May 11, 2017: SOAP #2716: 2Samuel 19, 20; Psalm 55; Matthew 28

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 55:1 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; 2 hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught 3 at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger.

Observation:  Some pray to gods that cannot hear.  Some serve gods that do nothing to serve the worshippers.  How amazing to know and serve a God who hears, listens, understands, is available, is able, and is willing to help us!   If there is anyone we want to hear our prayers, it is God!

Later in the same chapter, the Psalmist continues:    Psalm (NIV) 55:16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.  17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.  18 He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

Application:   It just makes good sense to serve such a God!  To live my life as He directs is the smartest thing I can do!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am amazed that such a God as You loves me, listens to me, and helps me. It is my privilege to serve you wholeheartedly.     Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 10, 2017: SOAP #2715: 2Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Matthew 27

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 27:1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death.  2 They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. Acts (NIV) 4:27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

Observation:   Matthew tells how the religious leaders, probably after discussing Jesus all night, early in the morning reached their decision to have Jesus crucified.    But a short time later, Luke records the prayer of the early church.  The decision that Jesus should die was not made by the religious leaders early one morning in Jerusalem.  It had been made back in the garden of Eden when sin had first entered the picture.

Application:   When I recognize that God is sovereign, I need not worry about the outcome of trouble that comes to my life.  There is nothing that comes to me that He cannot work through for my good.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you are indeed sovereign.  You can take the worse that happens to me and turn it for my good.  I can rest secure knowing all things are within your hand.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 9, 2017: SOAP #2714: 2Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

Scripture:  Matthew (NVI) 26:6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.  9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

Observation:   To waste something is to exchange its value for something of lesser value, or to use it in a way that does not match its value.   The buyer may underestimate the value of what he has, or overestimate the value of what he is buying.  Either way, he loses value.  In the above passage, the lady anointing Jesus placed a high value on Jesus.  The personal loss of this expensive possession was not to be compared with the opportunity to express how much she valued Jesus!  The disciples saw the value of giving to the poor as greater than the value of honoring Jesus.  So, for them, this was a waste.

Application:   Every day in large ways and in small ways I have opportunity to express how I value the Lord.   I can give time, talent or treasure in letting Him know how valuable He is to me and in my quest to make Him look good to others.  That is good use of value; it is not a waste!

Prayer:   Jesus, may my words and actions agree:  nothing compares with You!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 8, 2017: SOAP #2713: 2Samuel 15, 16; Psalm 32; Matthew 25

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 32:11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Observation:   Three “happy” words help describe people whose sins are forgiven and whose heart is right with God:  rejoice, glad, and sing.  Joy should be a major characteristic of those whose sins are have the Holy Spirit living within.  It should be obvious to others.

Application:    It is a joy to have happy children around the home.  Their laughter as they play brings joy to the adults.  My Heavenly Father likes me to be joyful.  With all He has done for me, there should be no reason not to be joyful.  May angels look forward to being assigned to me for the day.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, what a joy it is for me to have you accompany me twenty-four hours every day!  I pray that I bring you joy also. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 7, 2017: SOAP #2712: 2Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 24:32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.  33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.  34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.  35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Observation:  Everything I know about Jesus tells me that He is trustworthy.  He said that His words would not only outlast the heavens and the earth, His words will never pass away!  That is not long-lasting; that is permanent!

Application:  If I want to build my life on something permanent, there is nothing more stable than God’s Word!  People want a good foundation on which to build their house but the best foundations available will only last as long as the earth lasts.  To build a life, one needs a better foundation—one that is permanent and that will last into eternity!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, show me through the scriptures how to build my life on the Permanent foundation.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 6, 2017: SOAP #2711: 2Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23

Scripture:  2Samuel (NIV) 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.”

Observation:    The Lord had forgiven David, but there would be no consequences.  What did the forgiveness mean?  It meant that David would remain in relationship with the Lord.  It meant that God would still speak to him.  It meant that God would still use him as king.

It did not mean that everything was going to be good.  It did not mean that the son so conceived would live.  It did not mean that God would pull up all the seeds now planted in David’s family so that they would not come to fruit later.  It did not mean that the sin would be hidden from the eyes of men.

The most troubling thing, a thing of which David had very little understanding, was that the enemies of the Lord would “show utter contempt.”  We often forget, or do not even take time to consider how our sins affect our Lord!

