July 22, 2019: SOAP #3518:  Isaiah 36-37; Psalm 76; 1Peter 1

Scripture:  1Peter (NIV) 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade— kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Observation:   My attention has been drawn to the mercy out of which our new life has come.  It is not just mercy.  It is not just sufficient mercy.  According to the KJV, it is abundant mercy.  It is great mercy.

It is great mercy because it comes from the One with ultimate authority to an undeserving sinner.  It is great mercy because it actually works.  It is great mercy for it saves one from the ultimate punishment which is rightly deserved.  It is great mercy because the one extending the mercy remains perfectly holy. It is great mercy because the sins covered are not just forgiven but atoned for with an appropriate sacrifice.  It is great mercy because the ones forgiven are made just as if they never sinned! It is great mercy because it reaches to and through people.

Application:  It is amazing.  God has extended to me abundant mercy.  My appreciation can only be shown by being merciful to others.

To refuse to be merciful could be an indication that I truly do not appreciate what I have received.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, the mercy that came through the resurrection of your Son, Jesus, also came through his suffering, and your suffering in giving Him.  Thank you!  Make me a channel through which your mercy can reach others. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 21, 2019: SOAP #3517:  2Kings 18-19; 2Chronicles 32; James 5

Scripture:  2Kings (NIV) 18:11 The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in towns of the Medes. 12 This happened because they had not obeyed the LORD their God but had violated his covenant—all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out.

Observation:   The king of Assyria had taken Israel as captives to Assyria.  In these verses, God gives the “because.”  There was a reason why this had happened to Israel.  Their captivity was directly in response to their relationship to the LORD their God!

Application:   When trouble comes, people often try to figure out why it happened.  I do not make it a habit to look for some sinister cause behind every trouble.  We live in a world full of evil.  Bad things happen to us all.  But there are times when trouble is BECAUSE.  When there is a reason, I want to know!  God forgives and He blesses those who please Him.

People who discipline their children want to make sure their children know WHY they are being disciplined.  One of the goals of discipline is to prevent future misbehavior.

Surely God, the Perfect Parent, will make sure a nation can link His discipline to the sin that displeases Him.  There is a “because.”  God has made it clear to me that the trouble at our southern border is His judgment BRCAUSE of the sin of abortion.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help me quickly recognize when God is wanting me to make a change.  That you correct me, shows me that there is still something good in me that you are working on.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 20, 2019: SOAP #3516:  2Chronicles 29-31; James 4

Scripture:  James (NIV) 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” …
11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it

Observation:   We all have sinned; we all need grace.  We all live in a sinful world from which we pick up sinful attitudes.  We can all be thankful that God is graceful and does not reject us.  His merciful-kindness is extended to us.

But God is not only interested in getting grace to us; He wants to get grace through us.  May others be thankful that we are graceful too.

Application:   It is when people fall below my expectations. mistreat me, or slander me, that I have opportunity to express grace.  Human nature may be wanting to get even, to respond in kind, to express anger or frustration, but the presence of the Holy Spirit encourages me to express grace.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, may the grace you have shown me find expression through me to others.  May merciful-kindness be woven into my character.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 19, 2019: SOAP #3515:  2Kings 17; 2Chronicles 28; Psalm 46; James 3

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 46:10 Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Observation:   In time of trouble, when the troubles are greater than our limited ability to cope, what can we do?  Merely “be still.”  Remain steady and unflappable in our confidence; God has everything under control.  He remains our “ever present help in time of trouble.”

When He tells us to, “Be still” our hope and faith should soar.  He tells us that because He will be taking care of matters.  It is only for us to watch.  He has everything in control; we need but trust Him!

Application:   The following is a song the Lord gave to me in an early morning devotion, I believe it was in 2005.
Verse 1: There’s hope for tomorrow; hope for today:
There’s hope when the sky turns to grey.
There’s hope in time of trouble; the blessed hope of things to come;
There’s hope when I hear Jesus say, …
Chorus: He says, “Peace!  Be still!”   “Peace!  Be still!”
Hope for tomorrow and hope for today,
There’s hope when I hear, “Peace!  Be still!”
Verse 2: Love covers all things, and faith is receiving
But hope is believing all things
Will work together for good, to those called and walking
According to their Father’s will.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You are the Hope-Giver.  You are the God of all hope! You never run out of hope and you continually fill my heart with hope.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 18, 2019: SOAP #3514:  Isaiah 32-35; James 2

Scripture:  James (NIV) 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Observation:   James is making a point that just believing the truth is not enough.  It is good to believe that God exists because that is truth.  Even demons believe that truth.  They know that God exists.  They are convinced that God exists.  But that belief does not save them.

They believe that God exists, and their actions prove that they believe in God—they shudder (tremble, are terrified, are horrified).  That reaction proves that they believe in God.

