February 19, 2018: SOAP #3000:  Numbers 5-6; Psalm 22; Acts 26

Scripture:  Numbers (NIV) 6:22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 “‘”The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face towards you and give you peace.”’
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Observation:   Aaron and his sons were to speak the blessing over the Israelites, AND God would bless them!   As they were faithful to pass along the blessing, God promised to bless the nation.

Application:   In 2009, Pastor Dayton asked Sharon and myself to use the SOAP outline to do our daily devotions.  He wanted to encourage the church to do it and wanted us to set an example.  I did not want to do it, but God made it clear that he was my pastor and I should do what he requested.  In October I prepared 6 SOAPs and 6 more in November.  In December I did 22.  When January 1 arrived, I faced a dilemma. Would God give me something every day for a year?  I had long established the habit of daily Bible reading.  I had trusted God for a message for Sunday and usually a teaching for Wednesday…but would God give me something every day?

As I write SOAP #3000, the answer is abundantly clear!   Yes, yes, yes! God can give me something every day!   And he can give everyone a daily message.  A major key is FAITH.  I expect Him to give me something in my reading.  Before, I knew He would show me something from time to time, but I did not exercise faith for each day.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you respond to my faith.  Every day, You have proven Yourself to be faithful.  And as I have been faithful to pass them along, you have used them to bless others too.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!