March 12, 2018: SOAP #3021: Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 3:21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Observation:    How terrible is sin?  Look at the law!  Look at the sacrifices required—death.  How holy is God?  Look at the law!  It is so perfect that “all have sinned.”  When paying for sin, even His Son did not get a special deal.  How wise is God?  Look at the law!  God used the law to teach us the terribleness of sin.  God used the law to set the parameters for the sacrifice of His Son.  How loving is God?  Look at the law!  At great personal sacrifice, God paid for my sins!

When the law was given, God already knew that it would never bring about the righteous required for us to live in His presence.  So, before the law was given, God had made a promise to provide the necessary sacrifice—the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.

Application:   The law tells me how I have sinned and what the consequences are.  The law can condemn me, but it can never bring me into righteousness.  The righteousness God promised only comes as I put my faith in Jesus, that His death is the sacrifice needed to atone for my sin.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, the more I understand your working with man, the more I am amazed at your holiness, your wisdom, and your love.  You have dealt with my sin in holiness and love.  And in your wisdom, you have sent your Holy Spirit to live in me.  Thank you! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 11, 2018: SOAP #3020: Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 2:8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.

Observation:   God was obviously working in Peter’s ministry!   God was obviously working in Paul’s ministry.  They had different assignments, a different focus, but it was the same God working in both!

The truth continues today.  The God who was at work in the ministry of Peter to the Jews and the ministry of Paul to the Gentiles, is the very same God who has been working in the ministry of Billy Graham to the United States and the world today.  He is at work in the ministry of everyone who surrenders their life to Him.

Application:   The very same God who was working through the ministry of Billy Graham, is at work in me every day as I drive the school bus and write these daily SOAPs.  He is at work in the ministry to senior adults.  And the same God at work in me is also at work in every SOAP reader!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, I am learning to let you work through me. I am learning to listen to you.  I am learning to follow your lead.  I am learning to say like your Only Begotten Son, Jesus, “I must be about my Father’s business!” (KJV Luke 2:49) As you worked through Jesus, through Peter, Paul, and Billy, work through me today.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 10, 2018: SOAP #3019: Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 1:11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Observation:    Why is Paul’s message called the gospel?  Because it is good news!   It is good news because it has the answer to the problem of sin.  It gives a way for people to be at peace with their creator.  It is good news because it sets people to live in harmony with each other.

Today, the Holy Spirit is emphasizing to me that it is good news because it came, not from man, but “by revelation from Jesus Christ.”  This is not a good story coming from the imagination of a man, but the revelation of eternal truth from God!   This is good news because it can be trusted!  It is real!

Application:   Good news that is proven to be wrong is not good news.  It is false news or fake news.  It may be a good story, but it is not truth.  It is tragic when people count on it as reliable only to later discover it was only a lie.  Responsible people will take responsibility for their error and work to set things right.

The gospel is something on which I can count.  I can build my life on the gospel.  I can plan my days and develop my relationships according to the gospel.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, the gospel is a revelation from you!  It is as reliable as you are reliable.  It is eternal truth that I need to apply today to my life.  It is eternal truth that you will apply to my life when I stand before you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 09, 2018: SOAP #3018: Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 16:5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.  [“Come see the place where he lay.” (Matthew 28:6)]

Observation:   The ladies arrived at the tomb early in the morning, wondering who might be available to roll the stone away from the tomb’s opening.  They had brought spices to lay around the body of Jesus.  Upon arrival they found the tomb already open.  Upon entering they found a young man dressed in white and very much alive.  Jesus was gone!  “See the place where they laid him,” they were told.  Check it out.  From other scriptures we know that the grave clothes were still there, but the body was gone. (Luke 24:12; John 20:5-8)

Application:  I am so glad we can “check it out!”  Historically, geographically, and archaeologically we can check out to see if the scriptures are true.  But the greatest truth can be seen in changed lives!  He is alive!  He lives in me.  He speaks to me.  He guides me.

Prayer:    Jesus, they checked out the grave clothes and believed.  I have checked out your words and your presence in my life.  I too am convinced.  You are my living God!  You are alive in me!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 08, 2018: SOAP #3017: Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 15:12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. 13 “Crucify him!” they shouted. 14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. …25 It was the third hour when they crucified him.

Observation:   The old song says, “Mercy there was great and grace of free, pardon there was multiplied to me…”   The cross was a place of great mercy—a place of great grace—and a place of holy pardon.

Application:   Mercy flowed one way!  Mercy did not flow to the cross, but from the cross.  The One to whom no mercy was shown—the One who asked no mercy, extended mercy sufficient to cover all my sins!

