October 29, 2017: SOAP #2887:  Job 20; Mark 3-4

 Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 4:9 Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Mark 4 (NIV) 4:23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued.

Observation:  From the third verse in the Bible (Genesis 1:3) we find that God, our Creator, is a Speaker.  He talks.  He wants us to hear Him. So, it should not surprise us that we have been created with ears, two of them.  He created man with two ears and only one mouth, a good indication that hearing is twice as important as speaking.

He has provided the ears, so man has no excuse for not hearing God’s Word.

Application:  The highest priority for the use of my ears is to hear the words of The Original Speaker!  My hearing is not complete until I have “considered carefully” what I have heard.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you did not give me two ears to hear with one and let it go out the other.  You intend that I hear with both ears and “consider carefully” what I am hearing by mixing it together in my thinking with the knowledge that is already present. Holy Spirit, I always need your help with my thoughts.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 28, 2017: SOAP #2886:  Job 19; Mark 1-2

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 2:14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. 15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.

23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the cornfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some ears of corn. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Observation:  Jesus specifically asked Levi (Matthew), a tax collector, to “Follow” Him, but Levi was not the only tax collector who followed him.  In verse 24, we see that Pharisees had followed Jesus and His disciples to the cornfields.

Application:  Where Jesus is known to be present, there are always people around, some who believe, some who are truly interested, and some who are looking for something to criticize.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to be aware of people interested in Jesus, people interested but not yet committed.  Use me to encourage them to become fully committed.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!