May 22, 2020: SOAP #3823:  1Kings 8; 2Chronicles 5; Psalm 99; Romans 3

Scripture:  1Kings (NIV) 8: 15  Then he said: “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. …
22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands towards heaven 23  and said: “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

Observation:  God is wonderfully coordinated!  His hand and His mouth are perfectly coordinated.  We can trust God.  He will do as He says.

We must not forget that God is as faithful to deal with sin as He is to deal with faithfulness.  God’s character is Holy.  He is faithful to keep His word.  We can depend on His Word.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9) However, if we ignore Him, He is just as faithful to judge sin.

Application:   If I want to know what God will do, I need to see what God has said.  When I face a situation about which God has not specifically spoken, then I can count on Him to act according to his character, and according to His promises.  That is why it is so important that I know more than just about God; I must know God.  I am singing, “And He walks with me and He talks with me; and He tells me I am His own…”  As I that, God is singing, “And Leon walks with me and Leon talks with me; and Leon tells me I am his own; and the joy we share as we tarry there…”

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, as I grow in reading and meditating on God’s written Word, I know you will cause me to grow in hearing God’s spoken Word to me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 21, 2020: SOAP #3822:  1Kings 7; 2Chronicles 4; Psalm 98; Romans 2

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 98:1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Observation:  The new song I sang yesterday is a day old today.  But the instruction is to sing a “new” song.  For as long as God is doing “marvelous” things, we should be singing “new” songs.  For as long as God is saving people, for as long as we can see God’s love and faithfulness, we should be singing a new song.  There should never be an end to new songs of praise!

In the Psalms we also find instruction to rejoice, to re-joy, to have joy again.  Psalm 9:2 “I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”  Old songs can become new songs when we sing them in appreciation for what God is currently doing.  It is not the date the song was written that makes it old.  It is old when I can sing it without fresh appreciation.  The song should be renewed in my heart.  I should sing it again like I am singing it the first time!

Application:  Here is a song that to me is eternally new:  (words written before 1923 by Thomas Chisholm)
“Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father.
There is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, thou forever wilt be. …

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, …Great is Thy Faithfulness, Great is Thy Faithfulness;
Morning by morning new mercies I see! All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.”  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!