 He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

Observation: Here the author of Hebrews is quoting from Psalm 45:6. This is what God the Father is saying to Jesus, who is God, the Son. The things of earth are temporary; Jesus is eternal. The things of earth will wear out; Jesus will never show any sign of wearing out. Worldly garments will need to be changed; Jesus remains the same.

Application: The governments of nations change with each leader. Leaders either complete their allotted time in office, are voted out, are overthrown, or die.   Worldly governments will change; the government of the church remains the same. Citizens in the USA are wondering who will be their President in 2017; many citizens of countries around the world are wondering what kind of government will be in place in 2017; but no one is wondering who will be the head of the church in 2017! There is no doubt about it!

Prayer:   Jesus, I know that you will not be returning for a nation with the right government; you will be returning for your church! It is not the United States you will be taking to heaven; it is your church! Keep this truth prominent in my thinking and keep my heart steady. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 03, 2016: SOAP #2404: Isaiah 6-7; 2Chronicles 26-27; Philemon

Scripture: 2Chronicles (NIV) 27:6 Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God.

Observation: As a king, Jotham had many responsibilities, but He only had one priority.

Application: I too have many responsibilities, but only one priority; pleasing God with my whole heart. By this time in my life, I should have learned that lesson well, but it seems I must take a refresher course from time to time. What is the refresher course for this most important lesson? I am glad you asked. It is a good time of worship. That is why God is seeking worshippers (John 6:23) and not workers.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, continue to remind me of my priorities. Help me keep the main thing the main thing. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 02, 2016: SOAP #2403: Isaiah 4-5; Psalm 115-116; Jude

Scripture: Isaiah (NIV) 5:12 They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD, no respect for the work of his hands.

Observation:  They knew how to throw a good party, but they did not know how to honor the LORD!   They knew what to do to have a party, but they did not celebrate the many things God had done.

Application: These past three days, Sharon and I have driven from Kansas to Oregon. We have been surrounded by the work of God’s hands in all its beauty. The beauty of wheat fields ripening and being harvested. The beauty of snow-capped mountains. The beauty of broad valleys and narrow gorges.   The beauty of the clouds. And now we are enjoying the part of creation that bears His image—people!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, forgive me for not noticing and appreciating the beauty of your creation. The work of your hands continues to amaze me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 01, 2016: SOAP #2402: Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

Scripture: Titus (NIV) 3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no-one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility towards all men.
Titus 3:8 …devote themselves to doing what is good.
Titus 3:14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good…

Observation: Paul is closing his letter to Titus who has been left in Crete to set things in order in the church. The letter contains instructions for Titus in dealing with several problems. In this closing portion, three times Paul writes Titus that people should do “what is good.” Doing good should be a priority.

Application: Even Jesus “went around doing good,” (Acts 10:38)   Obviously “doing good” should be my priority. I should make a conscious effort to become aware of how I can “do good” today.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, poke my attention when I am confronted with an opportunity to “do good.” Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!