Application:  Believing that God exists is not enough to make it to heaven.  I must believe that He is my Savior—that Jesus died to pay for my sins.   Along with that belief I must have supporting action to validify my faith.  I must confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord!  (Romans 10:9-10)

Confessing my sins, receiving by faith His forgiveness, inviting Him to live in my heart, making Him my Lord, growing in understanding what He likes and how I can serve and please Him—all supporting actions that back up my faith.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, continue teaching me what it means to live this life of faith.  My heart has been filled joy; use me to bring joy to my Heavenly Father and Jesus my Lord.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 17, 2019: SOAP #3513:  Isaiah 29-31; James 1

Scripture:  James (NIV) 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Observation:   Chapter 28 of Job talks about the great effort man expends to find silver.  Silver is valuable and worth the effort.  Then in verse 12, Job asks, “But where can wisdom be found?”  James tells us where to find wisdom.  We need but to ask God.

Application:   Even harder than men sought silver in Job’s day, people today seek knowledge.  They go to 12 years of elementary and high school.  Many go to 4 years of college and many to 4 more years.   Education has become big business!  Colleges and universities continue to build bigger and bigger buildings.  The cost of an education continues to increase.  People gain more and more knowledge.  They put more and more facts into their mind.

But where can wisdom be found?  Can someone tell me what all these facts mean?  Can someone tell me what to do with this knowledge?  Where can I go for the purpose of my being?

James tells me to ask God.  Wisdom is gaining knowledge of God then placing all other knowledge in right relationship to the knowledge of God.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I take you at your word.  I ask for wisdom to be a better husband and father.  I ask for wisdom in driving a school bus.  I ask for wisdom in preparing these SOAP devotions.  May your wisdom expressed through me make me a blessing to others and bring you glory. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 16, 2019: SOAP #3512:  Isaiah 25-28; Hebrews 13

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Observation:   What a logical question.  If God is my helper—if God has promised to never leave me—if God has promised never to forsake me—if that is really true, then what can man do to me?

The All-knowing, All-powerful, All-present God who created the universe and who sent His Son to die for me—yes, that is the God who is my helper and is always with me!   Nothing can happen to me without His oversight.  And if He has allowed something to happen to me, He is surely able to help me through it!   As He promised, He is able to make all things work together for good because I love Him and am called according to His purpose! (Romans 8:28)

Application:   My worry can change nothing.  His presence can change everything!  Nothing can happen to me without His knowledge and permission.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Your love amazes me.  Thank you for watching out for me.  Thank you for being my helper.  Indeed, with you on my side, what can man do to me?  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 15, 2019: SOAP #3511:  Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Observation:  The chapter breaks in the Bible were not a part of the original text.  Generally, they are a great blessing as they help us locate the passages we want to study.  However sometimes they hinder.  I believe chapter 12 should be the end of chapter 11.  The great cloud of witnesses mentioned above is obviously a reference to all the heroes of faith in chapter 11.

It is a “great cloud” due to the large number of people it contains.  Believers all the way back to creation.  It is a “great cloud” because of it includes great people, i.e. Moses, Elisha, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, e.t.c.  It is a “great cloud” to me because it includes my parents and grandparents.  It is a “great cloud” to be because I will join them when my life on earth is over.  What a day that will be!

Application:   Knowing that family and friends were in the bleachers encouraged me to play football or play my trombone in the band concert with more intensity.  I knew they were watching, and I sensed their presence.  I looked forward to their words of appreciation.

Knowing that I have such a great audience watching me from heaven’s bleachers encourages me to keep on when weary.  It encourages me to invest some extra effort.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I look forward to joining that “great cloud.”  Even now as a senior citizen, when I sit in earthly bleachers, use me to bring strength and encouragement to those around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 14, 2019: SOAP #3510:  Isaiah 19-21; Hebrews 11

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 11:8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Observation:   Abraham did not know where he was going.  But he did know some things.  In verse 10 Abraham knew that God was the architect and builder of a heavenly city.  In verse 11 Abraham knew that God was faithful!  In verses 17 and 18 Abraham knew what God had told him.  In verse 19 Abraham knew that God could raise the dead.

When we consider what Abraham knew, it is not so amazing that Abraham followed God to an unknown destination.  It would have been amazing if he had not followed God!!!

Application:   In some ways, I am like Abraham.  I know too much about God not to follow Him!  It would be illogical not to follow God!  What I already know about God assures me that following God is the right thing to do, even when He does not tell me where I am going.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, I know it is a faith walk when I follow your leading, but it takes much more faith to believe that I know better than you and that I will be able to face the unknown. Today, and for always, I trust you! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 13, 2019: SOAP #3509:  Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 10:11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again, and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
[That was the way it was under the Old Testament Law.]
[This is how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Law?]
Hebrews 10:14  because by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy.

Observation:   What a difference Jesus made!  He put an end to the daily sacrifices made in the tabernacle, then in the temple.  And the way He did it is amazing.  He did not just make a statement that animal sacrifices were not really covering the cost of sin; He personally made the true sacrifice to which the animal sacrifices pointed.  Once and for all time, He made the perfect sacrifice to cover the penalty for sin!  It never needs to be repeated!

Application:  My first response is to accept His offer of forgiveness; He is my Savior!  My next response is to thank Him.  Then I make my Savior to be my Lord (a title that He rightly deserves).  Then I set my heart to live a life that brings Him honor and great joy.

Prayer:  Jesus, after all You have done for me, my response must be more than just “Thank you!”  My life is yours.  My future is yours.  Today is yours! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!