December 01, 2019: SOAP #3650:  Romans 5-8

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Observation:  The salvation given by God is a complete salvation.  It deals with our past.  We “have been justified”—made just as if we had never sinned—through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It deals with our present.  We “now stand” in God’s grace!

It deals with our future.  The future is not something we dread, but something for which we rejoice.  We have the hope of the glory of God.

Application:   With my sins forgiven, my past is settled.  I am standing in God’s grace.  The Holy Spirit now dwells in my life and I am learning to rely on His leading.  The more I acknowledge His presence and listen to His leading, the more I am amazed at how things work out!   My future is bright as heaven is my certain destination!   Wow!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, what a wonderful and complete salvation you provided through the death and resurrection of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Thank you!  May my appreciation be evident in how I live my daily life.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 30, 2019: SOAP #3649:  Romans 1-4

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Observation:  Faith is not only at the first and then at the last.  It is not how we begin and how we end our life with Christ.  The faith is “from first to last.”  Faith is how we take the trip from first to last.  Faith makes a difference in how we live each day.  Faith is to be applied to every little thing AND every big thing we face every day!

Application:   There have been major things that effected how I lived my everyday life.  The commitment I made to the US Navy affected every part of my daily life for 10 years.  It changed the clothes I wore.  It changed how I made decisions.  It changed how I saw myself.  It established my purpose for each day.

Getting married changed everything.  Sharing a loving, committed, daily relationship with Sharon has changed everything for the past 50+ years!

Over these, and every other determining factor in how I live my life, is my faith—my confidence in God and His presence.  In the Navy, I lived by faith!  In my marriage, I live by faith.  My faith affected what I did yesterday, and today, and it will affect what I do tomorrow.  I LIVE by faith.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, may living by faith become as natural as breathing the air you have provided.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 29, 2019: SOAP #3648:  1Thes 4-5; 2Thes 1-3

Scripture:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 4:1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Observation:  As Jesus taught, he took no credit for his teaching, but clearly told His listeners that he was giving them only what the Father had given him.  Here we see Paul doing the same.  He was not telling them what he wanted them to hear, but what God wanted them to hear. The instructions Paul had given the Thessalonians was given under the direction and authority of the Lord Jesus.

Application:   As I approach the tenth anniversary of writing and posting these daily SOAPs, the determination of my success remains the same.  As an active senior pastor, my goal for preaching weekly sermons was to give out only what God wanted me to say.  Now, in writing these daily SOAP devotions, it is my goal to only write what God is saying to me.

Once in a while I sense God speaking through me to someone else, but all the time, even when God is speaking to someone else, I know God is speaking to me.  For that reason, the application portion is written in first person.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, only you can determine my success in writing these SOAPs.  Only you, truly know what you are saying to Leon.  Holy Spirit, help me understand and make clear with my words what you are saying to me.  Use these SOAPs as an example to others for daily Bible reading and as an encouragement to look for what you are saying to them each day.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 27, 2019: SOAP #3646:  Matthew 28; 1Thes 1-3

Scripture:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 3:6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

Observation:  Timothy brought Paul a good report of the believers in Thessalonica.  Paul was experiencing some trials and persecution, but the report brought great encouragement to Paul.  The report re-invigorated Paul, it lifted his spirits, it drew him on in his calling to preach the gospel.  It reminded Paul of the joy he would have when standing before God.

Application:   I want my life to have the same effect as those in Thessalonica.  When people hear about Leon, may they be encouraged.  If they are going through hard times, may they be encouraged to faithfully continue serving the Lord.  May thoughts of me bring a smile to their face and encourage their resolve to please our Lord.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, especially as I gather with dear friends in expressing our thanksgiving for your bountiful blessings, make my life a blessing to others.  Use me to make others aware of Your Presence and how blessed I am to serve such a wonderful God!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 27, 2019: SOAP #3646:  Psalm 125; Matthew 26-27

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 26:1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him.

Observation:  Just two days away from the darkest day on earth.  Man would kill his Creator!  Satan would incite men to kill the only One who had never sinned!  Religious leaders would break religious laws to bring about the death of the only One who had ever kept all the laws!  The hope of sick people who had only heard about the Healer would be dashed to pieces!  What a dark day! …and in only two days!

But those of us who know the rest of the story know that it was just five days away from the greatest day on earth!!!  In five days, the grave would be empty; death would be defeated!  In five days, sin would be atoned!  In five days, the Resurrected Jesus would appear with no indication that he had experienced the cruelty of a Roman crucifixion!  In five days, hope would overtake despair and joy would overtake sorrow!

