July 25, 2019: SOAP #3521:  Isaiah 43-45; 1Peter 4 (Repeat from 12/16/2009)

Scripture:  1Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Observation:  Here in the New International Version, and in 5 other translations (NAS, NLT, NRSV, RSV, and WEY) we see clear-mindedness and self-control affecting our prayers.  It is probably not something we think about too often, but maybe we should consider how God hears our prayers.  We complain about visiting with people who ramble and seem to endlessly repeat themselves.  We would rather visit with someone who does not always cover the same material, with most of it coming from the past.  Could it be that God feel the same way about our prayers?  Think about it!

Application:   I wonder if God does not listen to my prayers and say something like, “It would be good for Leon to stop rambling.”  “If Leon would cut out all the repetition and just think about what he is saying I might be able to identify a prayer I can answer.”  Or He might say, “I am going to answer that prayer, but Leon will not recognize the answer because he did not put much thought into the request. He will not recognize the answer when it hits him in the face.”  (Sometimes it is good for me to write out my prayer because it forces me to write it in legible and understandable sentences.)

Prayer:  Lord, remind me to be clear-minded and self-controlled in my prayers.  May you be blessed in hearing my prayers!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 24, 2019: SOAP #3520:  Isaiah 40-42; 1Peter 3

Scripture:  Isaiah (NIV) 40:3 A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Observation:   God is wanting a road people can travel from where they are to His presence.  It is a road that goes right through our hearts. The scenery is whatever is happening in our lives.

Even when I am in a dessert or wilderness time in my life, God wants me to build an on-ramp.  I may want to get through that time as quickly as possible, but God wants me to stop and build an on ramp for someone stuck in that dessert.

Sometimes the interstate highways need repair.  For a while, people must proceed with caution as heavy equipment and workers move near the traffic.  It is only a temporary slowing as the goal is to return the highway to usefulness to handle the speed of normal traffic.  May repairs needed in my life be accomplished quickly.

Application:  Like the interstate highways across our nation, may the “Leon” entrance to this highway be well marked and easily assessable for everyone.  May any hazard preventing people from taking this highway to heaven be removed from my life.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, may the people living close to me find my life to be an easy entrance onto the highway that leads into your Presence.  Work on the road through my life.  Remove any hindering obstacles.  Smooth out my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 23, 2019: SOAP #3519:  2Kings 20; Isaiah 38-39; Psalm 75; 1Peter 2

Scripture:  1Peter (NIV) 2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Observation:  How people see me is very important to God.  What people say about me is vey important to God.

Application:  One important factor in what people say about me is my behavior.  God wants me to do good.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I need your help.  I need your help to react to each challenge I face.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 22, 2019: SOAP #3518:  Isaiah 36-37; Psalm 76; 1Peter 1

Scripture:  1Peter (NIV) 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade— kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Observation:   My attention has been drawn to the mercy out of which our new life has come.  It is not just mercy.  It is not just sufficient mercy.  According to the KJV, it is abundant mercy.  It is great mercy.

It is great mercy because it comes from the One with ultimate authority to an undeserving sinner.  It is great mercy because it actually works.  It is great mercy for it saves one from the ultimate punishment which is rightly deserved.  It is great mercy because the one extending the mercy remains perfectly holy. It is great mercy because the sins covered are not just forgiven but atoned for with an appropriate sacrifice.  It is great mercy because the ones forgiven are made just as if they never sinned! It is great mercy because it reaches to and through people.

Application:  It is amazing.  God has extended to me abundant mercy.  My appreciation can only be shown by being merciful to others.

To refuse to be merciful could be an indication that I truly do not appreciate what I have received.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, the mercy that came through the resurrection of your Son, Jesus, also came through his suffering, and your suffering in giving Him.  Thank you!  Make me a channel through which your mercy can reach others. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 21, 2019: SOAP #3517:  2Kings 18-19; 2Chronicles 32; James 5

Scripture:  2Kings (NIV) 18:11 The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in towns of the Medes. 12 This happened because they had not obeyed the LORD their God but had violated his covenant—all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out.

