November 15, 2020: SOAP #4000:  Job 41, 42; 2Corinthians 1, 2

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians 2:3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

OBSERVATION:  How grateful we should be for the comfort God gives us.  His comfort relieves suffering and even gives reasons for rejoicing.  However, we should note that God does not give comfort only for our benefit, but “…so that…” we can comfort others. 

APPLICATION:  Daily God gives me insight into His word.  It blesses me to know He is with me and talks to me.  It brings me joy to see something fresh from the Lord.  BUT God intends it to be more than for my benefit.  He reveals His word to me “…so that…” I can share it with others. 

I am thinking that all God’s blessings should be seen the same way.  When God blesses me with some money, I praise Him for meeting my need.  But God gave it “…so that…” I can find a way to bless someone else.  Maybe it is only through my testimony to encourage them in their struggle. 

When God blesses me with a means of transportation, I enjoy the freedom it brings.  But God gave me that blessing “…so that…” I can bless others as they may have need.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I want you to be doubly blessed by the blessings you give me.  First, I want you to be blessed as I praise and thank you for your work in my life.  Second, I want you to be blessed as I bless others someone else. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 14, 2020: SOAP #3999:  Psalm 149; 1Corinthians 15, 16

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 149:1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.

Observation:  The Psalmist is not singing about people attending a concert of talented musicians giving a great musical presentation.  He is singing that everyone was to be a participator in the joyous praise.  It is always good to keep our hearts full of praise when we are alone, but here the psalmist is talking about everyone lifting their voices together in one mass choir to the Lord. 

Application:  I do not go to church to listen to others giving praise to God.  I go to join them in praising God.  I do not go to church to be entertained.  I go to church to join others in bringing joy to my Heavenly Father.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you are worthy of all praise.  You are worthy of my praise when I am all alone, and you are worthy of the praise of those with whom I gather.  May I never withhold your praise.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal note:  For those keeping up with my journey, today I visited my cardiologist.  The surgeon had indicated that I might be able to go back to bus driving this week, at least that is what I thought I heard.  The cardiologist today thinks it better if I go through some cardio-rehab and have more time to recover.  He wants an echo-cardiogram next week to have as a base line to measure future improvement.  Maybe I’ll get back to the bus the middle of December or the first of January.  The EKG today showed that my heart is still in atrial fib, but the pacemaker is maintaining a good pulse.   Eleven years ago, God told me to drive a school bus; He has enabled me to pass my required physical every year.  If I can best please Him by continuing to drive a bus, I am confident that He will continue to enable me to do so.  If He has a change for my service, it is His to direct. 

Note: tomorrow is a day I never dreamed I would meet:  SOAP #4000.  For you who have joined me, thank you for your encouraging notes from time to time.  S.D.G.  😊  Leon

November 13, 2020: SOAP #3998:  Job 39, 40; 1Corinthians 13, 14

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

OBSERVATION:  Paul was writing instructions to the church in Corinth about their times of gathering or meetings.  From reading this chapter, we see that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were active among the believers.  Sometimes it became disorderly.  Paul did not tell them to all be quiet, but that things should be done in an orderly manner.  It was important for people to understand what the Spirit was saying to the church. 

In the verse above, the church members were “eager” to have spiritual gifts. 

APPLICATION:  What are the characteristics of someone “eager” to have spiritual gifts?  I think that they would be praying between meetings that God would use them to bring a “gift” that would build up the congregation.  I believe they would come ready to allow the Holy Spirit to flow through them with a prophecy, a gift of healing, message of tongues and interpretation. 

I do not think they would come hoping that the preacher would have a good message to encourage them.  They would come with something in their spirit that can be shared with the body or some individual who needs encouragement.  They would come to church looking for a way to be a blessing! 

One does not need to be in leadership to be used by the Holy Spirit.  They can be active as believers minister to each other.  Spiritual gifts can flow through us at home, at work, at school, at church, or wherever we are! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, find me “eager” to have you working through me.  Forgive me for times I resisted or ignored what you were saying to me.  May I always be open to your leading.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 12, 2020: SOAP #3997:  Job 37, 38; 1Corinthians 12

Scripture:  1Corrrinthians (NIV) 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

Observation:  Out of this passage about spiritual gifts, the above verse speaks to me today.  When God gives one of His children a gift, His desire is that it will give them opportunities to be more like Him!  He is a giver!  He is a lover!  He serves us in so many ways.  With their gift, they can better serve others.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit, the leadership gifts, the motivational gifts, the gift of knowledge and/or wisdom, the gift of our possessions…and whatever else type of gifts there may be… They are all given to us to make us more useful to others.  They are not given to us to make our lives easier or so we can climb to a position in life to be better than others, or to control others.  They are given to us so that we can make others better—so we can serve others. 

Application:  I believe when God has given me a gift, He will also provide a way to use that gift to serve others.  God has given me the gift of knowing Him and seeing things from His perspective.  Through these SOAPs, He has provided a way for that gift to bless others. 

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, thank you for making me useful.  And thank you for increasing the usefulness of each SOAP reader. Stir them up and show them a way they can personally use whatever gift you have given them to benefit others. Help us to not miss any opportunity today to use our gifts to serve others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 11, 2020: SOAP #3996:  Psalm 122; 1Corinthians 9-11

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

OBSERVATION:  Paul has been giving instructions about what food would be permissible to eat, and what should be refused, and why.  As he is completing his instructions, he gives this overriding principle for life.  Whatever they eat, whatever they drink, OR WHATEVER THEY DO…  This principle not only covers eating and drinking; it covers EVERYTHING they do!   “…do it all for the glory of God!”

APPLICATION:  Everything I do should be done considering my relationship to God.  Is there a way that what I am doing can bring God personal satisfaction and joy?  I am His child/son.  How can I please Him? 

Since people already know (or will soon come to know) of my personal relationship to God, is there something I can do that might cause them to consider God worthy of their commitment?

Since my life is on display before heavenly principalities, how can I live my life in a way that makes God’s plan to create man, to redeem fallen man by the death of Jesus, to give man authority and a promise of ruling and reigning in heavenly places…how can I live my life so that all principalities and powers in heavenly places will stand in awe at the wisdom and love of God!

Note: The great music composers, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) and George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) often  wrote the initials “S. D. G.” at the end of their compositions.  Soli Deo gloria. …meaning “glory to God alone,” or “glory to the only God.”   

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, stamp my life with S.D.G! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

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!