May 22, 2018: SOAP #3092: 1Kings 8; 2Chronicles 5; Psalm 99; Romans 3

Scripture:  1Kings (NIV) 8:21 I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our fathers when he brought them out of Egypt.”

Observation:    King Solomon was speaking to the people of Israel at the dedication of the newly completed temple.  It was the temple that King David had wanted to build, but God directed that David’s son, Solomon, should be the one to build the temple.

In the above verse, I see that Solomon is aware of his position in the light of history.  What God was doing in having Solomon build the temple was a continuation of what God had started with Moses.  God had been working prior to Solomon, and God would continue working after Solomon’s death.  Solomon was only one in the continuum of God’s story in working with Israel.  We call it “His-story,” commonly known as history.

Application:  God has been working prior to my life.  God will continue working after my death.  I am only one in the continuum of “His story.”

As a Navy hospital corpsman, as a pastor, now as a school bus driver, as a husband, as a father, my life has intersected with many people.  I have been one in their history, some for a short time, some for longer, and some for my life-time.  May I be faithful fulfilling my assignment in each relationship.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, my life is available to you.  Use me to write your story in the places you have assigned me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 21, 2010 & 2018: SOAP #3091: 1Kings 7; 2Chronicles 4; Psalm 98; Romans 2

Note:  As I was starting to write what I believe God was saying to me, I came across this devotion from 2010.  So, with a few changes, here it is again. 

Scripture:  Romans 2:6 God “will give to each person according to what he has done”…. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

Observation:   The truth about the character of God in verse eleven is universal and unchangeable.  He does not show favoritism.  Here it is applied to two different groups of people: Jews and Gentiles.  (Gentile is a biblical designation for people who are not Jews.)   Every human being has the same value to God.  They are as valuable as His Son, for He was willing to give His Son as the sacrifice to pay for their sins.  However, just because everyone has the same value to God, does not mean that He always treats everyone the same.  The context of verse eleven shows that God rewards each person differently—according to how faithfully they have lived.  Other Bible passages show that God gives different assignments and different amounts of talent, leading to different rewards.  But God’s love and acceptance for each is the same.

Application:  Whether my assignment is to be a fireman, police officer, business man, teacher, pastor, bus driver, etc., it makes me no more or less valuable to God than anyone else.  I will be rewarded by God according to how I used my talents to fulfill my calling/assignment in serving others.  And because He shows no favoritism, I can be as close to God as anyone else.  No one can stand between God and me unless I let them.

Prayer:  Lord, oh how I want to keep walking close to you and get to know you better!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 20, 2018: SOAP #3090: 1Kings 6; 2Chronicles 3; Psalm 97; Romans 1

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 97:1 The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. 2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Observation:   The LORD reigns—what a reason for joy!  His throne is established on righteousness and justice.  Because the LORD reigns, righteous and justice will ultimately be established in the whole earth.

Doing what is right and just is a high priority with God.  It is a great reason to rejoice!  Only those who do evil need to fear His righteous reign.  The poor and the wealthy will both receive perfect justice!   Under the LORD’s reign, the poor need not fear the wealthy.

Application:   Wealth and position often change a person’s idea of justice and righteousness.  There are so many influences in the world that can affect justice.  We have a great reason to rejoice knowing that the One with ultimate authority sit on a throne with righteousness and justice as its foundation!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, your reign is not limited to earth, but continues into and through eternity.  Justice may not be perfectly established in our circumstances or even in our lifetime.  But it is a joy to know that your eternal reign is with all authority, all power, and all wisdom.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 19, 2018: SOAP #3089: 1Kings 4, 5; 2Chronicles 2; Psalm 101; 2Thes 3

Scripture:  2Chronicles (NIV) 2:5 “The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods.
6 But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?

Observation:   King Solomon had it right!  He was building a Great House for a Great God, who was so great that Solomon’s temple could not begin to hold him!   Since Solomon’s temper could not hold God, why was Solomon building it?  He was building it as a proper place to burn sacrifices before the Lord!

Application:   Solomon’s Great God is the One Who lives in me by His Holy Spirit!  As King Solomon was building a temple that was worthy of such a Great God, so I should conduct my life in this earthly temple in a way that is worthy of such a Great God!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, forgive me for not displaying your greatness in this temple of my body.  May the walls of my temple be covered with your love and holiness.  May the story of your Amazing Grace be written on each wall.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 18, 2018: SOAP #3088: 1Kings 3; 2Chronicles 1; Psalm 78; 2Thessalonians 2

Scripture:  2Thessalonians (NIV) 2:7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

Observation:  Evil was already at work in Paul’s day, and it is still at work today.  As great as evil is, evil is not able to have its full sway.  It is being restrained.  There is a power restraining evil in the world today.  It is a power that will be removed.  (I wonder if this power is not the presence of the Holy Spirit in the church today?)  After that power is removed (could that be the rapture?  1Thessalonians 4:15-18) evil will run unrestricted.  Unrestricted that is until Jesus return in all His glory. (Revelation 19:11-21)

Application:   The Holy Spirit in me guards my heart and restrains me from evil.  Like Jesus, He makes me useful in holding back Satan’s kingdom in the world around me (Acts 10:38).

