March 12, 2021: SOAP #4117:  Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 3:24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. …
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

OBSERVATION:  Here is a quick overview of the above…
God made a promise to Abraham to send a Redeemer/Messiah.
God gave the law through Moses.
The purpose of the law was not to replace the promise.
The purpose of the law was to preserve people until the coming of the  
       promised Messiah.
The law revealed man’s sinfulness in the light of God’s holiness.
The law revealed the need for an appropriate sinless sacrifice.
The law was completed by the sacrifice, but the promise still stands.
The sacrifice opened the way for all mankind to receive the promise .
The promise is received only through faith.

APPLICATION: The way has been opened for me to receive God’s promise.  I believe I can trust God’s word.  By that faith, I confess my total inadequacy in living up to God’s holy standard, I accept His forgiveness provided by His sinless sacrifice on the cross, and I confess that He is now my Lord and His Holy Spirit lives inside me. 

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for forgiving me and taking up residence in me.  Thank you for the joy of living in right relationship with you. Thank you for remembering and keeping your promise!   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 11, 2021: SOAP #4116:  Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 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:  As I have grown in understanding God’s plan for His people, this verse combines important issues.  It ties the truth of my old life to the truth of Jesus’ crucifixion.  And it ties the truth of my present life to the truth of Jesus’ resurrected life. 

Now, by faith, I share the life of Jesus.  It is an active life, a daily life, a life of loving the Heavenly Father and serving others.  It is a life of constant relationship, as Jesus had with His Father.  

And there is another thing I share with Jesus; I share His history!  He was crucified, buried, and risen.  That is now my history!  I have been crucified with Christ!  He is not crucified with me as I go through the troubles of life.  No. I am crucified with Him!   The crucifixion of Jesus is past; now I live with Him; He lives His resurrected life in me! 

APPLICATION:  It is when I forget that I have been crucified with Christ that I have trouble with temptation.  Satan tries to call the old Leon back to life.  But as I am alive in Jesus, Satan’s call to the old Leon falls not on deaf ears, but on dead ears! 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you knew exactly what would be needed for me to live in victory.  I needed my sins forgiven by the blood of Jesus!  I needed to die to my old life and allow the Holy Spirit to live in me as He did in Jesus.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 10, 2021: SOAP #4115:  Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 1:13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man…

OBSERVATION:  Paul recognized that it was God’s pleasure that revealed Jesus to him when he was on his way to persecute the believers in Damascus.  It brought pleasure to God to interrupt Paul’s plan that day and turn him into the Apostle to the Gentiles!   (Acts 9:1-6)   Paul lived his life totally committed to bringing pleasure to God.  Even his time in prison was committed to God’s pleasure.  The letters he wrote revealed God to the believers—and still do, to this day!  

APPLICATION:  It Was God’s pleasure to choose each of us.  Our children have been given to us by God’s pleasure.  It is God’s pleasure that we have work/ministry assignments. 

It was God’s pleasure to call me to Himself and give me a daily assignment.  It is my pleasure to go through my day honoring Him and fulfilling my work/assignment in a way that pleases Him.  When my assignment gets long and/or wearisome, I need to remember that I am to bring God pleasure through what I do.  When I have learned to give Him pleasure, He can then move me to another place.  Of course, in bringing Him pleasure, I may find that I do not want another place because I have learned to enjoy what brings Him pleasure. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me live my life to pleasure my Heavenly Father.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 09, 2021: SOAP #4114:  Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 16:6 [the angel in the empty tomb] “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Here is where Jesus had told them:  Mark (NIV) 14:26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

OBSERVATION: Jesus had told his disciples several times that He would be crucified and rise to life again on the third day.  As we read above, Mark even mentioned where Jesus told them to meet Him—in Galilee.  The angel at the tomb instructed the women to remind the disciples.  Do not let them forget!   This is important!  Tell them again. 

APPLICATION: I am so thankful for the wonderful ministry of the Holy Spirit.  He lives inside me—He is always that close.  AND He speaks to me.  He helps me remember the words of Jesus.  (John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.)

PRAYER: Jesus, you knew I would have trouble remembering.  So, you sent the Holy Spirit to guide me and to remind of what you have told me. When I remember your words, I can begin to live in accordance with your plan.  Holy Spirit, work with me to quickly hear your voice and understand what you are saying to me.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 08, 2021: SOAP #4113:  Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15

SCRIPTURE:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 7:17 [Moses’ farewell address to Israel] You may say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?” 18 But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. 19 You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear. 20 Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished. 21 Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.

OBSERVATION:  He is indeed an AWESOME God!  One needs only to consider the way God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and how He sustained them for forty years in the wilderness!  He is an AWWSOME God!!! 

God had clearly led the Israelites into the wilderness, and He sustained them in the wilderness where He had led them! 

APPLICATION: Since I have accepted the salvation this AWESOME God provided through His son Jesus, then clearly this AWESOME God is my God!  When He leads me into a ministry, I can rest assured that this AWESOME God will sustain me in that ministry.  My main responsibility is to make sure He is the one leading me and that I am obeying His commands.

My confession:  Without doubt, the AWESOME God has assigned me to write a SOAP (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) devotion every day; I can count on this AWESOME God to speak to me each day as I read His word.
My confession:  Without doubt, I have been led by an AWESOME God into driving a school bus; I can count on the AWESOME God to be with me as I take students to and from school. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are the AWESOME God who led and sustained the Israelites in the wilderness.  You are the same AWESOME God who leads and sustains me!  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 07, 2021: SOAP #4112:  Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

SCRIPTURE:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 6:17 Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. 18 Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers, 19 thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said.