Application:   The greatest restraining force to keep me from sin is a burning love for Jesus—loving Him so much that I would do nothing to displease Him!  But when the fire is not so hot, it is good to bear in mind the consequences of sin.  We will reap what we sow!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of how wonderful it is to be loved by Jesus!  Help me keep my eyes focused on this special One I call Lord!  And thank you for the convicting thoughts you bring to my heart when I start to sin.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 5, 2017: SOAP #2710: 2Sam 10; 1Chronicles 20; Ps 20; Mat 22

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 22:1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

Observation:  Jesus’ parables had some things in common.  They were all true to life.  They dealt with everyday issues.  Everyone who heard the parables could identify with the truth being presented.  They had experienced the stories.

Application:   Following Jesus’ example of using parables to teach means that everyone is without excuse.  Everyone has life experiences that can be used to present eternal truths.  They are our personal parables.  If I cook food, if I work in the yard, if I have a family, if I have seen a sunrise, if I have lived through a storm, if I have a job…examples of eternal truth can be seen everywhere

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, open my eyes to the truths that can be seen in my everyday life.  May I be bold to share those truth with others.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 4, 2017: SOAP #2709: 2Samuel 8,9; 1Chronicles 18,19; Matthew 21

Scripture:  1Chronicles (NIV) 18:13 He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory everywhere he went.  14 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.

Observation:   Everything about David being the King of Israel was orchestrated by God—from his anointing as a young boy called from tending sheep, to serving in King Saul’s house, to escaping death from the hand of King Saul, to leading in military victories, to becoming the King.  God made David King, and as King, God gave him victory “everywhere he went.”  David responded by not living selfishly, but by serving the people.  God did not give the people to David; God gave David to the people!  His authority was a tool he used to serve others.  He served them by doing what was just and right!

Application:  I need to see myself as God’s servant that he has given to those around me.  How others serve me is not nearly as important as how I serve them.   Whatever authority God has given me is not to be used to make things easier for myself, but to be a blessing to others.

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, guide me into doing what is just and right for those you have assigned me to serve. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 3, 2017: SOAP #2708: 2Samuel 7; 1Chronicles 17; Psalm 2; Matthew 20

Scripture:  1Samuel (NIV) 7:4 That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:  5  “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? … 17  Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation…. [David’s prayer:]  27  “O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So, your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer.

Observation:  At that time David was living in a beautiful palace and the Ark of the Covenant was in a tent.  In David’s heart, that needed to be corrected.  God saw David’s heart and his desire to build a house for worship that was better than the house he had built for himself.  God had something to say to David.

God had spoken to David in many ways; David had written and sung many songs that are God’s Word.  David is known as a man after God’s own heart.  Surely God would visit David and personally speak about this important matter.  But no!   God spoke to Nathan and sent Nathan to speak to David.

David did not say, “If God wants to speak to me, He will tell me Himself.”  No, David received Nathan’s words as though God had spoken to him personally.

Application:  God has put people in my life to whom I need to listen.  If I cannot listen to others, I will miss some of the important things God is saying to me.  I am finding that the better I know the scriptures, the better I can recognize what God is saying to me though others.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, how you speak to me is your choice; learning to recognize your word is my responsibility.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

 May 2, 2017: SOAP #2707: 1Chronicles 16; Psalm 106; Matthew 19

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 19:1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.  2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 

Observation:   Jesus was moving toward Jerusalem where he would offer his life as an atoning sacrifice for sin.  He did not invite the “large crowds” to join Him in Jerusalem.  He did not tell them to meet Him in the temple.  No, He ministered to them—“He healed them there.”   They did not need to be in Jerusalem; they did not need to be in the temple; they only needed to be in the Presence of Jesus!  

Application:   A building, even a church building, is not necessary for the ministry of Jesus.  Costly musical instruments and talented musicians are not necessary; a choir is not necessary.  The only thing necessary for the ministry of Jesus is the Presence of Jesus.  If I am with only one person, and Jesus is present, His ministry can be effective there! 

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, continue to remind me wherever I am, Jesus can do what is necessary there!  May I recognize His Presence and release a knowledge of His Presence in that place by my words and actions.  Amen          

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!