August 1, 2019: SOAP #3528:  Isaiah 65-66; Psalm 62; John 3

Scripture:  Psalm (MESSAGE) 62:1 God, the one and only—I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him, so why not? 2 He’s solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, an impregnable castle: I’m set for life.

Observation:   Eugene Peterson’s The Message is not a translation of the Bible, but a paraphrase attempting to communicate the meaning in words and phrases that are more commonly used and more easily understood.

God is worth waiting for!  Everything is at His fingertips.  Although He lets us have choices and lets our choices affect us and those around us, He remains the ultimate authority.  He responds to those who trust Him.

Application: “So why not?”  Why should I not wait for God—“wait as long as He says?”  I believe that He is the Creator of the Universe.  I believe that He is loving and wisely working according to a plan for my life.  I believe that He has purpose for me.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, even when it takes longer than I like, I know that it is worth waiting on you.  I can trust you to provide my needs.  I want you to be able to trust me to give you the praise and glory for all you do and have done for me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 31, 2019: SOAP #3527:  Isaiah 63-64; Psalm 107; John 2

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 107: 10 Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, 11 for [because] they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he [the LORD]  subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no-one to help.
13  Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.
15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, 16 for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron. …
43 Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD.

Observation:   Some like to see God working to bless them and help them out of trouble.  But those who are wise, consider that not only does God help us out of our trouble, He also sends judgment when we sin.

God is always true to His nature.  He is absolutely holy.  AND He is so loving that he willingly pays our penalty for sin.  It is an amazing display of God’s wisdom.  He remains perfectly holy in expressing perfect love.

Application:   Since my humanness was created by God who allows me choices for which I will answer, it is so obviously important that I know God.  I need to know what He is like.  I need to know what pleases Him, and why.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, fill my heart and mind with understanding of the God I love.  Show me how to please Him.  May my life bring joy to His heart.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 30, 2019: SOAP #3526:  Isaiah 60-62; John 1

Scripture:  John (NIV) 1: 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

Observation:   Here is the very popular John the Baptist announcing that the yet little-known Jesus is so worthy and honorable that John is not even worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals.  John was not even worthy to serve Jesus in the manner of a lowly servant.

In comparison to himself, John saw Jesus as most worthy and due the greatest respect.

Application: John’s confession of Jesus was about three years before Jesus’ death and resurrection.  How much more logical it is for me to respect Jesus.

The resurrected body of Jesus ascended to a place of honor and glory at the right side of the Father.  But left behind is Jesus’ body, the church.  All who are born again and have the life of Jesus dwelling in them are a part of His body.  With great humility I am to serve these as I serve Jesus.  I am unworthy to serve ones who are destined for places of great service in eternity.  I am not worthy to “untie the sandals” of ones destined to rule and reign with Jesus.  I am not worthy, but I am honored to serve.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, show me how to best serve the servants of the Most-High God.  May I serve them as John served Jesus.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

\July 29, 2019: SOAP #3525:  Isaiah 57-59; Psalm 103; 2Peter 3

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 103:19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules overall.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. 22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Observation:   The throne is the heart of the kingdom from which authority flows.  The throne establishes the priorities of the kingdom.  The actions of the throne establish the attitudes of kingdom.

That the LORD’s throne has been established in heaven sets it above all the kingdoms of the earth!

Application:  If I claim Jesus as my LORD, then my priorities and attitudes should be in line with what is proper for heaven.  If Jesus lives within me, and He surely does, then people coming into my presence are coming into the presence of the KING.  In me, the priorities and attitudes of God’s kingdom should be easily seen.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, I need your help to continually exhibit the attitudes and priorities appropriate for living in the throne room.  Help me today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 28, 2019: SOAP #3524:  Isaiah 53-56; 2Peter 2

Scripture:  Isaiah (NIV) 55:10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Observation:   What a wonderful cycle God put into creation.  The rain and snow gather in the storm clouds and fall upon the earth.  Then they return to the sky in evaporation.  But before returning to the clouds, the life-giving moisture enables the plants to grow and produce food.  Producing life is an intended part of the cycle.

And so it is with God’s Spoken Word.  Producing life, bringing growth, correcting, warning, teaching, encouraging, training…all part of the intended cycle of God’s Word.  It goes forth with purpose!  It goes forth with power!  It goes forth with an assignment to accomplish God’s will!  It goes forth as a part of God’s overall plan!