OBSERVATION: These verses are from Moses’ farewell address to the Israelites.  He reviewed their history and the ten commandments.  Here he gives a simple statement of how to live: “Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight.” 

APPLICATION:  In these words, I find a good way to judge my words and actions as I go through each day.  “Is this right and good in the LORD’s sight?”  “What does the LORD think about what I am doing?”  “Did the LORD approve of my words?”  “Do my actions bring joy to the LORD’s heart and a smile to His face?”  Do I treat the Lord as a welcome and honored guest in my life?  Is making the LORD feel at home in my heart a priority? 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I am sure that nothing has pained you more than seeing your son, Jesus, take the sins of the world and pay their penalty on the cross.  But even after you gave your Son, there is still so much in this world that brings you pain—and you see it all.  May I be one who makes you smile.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 06, 2021: SOAP #4111:  Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

SCRIPTURE:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 4:5 [Moses giving his farewell address to Israel] See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” 7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 8 And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? 9 … Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

OBSERVATION:  God desired to be glorified in the world through Israel.  He wanted the nations around them to see what a wonderful God Israel served.  They would be amazed at Israel’s righteous laws, their wisdom and understanding.  …and the fact that their God was with them!

APPLICATION:  In this we see God’s desire to be glorified in the world today through the church!  God’s wisdom is seen in the church through their faithfulness to God’s Word.  God’s love is seen in the church through their love for each other.  God’s provision is seen as He answers their prayers. 

Also, in this we see God’s desire to be glorified in the world today through me, through Leon.  His wisdom is seen in my faithfulness to God’s Word.  God’s love is seen in me as He talks with me and to me.  God’s provision is seen as He cares for me. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I want the world to see how honored I am to serve you.  May your love and greatness be seen in me as you work in my life.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 05, 2021: SOAP #4110:  Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

SCRIPTURE:  Mark 12:42 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: Giving is such an important part of our lives.  We do not have the ability to see the true value of a gift.  But Jesus does.  The widow’s gift got His attention!  He made sure His disciples realized the value of this gift!   

The truth is, if anyone needed to give, it was her.  She needed to sow a seed to reap a harvest.  Her giving gained the attention of the greatest Giver, Jesus!  This poor widow became the most talked about, the most read about money giver in the history of man!     

APPLICATION: No one is too poor to give.  I do not have to wait until I have more to become a giver.  I must start with what I have, no matter how small.  The poorer I am, the more I need to give! 

Some people want others to give to their need.  They pray for God to multiply what they receive from others.  In God’s economy, He does not multiply what others give me; He multiplies what I give! 

It is not the seed I eat, but the seed I sow that produces next year’s harvest.  It is not what I keep for myself, but what I give away that produces my harvest. 

PRAYER: Lord, I know you watch me give. I pray that my giving brings you joy!  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 04, 2021: SOAP #4109:  Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

SCRIPTURE:  Numbers (NIV) 34:1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance will have these boundaries: 3 “‘Your southern side will include some of the Desert of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern boundary will start from the end of the Salt Sea,…

OBSERVATION: The Lord promised the land to Abraham.  Through the years, God repeated the promise several times.  When Jacob died in Egypt, he arranged to be buried in the “Promised Land”/Canaan.  God miraculously delivered the Israelites from Egypt and miraculously led them to where they were about to enter the “Promised Land”/Canaan.  Joseph made sure His bones would be carried out of Egypt to be buried in the land God had promised Israel. 

It was a specific land, with boundaries set by God.  As they honored God by keeping His laws, inside the boundaries they would find God’s Presence, God’s Protection, and God’s Provision.  The boundaries set the limitations for God’s promises. 

APPLICATION:  When God calls me today, He sets boundaries.  Sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence and I want to move out of the boundaries God has given.  But if I want God’s provision, I must stay within the boundaries He has set.  If I am faithful, He may enlarge my boundaries. 

SOAPs started as personal devotions.  As I was faithful in the few people that were interested, God enlarged the boundaries to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and other Asian countries.  For ten years I remained faithful in daily posting what God gave me each day.  Then last year, Pastor Andrew in Sierra Leone became interested in the SOAPs.  Through printing and sharing, through the medium of Facebook, the SOAPs they have now spread into 5 or 6 African countries. 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for the boundaries you gave me, and thank you for expanding those boundaries.  Thank you for your promise, your presence, your provision and protection.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 03, 2021: SOAP #4108:  Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

OBSERVATION:  James and John were wanting a guarantee that Jesus would do what they want.  There are times we would all like such a guarantee.  But such a pre-request is probably a good indication that we have no idea about what we are really asking. 

Could Jesus give such a guarantee?  Of course.  But He knows what would accompany the answer to such a question.  He knows the pain and heartache that the answer we want would bring.  So, in love and kindness, at times He says “No.” 

APPLICATION:  Here we see Jesus getting questions like we all get occasionally.  Will you do me a favor?  Can I ask you a question?  Will you help me?  We might be inclined to answer, “Yes,” but we have no idea of what they are asking.  Especially for people who dislike saying, “no,” such a question puts them in an uncomfortable position.  It is good to get the details before agreeing. 

I have found that the only one to whom I can give a “yes” answer without knowing the full question is Jesus!   I can trust Him.  He will only ask me to do what is good for me.  And if it gets too hard for me, which it often does, He is always available and willing to do it through me!   Many times, He already knows that doing what He asks is beyond my strength and ability.  He is asking me to do something that will prove that He is trustworthy to help me. 

PRAYER: Lord, I know I can trust you.  You will not ask me to do something that you are not willing to do through me!  Your presence guarantees my success.   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!