Application:  There are times when great trouble is only two days away.  Sometimes God removes the trouble and give me victory; sometimes He leads me through the trouble to the victory just beyond!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to always see trouble in the light of victory. Victory preventing the crisis is great, but often the victory after the crisis is even greater.  However it comes, my eyes are on you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 26, 2019: SOAP #3645:  Matthew 23-25

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
Or…
42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

Observation:  Jesus hungry?  Jesus thirsty?  Jesus needing clothing or a place to stay?  Jesus sick?  Jesus in prison?!!

Just as Jesus identified with me as a sinner, He identifies with the homeless.  He hurts with them.  He experiences their pain.

Jesus wants His hands to reach out and minister to those in need.  Oh, that’s right!  I am His hands!

Application:  Jesus hurts with those in need.  And through His body, He ministers to those in need.  His hands and feet use His resources to minister to those needing help.  And through their help, they also can become a part of His body!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to fulfill my part as the body of Christ.  Help me bring joy to the heart of Jesus by ministering to those with whom He so closely identifies. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 25, 2019: SOAP #3644:  Matthew 20-22

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 21:7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

Observation:  Surely no donkey had ever been treated so royally!  People put their garments, their cloaks, their scarves on the donkey and the colt.  In addition, they also spread clothing and tree branches on the road so the donkeys would not hurt their feet by walking on stones and a hard road surface!

Although it was nice for the donkeys, those of us who know the full story know that it was not for the benefit of the donkeys, but to honor the Rider!

Application:  Many times, I have found myself in the place of the donkey.  People have blessed me and honored me, but it was all because of the One I carried in my heart.   I have reaped many benefits from having Jesus as the LORD of my life.  But even if I received no personal benefit, it is still worth having Jesus in my life!

Prayer:  Jesus, it is an honor to have you in my life.  I want you to feel at home living in me.  May the people I meet today recognize your presence. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 24, 2019: SOAP #3643:  Matthew 17-19

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

Observation:  The ministry of Jesus took many forms from teaching and feeding the 5000+ to sitting at a well, asking and answering questions from a single woman.  In this passage Jesus takes just three of the twelve disciples “up a high mountain by themselves.”

It took some effort to go with Jesus, but it was worth it.  The place did not have a well-traveled path.  One translation says it was a solitary place.

“Jesus took” them with him.  It was a place where Jesus could be alone with them.  It was important to Him to have time alone with them.

They followed His leading.  It was a place where they could be alone with Jesus.

Application:  Sometimes Jesus leads us to places away from the crowd.  He may lead to a place where only a few can go with us.  We should follow Him, even though the path may be difficult.  It is worth the climb to be alone with Jesus!  It is worth the struggle getting through death’s door; we will be with Him!!!  We shall see Him as He IS!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, with the guidance of your ever-present Holy Spirit, I want to climb higher.  Seeing Jesus as He is makes the struggle worthwhile.   Amen
Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 23, 2019: SOAP #3642:  Matthew 14-16

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Observation:  Herod’s impressions of Jesus were only from word of mouth.  He had no personal experience with Jesus.  Hearing about Jesus raised feelings of conviction over his past sins.  I am sure he felt regret that he had been tricked into having John the Baptist put to death.

What Herod needed was a personal meeting with Jesus where the burden of sin could be lifted by forgiveness.

Application:   What a sad state of affairs one can see in the US congress where people want to find facts but can only find witness who heard something, or overheard a conversation that may have been about the specific subject, or presumed, or put several things together and jumped to what they thought was a logical conclusion.  No one has any personal, firsthand knowledge.

But much worse than that is when people only know about Jesus from what other people say.  They have no personal, firsthand knowledge.  They do not know Him; only know about Him.

The following prayer can be the start of a wonderful personal relationship, not just knowing about Him, but knowing Him!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and sending your Son, Jesus, to die in payment for my sins.  Jesus, I thank you for dying in my place and rising back to life.  Forgive my sins.  By your Spirit, come and live in my life.  I acknowledge you as the Lord of my life. Thank you for loving and forgiving me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 22, 2019: SOAP #3641:  Matthew 11-13

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Observation:  I have looked over this verse many times.  I have used it in previous SOAP devotions.  When my attention was again drawn to this passage, I wondered what I would find.  Then I saw it, a small word, only two letters, but the most important word in these three verses!  It is the word “my.”  As it is Jesus speaking, it means HIS yoke and HIS burden.

When I am yoked to Him, we together are pulling His load.  And just like the strength of a rope is the strength of the strongest strand, the strength that flows through the yoke is His strength!  For me, the yoke is easy, and the burden is light!

Application:   It is important for me to be pulling His load.  The world can put a lot of expectations on me—my family, my friends, and even myself also.  When the burden seems too heavy, I need to check to see whose burden it is.  When the yoke seems not to fit, I need to make sure it is His yoke.

Prayer:   Jesus, I am yoked to you by love, Your love for me and my love for you.  When life gets too stressful, remind me that it is your burden we are carrying as we are yoked together.  May I never fear picking up your burden. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!