No wonder to each church in Revelation 3 and 4, we are told “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Application:   I am finding that the more faithful I am in reading God’s written word, the more clearly I hear God’s spoken word!  In reading, I am learning to listen.  My hearing is more acute.  God’s spoken word to me never crosses His written word.  Often I find that what God is saying to me, is written on the pages of the Bible.  Sometimes pondering the written word starts a thought process that leads me to know what God is saying to me.  Sometimes what I read prepares me to recognize His spoken word that comes later.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for your written Word!  AND thank you that you are still speaking.  Help me be a good reader and good listener. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 27, 2019: SOAP #3523:  Isaiah 50-52; 2Peter 1

Scripture:  Isaiah (NIV) 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Observation:  This verse has a central place in a chapter about the restoration of Jerusalem and of God’s blessings.  In this verse we see God’s appreciation for those who bring good news.  He considers their feet to be beautiful for they carry those with good news, and peace, and good tidings, and the truth of salvation!  All things He dearly loves!

Application:   How God must appreciate those who carry the good news of the new life He has provided in Jesus!  The Gospel of Jesus is “Good News!”  Those who proclaim it are called evangelists, bringers of good news. (Acts 21:8; 2Timothy 4:5)

I may not be officially called an evangelist, but like every believer, I can do the work of an evangelist.  I have good news that should be proclaimed to every person.  When I am young, when I am old; when I am at work, when I am working around my home; when I am healthy and moving through a shopping mall, when I am sick and laying in a hospital bed…I should always be doing the work of an evangelists!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, may my feet be beautiful in your sight.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 26, 2019: SOAP #3522:  Isaiah 46-49; 1Peter 5

Scripture:  Isaiah (NIV) 46:8 “Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Observation:   There are some things that I need to “fix in mind.”  There are things not to be forgotten.  In taking them to heart, they become an integral part of every decision and action.  More than being placed in my memory, these things become a part of my identity.

Application:   Truth about God needs to be a permanent part of my memory.  Truth about God needs to affect every thought and decision I make.  It is truth that should never be set aside when considering something urgent.  Urgent things seem to be shouting, “Take care of me now!  Do not worry about your knowledge of God.  You can deal with that later.”  But the truth of God is remembered, it is fixed in my mind, it is taken to heart.  It is a part of my identity.  It is how I see myself.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, my life has been captivated by your love and now I see myself in the light of your purpose for me.  I am not my own.  Holy Spirit, keep renewing my mind; keep shining your light on those things that are fixed in my mind and heart.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 25, 2019: SOAP #3521:  Isaiah 43-45; 1Peter 4 (Repeat from 12/16/2009)

Scripture:  1Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Observation:  Here in the New International Version, and in 5 other translations (NAS, NLT, NRSV, RSV, and WEY) we see clear-mindedness and self-control affecting our prayers.  It is probably not something we think about too often, but maybe we should consider how God hears our prayers.  We complain about visiting with people who ramble and seem to endlessly repeat themselves.  We would rather visit with someone who does not always cover the same material, with most of it coming from the past.  Could it be that God feel the same way about our prayers?  Think about it!

Application:   I wonder if God does not listen to my prayers and say something like, “It would be good for Leon to stop rambling.”  “If Leon would cut out all the repetition and just think about what he is saying I might be able to identify a prayer I can answer.”  Or He might say, “I am going to answer that prayer, but Leon will not recognize the answer because he did not put much thought into the request. He will not recognize the answer when it hits him in the face.”  (Sometimes it is good for me to write out my prayer because it forces me to write it in legible and understandable sentences.)

Prayer:  Lord, remind me to be clear-minded and self-controlled in my prayers.  May you be blessed in hearing my prayers!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 24, 2019: SOAP #3520:  Isaiah 40-42; 1Peter 3

Scripture:  Isaiah (NIV) 40:3 A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Observation:   God is wanting a road people can travel from where they are to His presence.  It is a road that goes right through our hearts. The scenery is whatever is happening in our lives.

Even when I am in a dessert or wilderness time in my life, God wants me to build an on-ramp.  I may want to get through that time as quickly as possible, but God wants me to stop and build an on ramp for someone stuck in that dessert.

Sometimes the interstate highways need repair.  For a while, people must proceed with caution as heavy equipment and workers move near the traffic.  It is only a temporary slowing as the goal is to return the highway to usefulness to handle the speed of normal traffic.  May repairs needed in my life be accomplished quickly.

Application:  Like the interstate highways across our nation, may the “Leon” entrance to this highway be well marked and easily assessable for everyone.  May any hazard preventing people from taking this highway to heaven be removed from my life.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, may the people living close to me find my life to be an easy entrance onto the highway that leads into your Presence.  Work on the road through my life.  Remove any hindering obstacles.  Smooth out my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 23, 2019: SOAP #3519:  2Kings 20; Isaiah 38-39; Psalm 75; 1Peter 2

Scripture:  1Peter (NIV) 2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Observation:  How people see me is very important to God.  What people say about me is vey important to God.

Application:  One important factor in what people say about me is my behavior.  God wants me to do good.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I need your help.  I need your help to react to each challenge I face.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!