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! 

May 20, 2020: SOAP #3821:  1Kings 6; 2Chronicles 3; Psalm 97; Romans 1

Scripture:  1Kings (NIV) 6:19 He prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there. … 21 Solomon covered the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold. … 30 He also covered the floors of both the inner and outer rooms of the temple with gold. … 38 …the temple was finished in all its details according to its specifications. He had spent seven years building it.

Observation:  I have noticed that buildings being built today often take more time to finish the inside than the outside.  A long time after the outside is finished, workers are still present and carrying in supplies for the inside.

The plan always was to prepare the temple for the ark where God’s Presence dwelt.  Much preparation was needed on the inside.  The inside, even the floor of the inner sanctuary was covered with gold.

Application:    The inner sanctuary within the temple is like my person’s heart (the seat of my emotions, meditations, and convictions.)  At times I may get stuck on the sanctifying work of the cross.  I am always asking for forgiveness.  I forget that God desires more than to clean me up; He wants to grow me up!  God has been working on my inner sanctuary much longer than the seven years it took Solomon to finish the work on the temple.

It seems there is always something more He desires to put into my heart.  A little more love, a little more patience, a little more grace, kindness, gentleness, etc.  He considers my heart to be His home.  He wants to feel at home in my life just as he feels at home in heaven.

Prayer:   Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true.  With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you. (Written by JW Thompson & R Scruggs)   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 19, 2020: SOAP #3820:  1Kings 4, 5; 2Chronicles 2; Psalm 101; 2Thess 3

Scripture:  2Thessalonians (NIV) 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

Observation:  Paul’s prayer request for the people of Thessalonica is very similar to mine for those who read these SOAP devotionals.  We have a new member of the SOAP team, Papiya.  Recently she married Jents who began the translating of the SOAPs into Bangla some years ago. (Today Pastor Amaresh translates the SOAPs into Bangla.)  God has blessed Jents with a ministry of producing Christian videos for TV and for use on the internet.  His Facebook page, “Jesus Loves India” has 200,000+ followers.  Papiya, who is from India, has started translating the SOAPs into Hindi and posting them on this page.

Like Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, “Pray that the message of the Lord in these SOAPs may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it is with you.”

Application:   The Lord has opened doors for the SOAPs to go into several languages: Bangla, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu, Hindi, and English.  Pray for me to hear a fresh word from the Lord every day and to communicate it in simple words easy to be translated.  Pray for the translators that they will understand the message and communicate it clearly.  Pray for the message to enlighten, strengthen, and bless the translators as they do their work.  Pray for people to be drawn to the SOAPs.  Pray that the same Holy Spirit, who anoints me to write the SOAPs and anoints the translators to translate the SOAPs, will anoint the heart and mind of the readers.

Prayer:   Lord, may these daily SOAPs honor you by blessing your people.  Holy Spirit, impart strength and direction to the church through the knowledge and understanding of your Word.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 18, 2020: SOAP #3819:  1Kings 3; 2Chronicles 1; Psalm 78; 2Thessalonians 2

Scripture:  2Thessalonians (NIV) 2:10 …They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Observation:  When people do not care enough to look for the truth, they will end up believing a lie.  What one believes affects their conversation and actions.  Beliefs are the foundation for what people talk about and what they do.  Beliefs are the foundation for their priorities.

When God lays the truth before us and we refuse to acknowledge it we open ourselves up to believing lies.  Reality is truth; truth is reality.

Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Digging to discover truth will lead us to Jesus from whom all truth flows.  God is holy and truth the truest expression of holiness.

Application:   When face to face with truth, I can either accept it or reject it.  When the facts do not seem clear, I need to search it out.  When I cannot prove something by facts, I need to use faith.  However, it is not an unreasonable faith.  It should be a reasonable, a logical faith.  From the supporting evidence, faith is as real as truth.  God is real!  God is worth getting to know!

Note:  It is a sad day for any nation when its news reporters do not love the truth.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I know that truth is important to God.  Truth must be important to me.  I need your help to set my faith according to truth I need to live my life and to plan for eternity.  Help me not to believe a lie.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 17, 2020: SOAP #3818:  1Kings 2: 1Chronicles 29; Psalm 95; 2Thessalonians 1

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 95:1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker

Observation:  David had so much for which to praise God.  He rejoiced before the Lord.  He expressed his appreciation with music.  What a great God!  What a great King.  What a great Creator!