Grace was not extended to the cross, but from the cross.  There was no holding back of the whipping nor the suffering on the cross.  Jesus bore the full price.  His grace flows from the cross to me.

There was no pardon for Jesus, but by making the perfect and complete sacrifice for sin, He provided a full pardon for me.

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, in contemplating what you have done for me, just saying thanks seems so inadequate.  You deserve my whole life dedicated to your service and for your glory.   Amen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVwBKV_OYBc

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 07, 2018: SOAP #3016: Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 14:35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Observation:  Jesus was praying in Gethsemane just before being arrested, tried, and crucified.  Clearly, the ordeal was something that he dreaded.  If there was any way possible, to by pass this part of His earth mission.  Everything was possible for the Father.  The Father could have spared His Son the agony of taking on the sins of man and dying on the cross.  But that would have left man without any escape from sin.  That would have left heaven without the fellowship that the creation of man was to provide.  The Father was not willing to give up on having eternal fellowship with men created for that very purpose.

For the people He loved, the Father desired a family who served him because they loved him.  For His Son, the Father desired a body of people who would share the Son’s purpose and glory.

For the Father, there was too much to gain to lose!

Application:   And for Leon, there is too much to gain to lose!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, may I fulfill that for which you chose me.  May your purpose be fulfilled in me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 06, 2018: SOAP #3015: Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

Scripture:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 4:1 Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.

Observation:  God gave them the land, but they had to take possession of it.  For Israel to take possession, they had to obey and trust.   In each step of taking possession of what God had given them, God provided the plan, the strength, and the miracles needed.  They had to step out in faith, they had to do the fighting, but God made sure they were successful.  Only when they disobeyed were they defeated.

Application:   Israel’s God is my God.  I too will need trust and obedience to take possession of what He gives me!   And He can still be counted on to ensure that faithful obedience ends in victory!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, as Israel counted on you, so I must count on you.  As you proved yourself faithful to Israel, so you prove yourself faithful to me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 05, 2018: SOAP #3014: Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 12:24 Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

Observation:   The Sadducees, who did not believe in a resurrection, had asked Jesus a question about the resurrection.  In His answer, Jesus clearly showed from the scriptures that there is life beyond the grave.  God is the God of those who have died.

Application:   God is the God of Billy Graham.  He was, and He still is.  God is the God of my friend Wes whose earthly body was buried on the same day as Billy Graham.  God is the God of my parents at whose graves we stopped as we drove by last week.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, thank you for the clear word that I will still be living after the death of my physical body.  Thank you for making a way for me to live eternally in your presence.  Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins, forgiving my sins and being my way into heaven. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 04, 2018: SOAP #3013: Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 11:15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers’.”

Observation:   The temple was a building built with wood and stones, yet the Lord was concerned about how people were respecting “God’s house.”   How much more is He concerned about this house that He lives in with me?  My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit!

What would Jesus say that I have made His house?  A house of gripes or a house of contentment?   A den of despair or a cathedral of glory?  A place of selfishness or a welcoming place for others?

Application:   I should treat my body with respect for it is God’s house here on earth.  God dwells in me.  My body is His temple.  I should treat my body with more respect than the grounds keepers respect the White House in Washington D.C.  The President lives there; God Almighty lives here!

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, it is my great honor to host your presence in my body.  Help me to live every day in a way that brings honor to Jesus my Lord, and that brings joy to the heart of my Heavenly Father.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 03, 2018: SOAP #3012: Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

Scripture:  Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Observation:   Others referred to Jesus as the “Son of God” but Jesus spoke of Himself as the “Son of Man.”  Although He pre-existed as God, the Son, He came to earth, born as a man is born of a woman; grew and developed as a man; experienced the same temptations as all men do, but without sinning; then died as a sinless man to pay for the sins of man.

Here is a purpose statement given by Jesus.  This is how He saw His mission.  He had come to serve rather than be served.

Application:  If I consider myself a follower of Jesus, and if I claim that He lives in me, then I should adopt His purpose statements as my own.  I am not here to be served, but to serve.

[NOTE:  This SOAP devotion from March 3, 2011 spoke specifically to me.  A servant has one true purpose, to serve his Master.  The servant’s schedule is set by the Master.  My attitude about unexpected schedule changes can be a good indication as to who I really consider the master of my life.  Complaining about last minute changes, or waiting impatiently, as my schedule is interrupted, can reveal that I still think that I am in charge.  Being able to wait patiently indicates that I believe the Lord is ultimately in charge of my schedule.]

Prayer:    Father, thank you for sending your Son to serve me by paying the penalty for my sin.  Now is it my joy to serve you and those around me.    Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!