October 1, 2017: SOAP #2859: Zechariah 10-12; Psalm 126; Luke 14

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 14:12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Observation:  Note the two positive statements.  No “perhaps;” no “might be.”  But twice we find “will be!”  You will be blessed!   And although the investment might not be returned in this life, it will not be forgotten in eternity!

Application:  Doing things for people who cannot repay you is definitely a good investment.  Since I am planning on spending eternity in heaven this is a good way to send things ahead.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you take note of how I use money. It is important to you!  I pray that the application of the money you provide brings joy to your heart!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 30, 2017: SOAP #2858: Zechariah 7-9; Luke 13

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 13:18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.”
20 Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to?  21  It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Observation:  Like a tiny mustard seed, the kingdom of God starts small then grows and grows until it is like a tree in which Birds can gather.  Like yeast, the kingdom of God will be worked through our lives until every aspect of our lives are affected by the kingdom of God.

Application:  It started with me possessing the Kingdom.  It was such a small part of my life.  But as I grew in understanding, the Kingdom became more and more influential in my life. I no longer see that I possess the Kingdom; now the Kingdom possesses me.  Where I am in maturity can be easily seen in my prayers.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, the emphasis is moving from what you can do for me to what I can do for you.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 29, 2017: SOAP #2857: Zechariah 4-6; Luke 12

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Observation:  The race to have the most things is meaningless.  Since life does not consist in the abundance of possessions, there can never be enough possessions to satisfy.

Possessions have an appeal to the lust of the eye and the pride of life.  The can promise a good feeling if owned.  They can give a false sense of security.

Application:  The cure for possession-itis is twofold.  First, I must confess my greed and receive God’s forgiveness.  And second, God will give me opportunity to be generous and to give my possessions away.  Like the Father was willing to give His Son, so I will have opportunity to give what I value.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, lead me to use my possessions to gain a heavenly reward and to bring a smile to your heart. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 28, 2017: SOAP #2856: Zechariah 1-3; Luke 11

Scripture:  Zechariah (NIV) 1:3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.
4 Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD.

Observation:  The Lord’s message was based on the past, with present direction leading to future results.  The past:  the thought of returning was a call to go back to the ways of the past.  There had been a time when they were walking in close relationship to God.  The present:  the need for the present was to turn from their evil ways.  Today needed to be a day of change.  The future:  the promise was that God would return His blessings and favor toward them.

Application:  God’s message is for us as a nation and for me as an individual.  As a nation, we need to consider how far we have strayed from God’s ways.  Today needs to be a day of repenting and returning to God’s priorities.  God may yet have a noble purpose for our nation among the nations of the earth.  God can use us as an example of how He judges people who turn from Him, or as an example of how He blesses people who return to Him.  As an individual, God wants to use me in the place he has me among the people of this world.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, give the leaders of my nation a heart to return to your ways and bless them as they do.  Return to us, I pray.  Send a fresh revival of an awareness of your presence in this nation and in my life.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 27, 2017: SOAP #2855: Haggai 1-2; Psalm 129; Luke 10

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 10:29 …he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead.
31-32 [A priest and a Levite passed without stopping.]
33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Observation:  In verse 29, Jesus was asked a question to which he was responding in the following verses.  Then, in verse 36, Jesus ends His story with a question.

Application:  Those two questions lead me to a third question: “Who will I meet today who needs a neighbor?”  And a fourth question: “Am I willing to use my resources to be the neighbor they need?”

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I have often prayerfully sung, “To be like Jesus. To be like Jesus.  All I ask is to be like Him.  All through life’s journey, from earth to glory, All I ask, to be like Him.”   Today help me to act like Jesus did while He walked this earth, to do the things He did.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 26, 2017: SOAP #2854: Ezra 2-3; Luke 8

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 8:16 “No-one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.
17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

Observation: To light a lamp, then hide it, defeats the purpose for which it was made. Lamps are designed and created to spread light. That is the reason for their existence.

