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! 

May 12, 2020: SOAP #3813:  2Samuel 21-23; 1Thessalonians 1

Scripture:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 1:4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. …

Observation:  Paul recognized that his ministry in the city of Thessalonica was on target with what God wanted him to do.  Not only was God presence with him, the Holy Spirit was active with him in ministry.  Paul was faithful in preaching.  Paul opened his mouth.  Paul used his voice.  AND the Holy Spirit demonstrated His power and brought deep conviction.  It is the presence and working of the Holy Spirit that validates ministry.

Application:  God has called me to this ministry, and the Holy Spirit validates the call by opening a passage in the Bible to give me fresh understanding for each day.  I set myself to read the scriptures; in faith I prepare a paper to make notes of what I hear Him emphasizing; in faith I prepare my computer program with the scripture references I will read for the day.  Then as I read and meditate on what I read, the Holy Spirit speaks to my mind and heart. Sometimes, like a beautiful flower the passage is open before me.  Sometimes, like a flower bud, the pedals of the flower open as I meditate on the passage.  Sometimes as I write one thought, a second comes, and then a third.

It may be an encouraging thought, or a corrective thought.  It may bring needed direction.  It may give understanding.  But it is always appropriate for today.  It is for me.  It is fresh.  It is for today.  It validates God’s call.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, use these SOAPs as an example to others for hearing you speak to them.  Oh, Heavenly Father, how you love people.  How you love to speak to them.  How you love for us to be listening.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 11, 2020: SOAP #3812:  2Samuel 19, 20; Psalm 55; Matthew 28

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) [Judas to the chief priests] 26:28 …”What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So, they counted out for him thirty silver coins.  …[Later] 27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” [After the resurrection] 28:12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Observation:  The “high and holy” priest refused to return to the temple treasury the same money they had given to Judas for his betrayal of Jesus—it was “blood money.”   Then, after the resurrection, the same priests gave the soldiers” a large sum of money” to spread a lie that the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus while they were asleep!

Application:  Money has great power for good or evil, depending on the motives in the heart of the one who possess it.  The Bible mentions some women who traveled with Jesus and the disciples; they helped finance ministry out of their wealth.  In the verses above money that had been given to God by temple worshippers was used by the priest to bring on the death of Jesus.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I want the money you place in my hand to further your kingdom.  May it be a cause of joy to you.  When I die, may the money I have given to you far exceed the money remaining in my bank accounts. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 10, 2020: SOAP #3811:  2Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Matthew 27

Scripture:  The chapter assigned for today from Matthew is about Jesus on the cross.  Since it is Mother’s Day, for Matthew 27:55-56, 61 I am substituting this passage from John which mentions Mary, Jesus’ mother.
John (NIV) 19:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Observation:  What Jesus was doing at that moment was so much bigger than Mary. He was dying as payment for the sins of everyone who would accept Him as Savior and Lord. Yet His assignment was not so big that He could not take time for His earthly mother.

Application: Today care homes are full of elderly people whose children act as though their jobs are so important that they do not have time to visit their parents.  Their jobs are not nearly as important as was Jesus’ job that day on the cross, yet He took time for His mother.   To ignore elderly parents is not very Christ-like. Honoring our parents is being like Jesus.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of your priorities, especially when I get to busy to remember them myself. Speak to our hearts and give us creative ways to express our love to our parents.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 09, 2020: SOAP #3810:  2Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 71:14 But as for me, I shall always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

Observation:  When God is at work, sometimes there is not much left for us to do—that is except use our mouth to “praise,” “tell,” “proclaim,” and “declare.”

May I be as diligent in using my mouth to extoll the greatness of God and His mighty deeds as He is in caring and providing for me.

Interesting note:  in Matthew 26:73-74 Peter was recognized by his accent, and then tried to distance himself from Jesus by his words.

Application:  We probably all have a friend that loves to talk about their special passion, be it sports, or automobiles, or food, or grandchildren…  As their friend, we know their favorite topic.

Do my friends know my favorite topic?  Have they come to recognize me as one who is passionate about Jesus?  If they have a problem, do they know me as someone who will pray for them?

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, my heart is full of appreciation for what Jesus has done for me.  Keep me aware of opportunities to tell, declare, and proclaim His love and mercy.  Guide my conversation, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!