July 28, 2021: SOAP #4255:  Isaiah 53-56; 2Peter 2

SCRIPTURE:  2Peter (NIV) 2:18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

OBSERVATION: If one could speak to a locomotive and convince it that it was in bondage to the rail; that the tracks kept the locomotive from enjoying the freedom that was available to other vehicles with wheels.  If the locomotive would leave the track and join the vehicles on the highway, it would soon come to find that what was seen as freedom was actually bondage!   The locomotive was designed to run on a railroad track.  Without the track it is both helpless and useless.  It loses the ability to fulfill its designed purpose.

The world promises us freedom if we just go along with them.  But like the locomotive, we will soon find ourselves bogged down with sin and unable to fulfill our purpose.

APPLICATION:  God designed me to be filled with His Holy Spirit.  I cannot please Him if I let the world set my agenda.  Sometimes His way seems limiting, and the world is always ready to show me a way to be free to do my own thing and live my own life.  But staying on God’s track always proves to be the wise choice.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you designed me.  Now that I am living is a world that is rebelling against your design, help me remain faithful. Help me not to be focused on what I am missing by staying on your track, but on what I am gaining!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!