January 1, 2019: SOAP #3316:  January 1:  Genesis 1-2; Luke 1

Scripture:  Genesis (NIV) 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Observation:  The earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the deep.  It was not a good environment for starting God’s man-plan.  But the scripture notes that the Spirit of God was present.  Before the word brought forth the light, the Spirit of God was there.  Before the light was separated from the dark…before there was a day and night, the Spirit of God was there!

Application: To me, the year ahead is somewhat formless and empty.  I do not know much about tomorrow, but as the song says, I know who holds my hand.  And I know that the SAME Holy Spirit hovering over the waters before day 1 of creation is now hovering over my heart!   And as I am faithful to read the written Word every day, I know the Holy Spirit will bring God’s Word to life in me.  As there was something special about each day in Genesis 1, so I am expecting the Holy Spirit to bring something special out of the word every day this year.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I am glad everything does not have to be perfect before you show up!  You make yourself known in the darkness.  Your presence is my assurance that there is a plan and that you will bring order to this year.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 31, 2018: SOAP #3315:  Revelation 19-22

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Observation:  In this passage we see the culmination of God’s plan from before the foundation of the earth.  Here is the reason He created the earth as an environment into which He placed His highest creation.  The earth is a temporary dwelling place for man where God can visit His created beings and have fellowship with those who honor Him.  Earth was a place where God demonstrated His great love by sending His Son to die for man’s sin.  From the earth comes those created beings who prove faithful in believing and responding and being committed to God’s plan.  They are tested and given opportunity to prove their love for their Heavenly Father by their faith in His Son.  Those worthy, will have a place of great fellowship with their Creator God in this Holy City.  God’s plan to develop a bride for His Son to rule and reign with Him will be complete.  God’s great desire for fellowship will be fulfilled!  Eternity will reveal the next chapter of God’s man-plan, ruling and reigning in heavenly places.

Application:  Thinking about the big picture in helps me deal with everyday troubles that I face.  Many of my troubles are not very important when considered in the light of eternity.  Yet others that seem to be just an interruption take on great significance when considered in the light of eternity.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, I need you to continually remind me of what God has planned for me.  Do not let me forget! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 30, 2018: SOAP #3314:  Revelation 15-18

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 16:10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.

Observation:  In the above verses, men are in agony, but still refusing to repent!  It is amazing!  What a powerful hold sin can have on a person.

Every time someone curses, with their mouths they are acknowledging the existence of God.  With their words they often demand that God damn something or someone.  They are demanding that a God whom they claim does not exist or is unimportant step in and stop what is bothering them.  They refuse to stop and consider that they are damming themselves before God.

Application:  Instead of refusing to repent, I want to be quick to repent.  I am thankful that 1John 1:9 was written to the church.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Even though we are born again and His children, we still will need to be forgiven.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, my need for continued forgiveness did not take you by surprise.  Thank you for gracious provision.  Help me to be as quick to forgive others as you have been to forgive me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 29, 2018: SOAP #3313:  Revelation 10-14

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 11:16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, 17 saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 18 The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

Observation:  There is a big difference between the anger of man and the wrath of God!   One obvious difference is that man’s anger is so often unholy.  God’s wrath is always a righteous wrath.  God is eternally holy!   Although He is stirred to wrath, He remains holy in judgment.  He rewards the righteous and destroys the wicked.  He rewards those who serve Him.  He destroys those who destroy His creation.

Application: I can trust God to be my judge.  I can be patient and wait for His justice.  I do not have to have perfect justice in this life.  It honors Him when I work to bring justice for others.  It honors Him when I have so much faith in HIS justice for me that I do not complain about the injustice that may come my way here on earth.

Prayer:  Holy Father, justice is an expression of your holy character. You cannot be unjust because you cannot be unholy.  Establish your holy character in me and use me to establish justice for those around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 28, 2018: SOAP #3312:  Revelation 5-9

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 6:16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Observation:  I do not think of the words “wrath” and “Lamb” should be in the same sentence.  Yet, here they are!   I had to read it again.  Did it really say, “the wrath of the Lamb?”  Yes, there it is.  As I pondered it, the Holy reminded me of something I had just read.  I had to go back and check…

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 6:9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”

Observation:  Nothing fuels wrath like love.  Great love results in great wrath when the object of its love is destroyed or hurt!  I have heard stories of a mother bear robbed of her cubs.  Those who destroy God’s children who love the “word of God and” maintain their “testimony” will experience God’s wrath!  Those HE loved had honored Him in life and death; of course, His wrath will be great!  They had touched the “apple of HIS eye!”

