September 19, 2016: SOAP #2482:  Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 2:7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

Observation:    Jesus’ birthday was not marked as a special day on the calendar.   The shepherds were just taking care of their daily responsibilities.  They had not awakened that morning and looked at their calendar and saw something special was going to happen.  They did not stay awake waiting for the announcement, wondering why it was taking so long. They were just being faithful doing their normal routine.  God interrupted their normal routine.  The shepherds who had taken the night off to be somewhere else, missed out!

Application:   It is good to be faithful where God has placed me.  Sometimes it is appealing to go to another church that is more exciting but being faithful to my home church has great rewards.  I expect my mail to come to my mail box.  If I am looking for a letter, I do not go to my neighbor’s mail box.  If I am looking for a word from God, I should expect God to send it through my home church.

Prayer:   Lord, two things I pray:  help me be faithful to where you have placed me AND help me to have faith that you will speak to me there!  May I go to church expecting to hear from you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!