November 10, 2020: SOAP #3995:  Job 35, 36; 1Corinthians 7, 8

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 7:35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Observation:  Sometimes leaders need to say things that people may not want to hear.   It should not be a control issue.  They are not to restrict believers but help them live in “undivided devotion to the Lord!”  A leader’s goal is to bring glory to the Lord through the lives of others.       

Application:  Two primary ways leaders should make this happens is through example and teaching.  Teaching may come through public exhortation or individual counseling. 

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, anoint and enable church leaders to correctly understand and faithfully proclaim truth.  Give them wisdom in understanding circumstances and courage to speak that which brings Jesus glory. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 9, 2020: SOAP #3994:  Job 34; 1Corinthians 4-6  

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 6: 13 …The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? …
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.

Observation:  God uniquely created our bodies as an intimate place He can personally share with each believer.  The intimacy of sex is given as a taste of the intimacy one can have with God.  The physical fruitfulness of sex is a taste of the fruitfulness of an intimate relationship with God! 

The physical body of Jesus was prepared for Him.  It gave Him an avenue of redemption for all those living in physical bodies.  He surrendered His physical body to death, from which God raised Him to physical life.  Paul gives the resurrection of Jesus as proof that God will also raise our physical bodies from death. 

Application:  So, what does THIS mean to me?  THIS means that it is NOT my body to do with as I please.  THIS means that I do not live in this body alone.  THIS means that my body has great value to God.  THIS means that I am to honor God with my body!  

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, now show me how to live out THIS truth in my daily life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 8, 2020: SOAP #3993:  Job 33, 1Corinthians 1-3

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 3:5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.

Observation:  Apollos and Paul; both are servants with specifically assigned tasks from the Lord.  Their labor would be useless and fruitless without God, who makes things grow.  Their labor would have no value without God, but as their labors are for God’s glory, each will be appropriately rewarded. 

These truths apply to all God’s servants!  Parents, preachers, givers, witnesses.   Everyone working for the Lord will be appropriately rewarded. 

Application:  One great benefit of working for the Lord is that His rewards carry over into eternity.  What is not received in this life will be amply supplied in eternity. 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I love you!  You are worthy!  Being your servant is such an honor.  Fulfilling your assignment brings great joy.  Any reward received from serving you will give me something to joyfully lay at your feet on judgment day.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 7, 2020: SOAP #3992:  Job 31, 32; Galatians 5,6  

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Observation:   We are not just free; we were “called to be free.”  It is one of the purposes of our creation, that we should be free.  Without that freedom, we cannot respond to God’s love in a way that ministers to Him!  Love does not enjoy being loved back by a robot! …or by someone with their arm twisted! The one returning the love must be free to do so.  In this, one can understand the special place of respect for martyrs in heaven!  God honors those who use their freedom to express the same devotion to God as His Son expressed in His love for people!  Note: Love may not be the only expression of faith, but without love, the others are not believable. In the USA, distances are measured in inches, feet, yards and miles.  Liquids are measured in pints, quarts and gallons.  Solids are measured in ounces and pounds.  But all over the world, love is measured by sacrifice.

Freedom also explains the presence of the tree in the Garden of Eden of which Adam and Eve were commanded “NOT to eat.”  God could have made the Garden without the tree, but He did not!  God’s man plan for a free man required that a choice be available. 

Application:  So now that we are free, what do we do with our freedom?  In Galatians 5.1 we see we are to use our freedom to stay free. Here we see that we are to use our freedom to serve one another. Freedom can be used for whatever might please the flesh, but Paul disallows that!   Freedom gives me the opportunity to serve my brother, motivated by my love for him, and also motivated by my love for our common Lord!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, help me grow in appreciation for the freedom purchased for me by the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus.  Holy Spirit, help me grow in ways of using my freedom to serve others and honoring the Father.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal Note:  As far as bus driving, I am on hold for a while.  The surgeon who did the mitro-valve repair thought I should be able to return as quickly as next week.  But my cardiologist who sent me for the surgery, is indicating that I may need to hold off another week.  (I will see him on the 13^th.)  The safety director at the bus barn is checking the policy for Durham Transportation to see if they allow people with pacemakers to drive their busses. 

My heart overflows with gratitude for all the ways God has blessed Sharon and myself.  People have helped rearrange furniture, others have brought meals, so many cards and expressions of prayer and support.  When I consider what God has done, my heart is filled with the Andre Crouch song:  How can I say thanks…To God be the glory”

November 6, 2020: SOAP #3991:  Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3,4

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 3:11 Clearly no-one is justified before God by the law, because “The righteous will live by faith.”

