November 20, 2016: SOAP #2544:  Matt 5-7

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 5:41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.  42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Observation:    Very likely, some of the people to whom Jesus was speaking had been forced by Roman soldiers to carry the soldier’s load.  Jesus tells them to not only doing what was required, but to do more.  Instead of complaining about the interruption of being required to carry the load, they were to consider how thy might be even more of a blessing—even to the point of carrying the load an extra mile.

Application:   When my day is interrupted by an unscheduled request for help, I should not only help willingly and cheerfully, but see if there is any further way I can be of help.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, find me your cheerful servant willing to go the second mile to help those around me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 19, 2016: SOAP #2543:  Matt 1-4

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 2:10 When they [the Magi] saw the star, they were overjoyed.  11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Observation:    The Wise Men [Magi] had been following the star for long months.  They had followed it to Israel.  It seems to have disappeared and so they went to the obvious place a King of the Jews would be born—to the palace in Jerusalem.  They had come to worship Him.  Herod referred their question to the religious leaders who searched the scriptures and discovered that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.  So, they head off to Bethlehem; and there it was!  When they “saw the star,” they were overjoyed!  But when they “saw the child” they bowed down and worshipped.

Application:  The trappings of the Christmas season can bring me joy.  I can enjoy looking at the lights and decorations.  But if I do not spend time in His presence, I will miss the whole meaning of Christmas.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, during this coming Christmas season, keep my focus on Jesus.  Help me to recognize His presence everywhere.  May it be a season of worship. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 18, 2016: SOAP #2542:  Ps 124, 2Cor 11-13

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 13:11 Finally, brothers, good-bye. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Observation:   Paul is now closing his letter with a few short remarks.  “Aim for perfection” caught my attention.

Application:   I am so thankful that my salvation depends on His work and not my works.  My proper response to His great love and sacrifice for me should be to do the best I can.  After all God has done for me, I should never take a “good enough will do” attitude about what I do for Him.   To honor God, I should “aim for perfection” and do my best for Him.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, may my attitude and the things I do for you bring joy to your heart.  May the things I do and the way I do them glorify you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 17, 2016: SOAP #2541:  2Cor 7-10

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Observation:  In this passage, and its context, Paul is dealing with money.  He is collecting an offering to send to the church in Jerusalem.  God is the one who provides us “seed” to be sown (money to be given) AND “bread for food” (money to be used for living.)  As we are faithful in sowing the seed, He is faithful to “increase the store of seed.”  He enables us to be “generous on every occasion.”

Application:  I must be careful to recognize what money God has provided for food and what for seed.  If I eat my seed, I will not be able to plant the seed and so will not be able to reap the harvest the seed could provide.  Many years ago, the seed started as a small amount, but each harvest season it has increased.  God is faithful!  NOTE:  It concerns me when I hear people and ministries using these verses to convince me to give to their support.  I think they should be sowing their seed and expecting God to “increase their store of seed.” Then they can encourage me with their testimonies of God’s faithfulness.  (Paul was not using these truths to build his own financial support.)

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, find me faithful in using the money you have provided for me and my ministries.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 16, 2016: SOAP #2540:  2Corinthians 3-6

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 6:3 We put no stumbling-block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.  4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;…in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6  in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;…9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything… 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.  13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

Observation:   How did Paul respond when those he loved and served did not recognize and appreciate his love?  How did he respond when those he considered as his “children” seemed to push him away?   In verse 4 above, Paul saw himself as a “servant of God.”  His priority was not in how people accepted him, but in how God approved his life and actions.  Hearing God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” (Matthew 25:21) was more important to Paul than the acclamations of those he dearly loved.

Application:  Being a faithful servant and desiring my Lord’s approval is more important than man’s approval, even the approval of those I love.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me keep my priorities always in view.  Help me keep my focus on the big picture and the prize ahead.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 15, 2016: SOAP #2539:  Job 41, 42; 2Corinthians 1, 2

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

Observation:   The word “fragrance” caught my attention as I was reading this passage.  A fragrance, be it gentle or overpowering spreads throughout a room and fills every corner.  Everyone in the room becomes aware of that fragrance.  Not only does it spread, it lingers.  Even after its source has been removed, the atmosphere of the room is still affected.

Application:   May the awareness of the presence of Jesus in my life be noticeable by everyone in whatever room I may enter.  And may the awareness of the presence of Jesus continue even after I am gone from the room.    I see this fragrance mainly coming from the presence of fresh fruit—fresh fruit of the Spirit, i.e.  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, may fresh fruit be easily recognized in my life.  May Your presence in my life have a lingering effect on those around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 14, 2016: SOAP #2538:  Psalm 149; 1Corinthians 15, 16

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 15:45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.  46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.  47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.

Observation:    In these verses we see Jesus described in two different ways.  First He is called the “last Adam.”  And two verses later He is called the “second man.”  It is notable to see that He is not called a “second Adam.”  For in Christ, the line of Adam ends; and in Christ a new man begins.

Application:   God is doing a new thing in me as I am in Christ Jesus.  I have been cut off from the life of Adam and now have as my life source the One Who has already defeated all the temptation that defeated Adam!  The life within me is not being tested, it has already been tested and proved victorious!    My challenge is to hear and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit within me—to say “Yes” to the Spirit and “No” to the flesh.  The more I pay attention to the voice of the Spirit, the easier it is to ignore the callings of the flesh.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you that you were tempted in every way like myself and you have already proved victorious.  Thank you that you were tempted while living on this earth as the Son of Man.  Thank you that Your Victorious Life at this moment lives in me!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 13, 2016: SOAP #2537:  Job 39, 40; 1Corinthians 13, 14

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 13:7 It [Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  8 Love never fails….

Observation:    This love, agape love, is more than “like,” or a “good feeling,” or “attraction,” or a “desire.”   It is a commitment to do what is best for the other no matter what the personal cost.  It is putting other’s needs before our own.  That is the kind of love that God has for us.  His love has four “always” and one “never.”  Like His grace, it is amazing!

Application:    Jesus wants me to love others as He loved me.  He said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)

Prayer:   Jesus, You know I cannot love like this in my own power.  I need you to come and love through me.  Make my life a channel through which your love flows to others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 12, 2016: SOAP #2536:  Job 37, 38; 1Corinthians 12

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 12:20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”… 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

Observation:   Paul uses our physical body to teach us about the church, known as the body of Christ.  Every part needs the other parts AND is needed by the other parts!

Application:   Truth:  God has made me a member of the body of Christ in the same way my hand or foot is a part of my physical body.  First application:  Obviously, I cannot be a loner Christian.  Second application:  Other members of the body need my service.  Third application:  I need the service of other members.  Fourth application:  Life flows to me from the other members to whom I am attached.  Being faithful to where God has attached me is critical.

Prayer:   Lord, I am placed in the body by your design. May you find me faithful ministering to others and receiving ministry from others.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 11, 2016: SOAP #2535:  Psalm 122; 1Corinthians 9-11

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 10:24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others…. 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Observation:   In the second chapter of Genesis, God says, “It is not good that man should be alone.”  Of course, God was referring to making a companion who would meet man on his level.  But God made differences in man and woman so that children could be born in their likeness.  Clearly God’s plan for man is that we live in community with others.    Paul’s letter to the Corinthians makes relationships a priority.

Application:   God will not allow me to carry an attitude of doing what I want to do no matter how it affects others.  In honoring God, my goal is to serve others, not to offend others.  God wants to use my life for the benefit of others.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, it is an honor to serve You by serving people who carry Your likeness and image.  May I bring you joy today by being a blessing to others. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!