April 08, 2020: SOAP #3779:  1Samuel 3-5; Psalm 77; 2Corinthians 8

Scripture:  1Samuel (NIV) 3:8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.  9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 And the LORD said to Samuel…

Observation:  God was speaking!  The God of creation was speaking to a young boy.  Samuel did not yet recognize God’s voice and thought the old priest, Eli, was calling him.  After his third trip to check on Eli, Eli realized that God was calling Samuel.  So, he told Samuel how to respond.  And God cared enough that He called out a fourth time!

What Samuel heard was important, but what God heard was even more important!  First, God heard one of his created beings say, “LORD, I hear you.”  God had been hearing people cry out to Him, but here was a man that could hear God call out to him!  Second, God heard a man, created in His image say, “What you say is important.  I am listening.”  God had been listening to desperate people call to him with what was important to them.  Here was a young man willing to let God tell him what was important to God.  Samuel was saying, I can sleep later; hearing what you have to say is more important that sleep.  Third, God heard a young man say, “I am your servant.  I will follow through with your instructions.”  I will honor your word.

Application:   I know God hears me.  It is important that God knows that I hear Him!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, make me like Samuel.  I know you like to hear me come to you with my praise and worship, yes and with my needs.  But when it comes to my wants and needs, it is more important that I hear your word, then you hear my words.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 07, 2020: SOAP #3778:  1Samuel 1-2; Psalm 66; 2Corinthians 7

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 7:5 For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

Observation:  In verse five we have a window into the soul of this great apostle Paul.  We read in other scriptures about the conflicts he had in his ministry, but here he also mentioned the “fears within.”  This great apostle had some inner issues like the rest of us.

How did God minister to his servant?  He did not condemn him for walking in fear.  He did not chastise him for his lack of faith.  He sent comfort through Titus who also carried comfort in his reports about the believers back in Corinth.  Note that the comfort came from God!

Application:   I must be aware that Christian leaders today, as the Apostle Paul in his day, need encouraging and comfort.  Especially in this day when the corona virus like a cloud is encircling the earth.  Increase in ministry needs, lack of supplies, and quarantine limits add challenges to Christian leaders.  God can use me to pray for them and encourage them.  I can pass along an encouraging greeting from others.  Through a letter, an email, a phone call, or even a personal visit God can use me to bring joy to their hearts.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, as you used your servant Titus to minister to your servant Paul, use me to impart your comfort, strength, and encouragement to the Christian leaders with whom I have contact. Holy Spirit, touch through me, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 06, 2020: SOAP #3777:  Ruth 3-4; Psalm 64, 65; 2Corinthians 6

Scripture:  Ruth (NIV) 4:14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” 16 Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son.” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Observation:  As I finish reading this short book (Ruth), I feel the Lord, as yesterday, drawing my attention to Naomi.  This woman who made such an impression on her Moabite daughters-in-law that they both wanted to return with her when to her home in Bethlehem.  She convinced one to return to her home, but not Ruth.  Naomi took time to educate Ruth about the customs of Israel.  When the time would come for Naomi’s death, Ruth would be left alone in a strange country.  Naomi carried a concern that Ruth find a husband.

Naomi did not get herself entangled in Ruth’s affairs.  She gave the necessary instruction, but let Ruth go it alone to the threshing floor where she would meet Boaz.  She did not do for Ruth what Ruth needed to do for herself.  Surely Naomi stayed awake late that night when Ruth went to meet Boaz.  Naomi proved faithful; later she reaped the harvest of her investment in this young Moabite girl her son had brought home.

Application:   There is a time to train our children, and there is a time to let them go and be responsible for their own choices and actions.  (And what is true for our natural children, is also true for our spiritual children.  A time comes when they need to stand on their own faith.)

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, Fine me faithful in timely ministry to my son and to spiritual children. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 05, 2020: SOAP #3776:  Ruth 1-2; Psalm 53, 61; 2Corinthians 5

Scripture:  Ruth (NIV) 1:15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

Observation:  What a mother-in-law!  What kind of mother-in-law would bring such a response from a daughter-in-law!  Surely Naomi had endeared herself to Ruth during the time Ruth was married to Naomi’s son.  Surely during the death of Naomi’s husband, and then the death of Ruth’s husband—surely during those days Ruth saw something special in Naomi!  -something she wanted in her life. -something that was worth leaving her home to be with this woman who was discouraging her from joining the trip back to Bethlehem.

Application:  I want to live my life in such a manner that those around me want to have my God as their God.  May they want to join me as I continue my journey to my Promised Land (Heaven.)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, may my conversation and manner of living demonstrate to the world around me just how pleased I am to have you constantly with me. The more I know you, the more thankful I am to be your child.  Thank you for your forgiveness.  Like Jesus, I too want to be a useful son in your kingdom. It is my privilege to do your will.  It is my joy to represent you to those around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 04, 2020: SOAP #3775:  Judges 19-21; 2Corinthians 4

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Observation:  Earlier in this chapter, the Apostle Paul tells of the struggles and hardships he has experienced in taking the gospel to new places.  He has been through some tough times.  But he has something that encourages him in discouraging times.  He has something that lifts him up when the troubles press him down.  He knows a day is coming when it will be worth it all!   His mind’s eye is so focused on the eternal that he does not bother worrying about the temporary things that have been so troubling.

Application:   Some things seem to call to me, “Look at me, I am important.”  The news media tries to fill my mind with so many things to worry about.  They tell me how bad things are, then they have their experts reinforce their message. The corona virus is the current issue, but when it passes, there will be another.