Application: I am God’s child.  It is amazing how much He loves me.  Any hardship or trial I may experience in this life will be more than adequately compensated in eternity.  And when I see Him, my troubles will seem as nothing.

Prayer:  Holy Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, My Lord to die in my place and provide that I can experience your love and not of your wrath.  Holy Spirit, help me live as the object of God’s great love and not as one who will be the object of His great wrath.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 27, 2018: SOAP #3311:  Revelation 1-4

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 4:1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” …
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Observation:  In the first chapter of Revelation, John had his own personal worship time.  He saw the risen Christ and fell at His feet.  It was a prophetic worship service in which John received a message for each of the seven churches of the province of Asia.  (chapters 2 & 3) Then at the beginning of chapter 4, John is invited to enter an open door and “Come up here.”

As he enters the throne room of heaven, he enters an ongoing worship service.  He is transported from a personal worship service on earth to a corporate worship service in heaven!

Application:  Not long ago, I was a part of a small group worshipping the Lord.  It was a special time in which the presence of the Lord was obvious.  Someone mentioned that it sounded like other voices had joined in our worship.  We were doing the same thing that those around the throne in heaven were doing.  John had joined them there; some of them joined us here.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am so glad I do not need to wait until I get to heaven to join the activity of heaven.  You are seeking worshippers. (John 4:23) You created me to be a worshipper.  Your Holy Spirit stirs worship in my hearts.  May I be what you are seeking.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 26, 2018: SOAP #3310:  Psalm 117; 119:81-176; 2John; 3John

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 119:81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.

Observation:  In reading the first half of the above verse, I believe the psalmist is saying, “I am going through a tough time; I really need the Lord’s intervention; He sure is taking His time!  I am getting weary waiting for Him.”

Then I hear him add that important word: “but.”  I hear him say, “It is true that I feel faint, but I cannot stop on being faint.  My hope is in God’s Word!”

The Word of God is the best foundation for a life of hope!   And I know that in all things God works for my good because I love him and have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Application:  Sometimes I too feel that God is slow in bringing the help I think I need.  But my hope remains strong in God’s Word!   And the more I know His Word, the stronger my hope grows.

When going through troubles, I must not take too much time worrying about where and when help is coming.  I must renew my hope in God’s Word!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I have hope in your word because I know I can trust Your Word.  Holy Spirit help me understand the Written Word and hear the spoken Word.  Bring to my remembrance what has been spoken to my heart.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 25, 2018: SOAP #3309:  1John 1-5

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Observation:  If you have children around when opening Christmas gifts, for sure you will not leave any gifts under the tree unopened.  They have an eye for wrapped items.  It may not even be their gift, but they are always glad to help unwrap them.

Today, I am a child of God pointing out to all my readers this present.  Please do not leave it unwrapped under the tree where He shed His blood to purchase it for you.  You will find that confessing your sins is like tearing off all the wrappings, and the heart of the gift is revealed: total forgiveness of all your sins!  It is AMAZING!

Application:  If you open this gift, you will know that it is the best gift you have ever received!  Do not worry about how to live with this gift.  Accompanying this gift is another gift.  It is the gift of the Holy Spirit who joins us in our life and helps us get to know the Heavenly Father and Jesus the Son.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, John 3:16 is a gift that keeps on giving!  Thanks for your indescribable GIFT!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 24, 2018: SOAP #3308:  John 19-21

Scripture:  John (NIV) 21:3 … So, they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. …
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Observation:  Jesus already had on the fire what they were looking for!  He had fish AND bread!  If they had caught nothing…if their nets had not been full, He would have still fed them breakfast!

The Jehovah Jireh who provided the lamb for Abraham’s sacrifice, who had just provided the sinless sacrifice for sin, now provided a net full of fish to prove that his provision is for all our needs.

Application:  Jesus can bring a miraculous supply.  He may use my talent with boats and nets, but that does not mean that He is depending on my abilities or possessions.

Prayer:   Jesus, you are my provider!  I look to you and trust you.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 23, 2018: SOAP #3307:  John 15-18

Scripture:  John (NIV) 17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. …
23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Observation:  In these passages, the One born in a stable and laid in a manger speaks of His pre-existence.  He speaks of the glory He had before the world began.  He speaks of the love the Father had for Him before the creation of the world.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of no ordinary person!

Application: As I pause to celebrate Christmas, the most logical parts are the involvement of angels and the star that led the magi from the East.  What else would I expect; God was entering the stream of humanity?

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, continue to remind me that Jesus is so much more than the baby pictures we are shown every year.  Show me ways I can honor Jesus for who He really is!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!