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, may I be a vessel in full surrender to your guidance.  Flow through me to encourage the church and, like Jesus, to destroy the works of the devil.  (1John 3:8)   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 16, 2018: SOAP #3086: 1Kings 2: 1Chronicles 29; Psalm 95; 2Thessalonians 1

Scripture:  1Kings (NIV) David’s charge to his son Solomon: 2:2 … “So be strong, show yourself a man, 3 and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, 4  and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

Observation:     “show yourself a man, … ” He was not to show himself to be male, but to be a man.  In the specifics attached we get an idea of what is included in being a “man.”

Application:   “So be strong … ” A man is not a weakling.  He is to be able to withstand the storms of life.  He has the strength to stand for right.
” … and observe what the Lord your God requires: … ” A man knows that the Lord is his God.  He knows what his God requires.
” … Walk in his ways … ” He knows what is important to God.  He knows and lives accordingly.
” … and keep his decrees … as written in the Law of Moses.” A man is familiar with God’s written Word.
” … so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go … ” God’s will is that we prosper.  He has made man to be “task” oriented and to gain identification in accomplishments.
” … and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: … ” A man lives in such a way that God wants to keep His promises!   It is not heartache to God to bless a man who lives as described!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, I want to live in such a way that it is easy for you to keep your promises to me.  May you enjoy blessing me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 16, 2018: SOAP #3086: 1Kings 1: 1Chronicles 28; Psalm 91; 1Thessalonians 5

Scripture:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 5:19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.

Observation:    These verses deal with the Holy Spirit’s workings.  We are to respect what God is saying to us.  This could apply to the scriptures but would more likely be in reference to the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Prophecy is the Holy Spirit inspiring a believer to speak out a message from the Lord.

Application:   I should not despise prophecy.  This may happen because of the vessel through which the prophecy comes.  That person may not have a high standing in the church.  Surely God would not use them.
–I may despise prophecy because the manner in which it is delivered. It may not come with polish or proper English.  It may be too loud, or too soft.  It may be spoken too fast, or too slow.
–I must not despise prophecy because the location in which it is given. Prophecy is not limited to a short space of silence after the fourth song on a Sunday morning.  In fact, it is not limited to church gatherings at all.  (Although in church is a time we should expect it!)
–I must be careful not to despise prophesying because of mistakes people have made in the past.
–I must not despise prophecy because it does not fit into the service schedule.  When the service is so packed with man-planned, pre-planned activity, am I not treating prophecy with contempt? I need to give time for the Spirit to express Himself as He desires.
–We are not to despise prophecy, but that does not mean that “everything” goes.  We must understand our freedom considering verse twelve.

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, you are welcome in my life.  Use me to speak your words of encouragement and comfort to build up those around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 15, 2018: SOAP #3085: 1Chronicles 25-27; 1Thessalonians 4

Scripture:  1Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Observation:    The goal of leading a quiet life, minding our own business, and working with our own hands is for the purpose that we will be a witness to those around us and we will not be depending on others for our livelihood.

Application:   Why is it important that I take care of my own business and not be dependent on others?  I believe it is because when I am not incumbered to meet the expectations of others, I am free to meet the expectations of God.  That I have choices is very important to God.  It is through my choices that I demonstrate my dedication to myself, to others, and to my God.  The more independent I am, the more I can demonstrate that I am totally depending on God to do for me what I cannot do for myself!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, I want my choices to honor you.  In good times, in bad times, in pleasant times, in hard times, in all times may my choices honor you.  When the choices are easy or difficult, may they honor you.  May you be blessed by my choices.  May they bring a smile to Your heart! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 14, 2018: SOAP #3084: 1Chronicles 22-24; 1Thessalonians 3

Scripture:  1Chronicles (NIV) 22:5 David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore, I will make preparations for it.” So, David made extensive preparations before his death. …
14 “I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.

Observation:   It was King David’s goal to build a temple for the Lord, but God told him that David’s son, Solomon should be the one to do the building.  So, what did David do?  He took “great pains” to make sure Solomon would succeed!  That means David did things that took effort and sacrifice on his part.  It was not always easy or convenient.  He changed his goals, from building the temple, to making sure his son, Solomon, would be able to build it.

Application:   Here is a worthy goal: to make sure the next generation succeeds!  It may require me going out of my comfort zone.

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, guide my life that I may be a blessing to the next generation.  As I have been blessed by those who have gone before me, may those who follow me be blessed by my life.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 12, 2018: SOAP #3082: 2Samuel 24; 1Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; 1Thess 2

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 30:11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks for ever.

Observation:   David had enjoyed God’s work in his life.  God had turned David’s wailing into dancing, removed his countenance of mourning and replaced them with joy.   What a great blessing this was to David!   It was even a blessing to those around David.

But there is another who should benefit from David’s blessing.  The Giver of the blessing should also receive the benefit of the blessing.  David’s heart was going to sing to the Lord!  He would not be silent!  David would give thanks to the Lord forever!

Application:   God has also abundantly blest Leon!  He has forgiven all my sins!  He suffered and died on a Roman cross to save me from spending eternity in hell!   If anyone should refuse to be silent, it should be me!   God deserves my thanks forever!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, for your Son, Jesus, my Lord—I say, “Thank you!”  Jesus, for your sacrifice on my behalf—I say, “Thank you!”  Holy Spirit, for your presence and guidance—I say, “Thank you!”  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!