Stuart Hamblin wrote, “My heart can sing when I pause to remember a heartache here is but a stepping stone along a trail that’s leading always upward…Until then my heart will go on singing; Until then with joy I’ll carry on; Until the day my eyes behold that city; Until the day He calls me home.”   I like the phrase, “…and things of earth that cause the heart to tremble, remembered there will only bring a smile.”  Things look so different from heaven’s point of view.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help me keep my eyes focused on heaven, on that which is eternal.  Check my heart when I start to pay too much attention to temporal things.  Interrupt my thinking when my thoughts get stuck on things that bother me.   May I consider everything from heaven’s point of view.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 03, 2020: SOAP #3774:  Judges 17-18; Psalm 89; 2Corinthians 3

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 89:15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

Observation:  Blessed are the people who have come through the good times and bad times of life and have come out of those experiences with a greater knowledge of God.  Each experience taught them something new about this Great and Mighty, Loving and Kind, Wise and Understanding God we know as Heavenly Father!   Their praise is ever new.  They always have something new for which to give thanks.

Application:   I want to live excited about the new things I am learning about God.  May I never stop talking about God!  May those coming into my presence come to understand that I am living in His Presence!   Walking with me should be taking a walk with the Lord!

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, you have promised to never leave me nor forsake me.  You are always with me.  Help my mind to be continually aware of your presence.  And may those near me become aware of your presence also. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April  02, 2020: SOAP #3773:  Judges 13-16; 2Corinthians 2

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

Observation:  Two words were brought to my attention: “always” and “everywhere.”  God is always leading us in a triumphal procession.  “Always” means we celebrate as we walk on the mountain tops of life, but we are also to celebrate in the valleys.  So what triumph are we celebrating?  We are celebrating Jesus triumph over Satan and death!  Wow!  That is something worth celebrating!

And “everywhere” God leads us (in pleasant and unpleasant places), people become aware of His presence.  It is like a fragrant rose has been brought into the room and its fragrance is noticed by everyone present.   Talking about God is so much better than complaining about being mistreated.  Our words and actions display God’s presence.

Application:   It is for me to keep God’s presence as an active part of my mind.  “At all times,” and “in every place,” I need to include God in my thinking, my talking, and my actions.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I need your help to keep my thoughts centered on your presence.  Help me always and everywhere be open to opportunities to celebrate the triumph of Jesus in my life and make Him look good.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 01, 2020: SOAP #3772:  Judges 11-12; Psalm 50; 2Corinthians 1

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 1:8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Observation:  The difficulties Paul and his ministry team suffered in the province of Asia had present and future benefits.  As to the present: they relied on God and He proved Himself reliable!   As to the future: they received hope and faith that God would continue to deliver them.

Why did Paul want the church in Corinth to know about the difficulties that he and his ministry team suffered?  Because they had been praying.  The deliverance in the province of Asia came in answer to the prayers of the believers in Corinth!  He wanted them to know that God had heard and answered their prayers!  Their prayers had been an important part of bringing victory.  How proper to report back to those who had prayed!

Application:  While we are going through the Corona-virus plague we can only rely on God.   His “gracious favor will be granted in answer to the prayers of many.”  So…be encouraged to have faith in God.  …be encouraged to pray.
…be encouraged to recognize the prayers of others.  …be faithful to report back to those you asked to pray for you.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you like it when I depend on you.  And you like it when I am thankful.  My heart overflows with thanks to you for all you have done for me.  And my heart should overflow with thanks for those who pray for me.  Holy Spirit, help me not to take those prayers for granted.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 31, 2020: SOAP #3771:  Judges 9-10; Psalm 49; 1Corinthians 16

Scripture:   1Corinthians 16:17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.
18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.

Observation:  These three men had traveled in person from Corinth to visit Paul in the province of Asia.  Their effort in making the journey communicated the esteem in which they held Paul.  Their visit caused him to look away from his present struggles and look back on times when God was using him in Corinth.  They made the load seem lighter. They talked about what God had done while Paul was with them in Corinth. They filled him in with news of what was happening to people he loved.  They refreshed his spirit.

Application:  The Lord wants to use me today to refresh someone’s spirit.  I can do that by being with them, making a phone call, or sending an email.  I might remind them of how God has used them to bless me in the past.  I can encourage them to be hopeful.  I can build up their faith.   I can talk about how big and loving God is!

Prayer:  Lord, use me to lift my friend’s thinking out of the gloomy news about the coronavirus to the glory of Your presence.  You will be a part of the conversation.  May their heart become joyful and their burden become lighter as we talk of Your Presence and what You do for us.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 30, 2020: SOAP #3770:  Judges 8; Psalm 42; 1Corinthians 15

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 15:54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation:  When I swallow something, it is no longer seen.  It is gone from sight.  It gets digested and becomes strength for my body.  When death is swallowed up in victory, what remains to be seen is the victory.  The struggle of the sporting contest is forgotten in the victory.

What makes death something to be feared is sin.  If sin is carried into death’s door, it is a key that opens the door to hell.  But when sin has been removed by the blood of the Crucified Son of God, the stinger is gone!  The One living inside has the key to Heaven.  He opens the door and walks with us through death’s door into the glorious throne room of heaven!

Application:  The choice is clear, which door will I pass through when I come to death’s door.  There are two things that are the same beyond both doors.  They both lead to an existence for eternity!   And both doors open to a life of memory of earthly life.   The memories in hell will be ones of eternal regret.  The memories in heaven will be thankful memories of the grace of God to forgive me and save me from judgment.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, out of your great love for me, you sent Jesus, your Son, to save me from the deserved judgment for my sin.  I repent and humbly beg your forgiveness.  With confidence in your Word, I thank you for your forgiveness.  Help me live my life in thanksgiving for your salvation, for your grace and mercy.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!