August 21, 2016: SOAP #2453:  Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1John 2

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:  6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Observation:  John, the author of the Gospel of John, is here writing a short letter to the church encouraging them to continue in a loving relationship with their Heavenly Father and with the other members of the church.  To his fellow believers he writes about current sins.  He tells them that the same sacrifice that paid for our past sins also is available to cover our present sins!   There is only one atoning payment for sin—the blood of Jesus. (1John 1:7)

Application:   Appreciation for what it cost Jesus to pay for my sins motivates me to stop sinning.   Thankfulness that His great sacrifice covers past and current sins overflows my heart.  It finds expression in my prayers and my conversations with those around me.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to make the only sacrifice that could pay for my sins.  May my appreciation and thankfulness be easily seen by others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 20, 2016: SOAP #2452:  Jeremiah 48-49; Psalm 67; 1John 1

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Observation:   What does God want?  He wants a church that is pure.  Of course that is impossible because “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)    But wait!   God’s Son made a sacrifice that has more value than all the sins that have ever been committed and will ever be committed!!!  It becomes effective for everyone who “walks in the light” and “confesses their sins.”

Application:   The blood of Jesus purifies me from ALL SIN!   When I confess my sins, he faithfully forgives me and purifies me from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS!  My Heavenly Father is faithful to honor the death of His Son as more than sufficient payment for ALL MY SINS!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, my appreciation starts with saying, “Thanks.”  But it does not stop there.  It continues with the dedication of ALL MY LIFE to honor You!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 19, 2016: SOAP #2451:  Jeremiah 45-47; Psalm 105; John 21

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 105:40 They asked, and he brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. John (NIV) 21:9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Observation:   In the Psalms 105 we read of God’s mighty deliverance for the nation of Israel.  Among the many miracles God performed was the provision of the daily manna and the time when so many quail flew near the camp that the Israelites were able to get all they wanted.  (Numbers 11)    Then the daily reading takes us to John 21.  We see Emmanuel (God with us), the post-resurrection Jesus going to where the disciples were fishing.  The One who brought the quail to the Israelites now gathers the fish to the disciples’ boat.  And when they brought all the fish to the shore, what did they find?  They found that Jesus already had fish and bread on the fire!

Application:   What God did for the Israelites as they crossed the wilderness in the Old Testament days; what Jesus did for the disciples as they were fishing in New Testament days: God can do for me in these days!   As Stewart Hamblin wrote: “It is no secret what God can do; what He’s done for others He’ll do for you.”        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=472ap1E4LTY  Look at what God can do! 

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, it is true.  I know your wisdom, love, power and ability have not changed.  You are the same today as you were then!  I am so glad!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 18, 2016: SOAP #2450:  Jeremiah 26, 35-36; John 20

Scripture:  John (NIV) 20:15 “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).  17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”  18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Observation:   Mary’s emotions had so quickly changed from grief to ecstatic joy!  Jesus then gave her a task, “Go and tell…”  Would she do it?  Of course she would!   I can easily imagine the excitement in her voice as she told the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”  This was personal.  She had seen Jesus!

Application:   How sad it is when our testimony becomes stale.  In walking with Jesus, we should have something fresh to share with others every day.  This is what God said today!   This is what God did today!  I’ve got to tell somebody!

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, keep me fresh in my relationship with Jesus and my testimony will also be fresh!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 17, 2016: SOAP #2449:  Jeremiah 23-25; John 19 

Scripture:  John (NIV) 19:16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.

Observation:   They took charge of Jesus, but were they really in charge?  In this very chapter, four prophetic words are fulfilled.  Obviously, they were not in charge.  They were merely fulfilling prophecies from the book of Psalms and Zechariah (those mentioned in John 19.)

Application:   Jesus was in the perfect center of His Father’s will, yet he was enduring great suffering.  Suffering is not always an indicator that I am out of God’s will.   Hardship and suffering provide unique opportunities to demonstrate the level of my commitment to Jesus.   Sometimes those causing my greatest troubles have been put in their place by my Heavenly Father who is wanting me to grow deeper in my commitment and higher in my appreciation for His grand purpose.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, I trust you!  Your plan goes far beyond what I can see.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 16, 2016: SOAP #2448:  2Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Ps 112; John 18

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 112:4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.  5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.