Application:  Like David, I have so much for which to praise God.  BUT I HAVE SO MUCH MORE THAN DAVID!  I have Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  David knew creation and the history of Israel; I know Jesus, God’s Son.  David relied on animal sacrifices (plural) for forgiveness; I rely on the single sacrifice of Jesus on the cross!  Yes, I have so much more!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, my heart is full of praise for the wonders of creation.  AND my heart OVERFLOWS WITH PRAISE for Your Son, Jesus and what He did for me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 16, 2020: SOAP #3817:  1Kings 1: 1Chronicles 28; Psalm 91; 1Thessalonians 5

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. …
9  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; …
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

Observation:  What a wonderful psalm of promise.  However, before we claim those promises as personal to us, we need to see to whom they were written.  Verse one shows these are written to those who “dwell in the secret place of the Most High.”  They have made God’s presence their home.  It is where they live.  This is where they eat their meals.  This is where they get their rest.  Verse 9 says the LORD is their habitation.  It is the place they have come to know as home.  They are not strangers in God’s presence; they live there.  They are familiar with God’s habitation because they have made it their habitation.

Verse 14 shows us that this portion of the Psalm is for those who have “set their love” upon God.  He is the focus of their passion.  They cannot get Him out of their thoughts.  They want to discover what He thinks about the issues of life.  They greatly desire to please, to make Him smile.  They love Him.

Application:  It is wonderful to read through the Bible and claim promises of God’s protection, provision, and presence.  But the verses before and after those promises are equally God’s Word.  Often they tell me who those promises are for and what God expects from me.  I enjoy reading the scriptures about God’s love, but the scriptures that speak of His holiness are just as inspired.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help me receive and live by the full counsel of God.  As I read the Bible, point out to me what I need and not just what I like.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 15, 2020: SOAP #3816:  1Chronicles 25-27; 1Thessalonians 4

Scripture:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Observation:  When Jesus returns to gather his church, He will not come by himself.  He will be bringing “those who have fallen asleep in him.”  Which agrees with 2Corinthians 5:8 which tells us to be “absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord.”  Their earthly bodies will be raised from the earth to join their spirits descending with the Lord.

Then the believers whose spirits and bodies are still joined, will be caught up, together with the resurrected bodies that have just been reunited with their spirits.  Together we will enjoy the banquet He is preparing.  With transformed bodies we will all serve God and enjoy the fullness of God’s amazing kingdom.  With HIM forever!

Application: “Encourage each other with these words.”  Death is not the final word.  Goodbye is not for eternity.  It is worth the sacrifice to serve Jesus.  Resurrection is the logical conclusion of a believer’s earthly life.

Prayer:   Lord, having recently “lost” a cousin, an aunt, and a dear Christian friend, I thank you for this passage and the encouragement it brings.  The Covid-19 virus may prevent me from being present at a funeral, but nothing can prevent me from being present to greet them when you are acclaimed King of kings and Lord of lords!  “What a day that will be!!!” Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 14, 2020: SOAP #3815:  1Chronicles 22-24; 1Thessalonians 3

Scripture:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 3:5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
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 … we were encouraged about you because of your faith.

Observation:  Paul would have loved today’s phone service.  I believe he would have developed the first phone ministry.  The people in Thessalonica were his family and he disliked not being able to communicate with them in a timely manner.  He knew they would be suffering persecution; they were often in his thoughts; they were often in his prayers.  He was concerned.  How was their faith holding?  What a relief for Paul when Timothy brought good news about their “faith and love.”

Application:  Surely there are people about whom we have the same concern.  The previous generation would hurry to the mailbox to see if there was a letter from their loved ones.  With the phones today, we can call, get answers to our questions, give encouragement from God’s word, and even talk to the Lord together!  We may even be in different time zones, but the phone links us in the same moment!  Phones open doors for ministry.

When the Holy Spirit brings the name of another believer across our thoughts, we can immediately pray for them.  We can also follow His leading by making a phone call.  No prayer meeting can be stopped by Covid-19 when believers have phones!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, when a memory of another believer crosses my mind, help me consider it a call to prayer.  Help me consider the phone bill as an investment in ministry.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 13, 2020: SOAP #3814:  2Samuel 24; 1Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; 1Thess 2

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 30:6 When I felt secure, I said, “I shall never be shaken.” 7 O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.

Observation:  David lived among nations whose gods were idols.  They were lifeless gods.  They had no ability to think or reason.  They had no feelings, no emotions.  One thing about David’s living God, He could show favor.  He could make choices.  He could use His omnipotence to express favor.  What a blessing to experience God’s favor!

But a God who can favor us, can also remove His favor.  He can be disappointed in us, even be angry with us.  For an omnipotent God to be angry with us is a terrible thing!

Thankfully, God’s two main character traits are Holy and Loving.  So, for those whose sins are forgiven and have a relationship with God as His children, He is inclined to favor them.

Application:  As I grow and learn more about this God who loves me, I learn what pleases him and makes Him inclined to favor me.  I also learn what displeases Him.  He has given me the Holy Spirit to live with me and help me live a life that pleases God.  I like to please Him; He likes to favor me!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, today I want to live my life in a way that makes you want to show me your favor.  May it not be hard for you to favor me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!