Application: As God’s child, I should expect to be watched. I should not be surprised when God places others around me who watch me. It is my responsibility to give light so those around me can see the path as well as the dangers.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep me clean and keep me full of your oil, so Your light can shine clearly through me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 25, 2017: SOAP #2853: Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 9:12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” 13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish— unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” …
16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketsful of broken pieces that were left over.

Observation:  Jesus told the disciples to do something they were unable to do.  But after the bread and fish had been placed in His hands, after He gave thanks, after He broke them, He then gave them to the disciples and they did exactly what He had commanded them to do.

Application:  Jesus may tell me to do something that I am unable to do.  Jesus will never tell me to do something that He is not willing to do through me.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for including me in your kingdom.  I am thankful that what you have given me to do does not depend on my abilities or resources.  You are looking only for my faith and obedience. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 24, 2017: SOAP #2852: Ezra 1; Psalm 84-85; Luke 7

Scripture:  Ezra (NIV) 1:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfil the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing:

Observation:  I see that the One responsible for giving the word also took the responsibility for fulfilling that word.  The word came through Jeremiah, but it was not Jeremiah’s word.  He was merely passing along what he had been told.  It was not Jeremiah’s burden to fulfill that word.  Ezra was aware of the word, but it was not Ezra’s word either.  It was not Ezra’s responsibility to fulfill that word.  It was the word of the LORD and the LORD took the responsibility to bring it to pass.

Application:  At times I can step out on my own to do something for God.  Then it is my responsibility to make sure I fulfill my promises.  It is much better when I wait to hear what God has said/is saying.  When I know it is His word, then I have faith that He will provide and work through the difficulties.

My first night at the base camp of my unit in Viet Nam I had a head-splitting migraine headache.  But I knew that God had sent me there and He was going to have to help me.  I felt like I had God by the collar demanding his help!  I was asleep in 20-30 seconds and have not had another migraine headache for the past 50 years!  The One Who told me to join the Navy took the responsibility to help me do His will.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I always want to be carefully listening to you.  When I have faith that I am doing your will, I have faith that you will provide!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 23, 2017: SOAP #2851: Daniel 11-12; Luke 6

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Observation:  How simple is the wisdom of Jesus.  It is easy to understand.  It has universal application.  Everyone knows how they like to be treated, so they know how they should treat others.   It is a basic rule that should be a part of everyone’s life.

Application:  It is not enough to know about this Golden Rule.  It is not enough to have it on a plaque hanging on a wall in my house.  It is not enough to know that it is verse 31 of Luke chapter 6.  It is not enough to have it as a permanent part of my memory.  This must be an active part of my daily life choices.  People should be able to see how I like to be treated by watching how I treat others.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, show me each day how I can be a blessing to others.  In big ways, and in small ways, make me a blessing to those around me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 22, 2017: SOAP #2850: Daniel 9-10; Psalm 123; Luke 5

Scripture:  Daniel (NIV) 9:11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore, the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you.
Observation:  God is totally faithful.  He is faithful to His promises to bless AND He is faithful to His promises to punish sin!   God not only clearly laid out how He would bless, He also clearly laid out how He would punish!   We are foolish to claim His faithfulness to bless and ignore His faithfulness to punish.

Scripture:  Daniel (NIV) 9:18 Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.
Observation:  When we recognize our sins and understand that God is too holy than to ignore our sins we must repent and call on His great mercy.

Application:  We need to do this as individuals, as families, and as a nation.  Like Daniel (chapter 9) individuals need to do this on behalf of their nation.  Our president has called us to pray for those affected by the hurricanes, but he has not yet called us to repent for our sins.  May he do it soon.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, Ruler over the nations, we have not given your Word its proper place in our nation.  We have ignored You.  We act like you do not see our sins or even care if we sin.  I pray your forgiveness and mercy to be displayed for your glory.  In Jesus Name, Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!