Observation:   The promise is not that the righteous will not have dark days, but that in those times light will dawn to drive back the darkness.

Application:  When the days are dark, I must life my eyes to the horizon and look for the light!    When the light begins to shine in the darkness just before morning, I know the sky will soon fill with light.

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, keep reminding me to look for the dawning light.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 15, 2016: SOAP #2447:  Jeremiah 18-20; Psalm 93; John 17

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 93 3 The seas have lifted up, O LORD,         the seas have lifted up their voice;         the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.  4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,          mightier than the breakers of the sea          —the LORD on high is mighty.

Observation:  Sharon and I were recently blest to spend a couple of nights on the Oregon coast and listen to the never ending crashing waves.  In the 48 hours or so we were there, never once was there a break in the waves.  They were continually coming and going.  A wave would break on the shore then flow back into the sea.  The coming wave would mount over the returning water and then crash into the beach.   It was an endless cycle.   As long as we were there, it never ceased.  It continues today.  At this moment there are waves breaking on the shore.

Application:  In my 50+ years of knowing God, there has never been a break in His goodness.  His love and holiness have never changed.   Sometimes they are like a storm, and sometimes like a calm sea, but His faithfulness continues.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, you are mighty.  You are more powerful than the waves of the sea and You are more faithful than the waves.  You never cease working in the lives of mankind.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 14, 2016: SOAP #2446:  Jeremiah 16-17; Psalm 96; John 16

Scripture:  Jeremiah (NIV) 16:14 “However, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when men will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’  15 but they will say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ For I will restore them to the land I gave to their forefathers

Observation:   In the days of the Gospels and the Book of Acts, one can find many references to God’s great miracle working power in delivering Israel from Egypt.  But those who are alive today do not have to go all the way back to the book of Exodus to see God’s had at work in Israel.  We need only to look at 1948 when Israel was re-birthed as a nation and people came from all over the planet to the homeland God gave the Jews.  (Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 15:7 and 18-21)

Application:   If I ever think that God does not keep His promises, I need to just consider Israel.  If I ever think that God cannot work out the circumstances surrounding my live, I need to just consider Israel.  If I ever doubt God’s concern in the affairs of man, I need to consider Israel.   Israel is a nation planted among the nations of the earth as a banner of testimony to God’s judgment on sin and willingness to restore.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, in your holiness you judged Israel for their backsliding; in your love you have and are restoring them.  If I ever doubt your desire to be involved in my life, bring Israel to my mind.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 13, 2016: SOAP #2445:  Jeremiah 13-15; John 15

Scripture:  John (NIV) 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Observation:   The law taught us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. (Matthew 7:12)   Jesus gave us the first and greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  The second command is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  (Matthew 22:39)   Here Jesus raises the bar.  We are to love each other AS HE loved us!!!

Application:  It is impossible for me to keep this command in my own strength.   If I am going to love others like Jesus loves me, I need Him to do His loving through me.   But that was His plan from the beginning.

Prayer:    Jesus, love though me today.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 12, 2016: SOAP #2444:  Jeremiah 10-12; John 14

Scripture:  John (NIV) 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Observation:   Jesus was speaking to his disciples just before going to the garden for prayer—the garden where he would be arrested, taken to trial and then crucified.  Instead of them speaking encouragement to Jesus, Jesus was speaking encouragement to them!  The word in the above verse that springs out to me, is the word “my.”  It is not the peace found in anything the world offers.  It is His peace.  It is the peace of His presence!  It is a deep, settled peace that passes understanding.  It is an inside peace that is greater than the outside storm.

Application:   With His inner peace, I can face the storms that come with living in a world that is falling apart.  I am depending on His peace; I am also depending on His strength and His wisdom.

Prayer:    Jesus, thank you for promising me Your peace!  The world’s peace in no way compares with what you give me.  May Your peace in me bring peace to others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!