OBSERVATION:  Everything Paul has written, brings us to one conclusion.  There can be no justification for those trusting that living by the law will make them good enough to meet God’s requirements.  To be justified, I must live by faith in what Christ accomplished for me on the cross.  His death is the payment for my sins. 

APPLICATION:  Living by faith means that I am living CONFIDENT.  I am not worried.  Christ’s death for my sins far exceeds my ability to keep the law.  Living by faith means that I am living GRATEFUL.  I am thankful that God did for me what I was unable to do for myself.  Living by faith means that I am living LOVING JESUS!  I honor Jesus not because I have to but because I want to—I love Him!  Living by faith means that I am living OPEN.  Everyone who knows me will know that Jesus lives inside. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, living by faith means that I am living JOYFUL!  Being joyful is natural when I know I am walking with Jesus!  Holy Spirit, help me spread your joy around.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 5, 2020: SOAP #3990:  Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Observation:  What a powerful verse.  It contains the essence of the Gospel.  When I made Jesus the Lord of my life, I died to my old way of living.  I did not get a new body, but I got a new life.  People still recognized Leon, but soon recognized something different on the inside.  I do not walk around being a crucified Leon, but a resurrected Jesus! 

Application:  Sometimes my flesh wants to follow some old habit patterns, but the new resurrected life of Jesus checks my spirit, teaches me a better way, and empowers me to make a change.  It is always proper to confess/acknowledge any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to my thoughts.  But the emphasis is clearly not on making the old life of Leon acceptable, but on living the resurrected life of Jesus that has moved within!

Prayer:  Lord, you knew that I could never make it on my own, so you replaced me with you!   Now, living your life, victory is possible!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal note:  The doctor released me today from the hospital!  I should be able to return to school bus driving in a week.  PTL!  Thanks to all who have prayed for me!  Thanks to all who served me at the Kansas Medical Center.  Thanks to my wife, Sharon, who spent much time with me.  We consider ourselves very blessed! 

November 4, 2020: SOAP #3989:  Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 15:11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. 12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. 13 “Crucify him!” they shouted. 14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

OBSERVATION:  There were no voting booths or ballots, but the people ruled that day in Pilate’s court.  There was no media coverage, but it was clear who was arousing the crowd for their side.  And so, the One Perfect Candidate for political office was led off to be crucified!  

APPLICATION:  Whoever is elected tonight will not be the perfect candidate.  They will need the prayers of the citizens.  Citizens will need to use their influence to change hearts and minds.  The church may need to recognize that until we storm the gates of heaven, we have little effect in storming the gates of our governments.  Time before the court of heaven increases our efficiency before the courts on earth. 

PRAYER:  Holy Father, you are the ultimate ruler.  No one can resist your will.  Teach us to fight wisely in the battles we face against sin and Satan.  Holy Spirit, teach us to use the weapons so generously provided for our struggle here.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal note:  A pacemaker was surgically inserted in my shoulder this morning.  Although I have yet to hear anything official, the general consensus is that I will be released tomorrow.  The pacemaker is set to take over only when my heart rate drops too low.  So, I am praying that soon it will be not used.  😊   Leon

November 3, 2020: SOAP #3988:  Job 25; Mark 13-14

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 13:33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Observation:  Today there are many people who do not even know that there is an owner about to return.  They do not consider themselves as His servants.  They do not consider His preferences when they make their choices.  They do not consider that He will hold them accountable.  But He is coming.  He will hold us accountable. 

Application: “But I did not know,” will not be an acceptable excuse.  This is a time for calling on God.  Many people on earth will have no say in the election, but they will not be unaffected. 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, use the days ahead to draw many people into your kingdom. Send a mighty revival to your church.  Start it today in me! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal note:  In many ways I am progressing well from the surgery.  However, the heart rhythm is too slow, so tomorrow morning the doctor will install a permanent pacemaker.  This will probably require one more night in the hospital.  God is at work, and I trust Him.  Leon 😊 

November 2, 2020: SOAP #3987:  Job 22; Mark 7-8

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 12:41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Observation:  The size of the gift impressed most people but what impressed Jesus was the amount left after the giving. 

Application:  A small change in perspective can bring a great change in appreciation.  An old car may have little or no value at an auction, until it is announced that it was used in an old famous movie.  A baseball glove may have no value until it is discovered that it is the glove a famous player wore.  

A person may appear to be of little consequence until we discover that the creator of the earth valued them so much that He sent His Son to die for them!   If they have that much value to Him, they should have that much value to me. 

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help me to see people from heaven’s perspective.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal Note:  Still in the hospital.  Chest drainage tube has been removed.  Praise the Lord!  Had a slight fever today, but temp is normal now.  Still have pacemaker and heart monitor attached.  Thanks for everyone’s prayers!  Leon  😊