Observation:   The king of Assyria had taken Israel as captives to Assyria.  In these verses, God gives the “because.”  There was a reason why this had happened to Israel.  Their captivity was directly in response to their relationship to the LORD their God!

Application:   When trouble comes, people often try to figure out why it happened.  I do not make it a habit to look for some sinister cause behind every trouble.  We live in a world full of evil.  Bad things happen to us all.  But there are times when trouble is BECAUSE.  When there is a reason, I want to know!  God forgives and He blesses those who please Him.

People who discipline their children want to make sure their children know WHY they are being disciplined.  One of the goals of discipline is to prevent future misbehavior.

Surely God, the Perfect Parent, will make sure a nation can link His discipline to the sin that displeases Him.  There is a “because.”  God has made it clear to me that the trouble at our southern border is His judgment BRCAUSE of the sin of abortion.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help me quickly recognize when God is wanting me to make a change.  That you correct me, shows me that there is still something good in me that you are working on.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 20, 2019: SOAP #3516:  2Chronicles 29-31; James 4

Scripture:  James (NIV) 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” …
11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it

Observation:   We all have sinned; we all need grace.  We all live in a sinful world from which we pick up sinful attitudes.  We can all be thankful that God is graceful and does not reject us.  His merciful-kindness is extended to us.

But God is not only interested in getting grace to us; He wants to get grace through us.  May others be thankful that we are graceful too.

Application:   It is when people fall below my expectations. mistreat me, or slander me, that I have opportunity to express grace.  Human nature may be wanting to get even, to respond in kind, to express anger or frustration, but the presence of the Holy Spirit encourages me to express grace.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, may the grace you have shown me find expression through me to others.  May merciful-kindness be woven into my character.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 19, 2019: SOAP #3515:  2Kings 17; 2Chronicles 28; Psalm 46; James 3

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 46:10 Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Observation:   In time of trouble, when the troubles are greater than our limited ability to cope, what can we do?  Merely “be still.”  Remain steady and unflappable in our confidence; God has everything under control.  He remains our “ever present help in time of trouble.”

When He tells us to, “Be still” our hope and faith should soar.  He tells us that because He will be taking care of matters.  It is only for us to watch.  He has everything in control; we need but trust Him!

Application:   The following is a song the Lord gave to me in an early morning devotion, I believe it was in 2005.
Verse 1: There’s hope for tomorrow; hope for today:
There’s hope when the sky turns to grey.
There’s hope in time of trouble; the blessed hope of things to come;
There’s hope when I hear Jesus say, …
Chorus: He says, “Peace!  Be still!”   “Peace!  Be still!”
Hope for tomorrow and hope for today,
There’s hope when I hear, “Peace!  Be still!”
Verse 2: Love covers all things, and faith is receiving
But hope is believing all things
Will work together for good, to those called and walking
According to their Father’s will.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You are the Hope-Giver.  You are the God of all hope! You never run out of hope and you continually fill my heart with hope.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 18, 2019: SOAP #3514:  Isaiah 32-35; James 2

Scripture:  James (NIV) 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Observation:   James is making a point that just believing the truth is not enough.  It is good to believe that God exists because that is truth.  Even demons believe that truth.  They know that God exists.  They are convinced that God exists.  But that belief does not save them.

They believe that God exists, and their actions prove that they believe in God—they shudder (tremble, are terrified, are horrified).  That reaction proves that they believe in God.

Application:  Believing that God exists is not enough to make it to heaven.  I must believe that He is my Savior—that Jesus died to pay for my sins.   Along with that belief I must have supporting action to validify my faith.  I must confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord!  (Romans 10:9-10)

Confessing my sins, receiving by faith His forgiveness, inviting Him to live in my heart, making Him my Lord, growing in understanding what He likes and how I can serve and please Him—all supporting actions that back up my faith.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, continue teaching me what it means to live this life of faith.  My heart has been filled joy; use me to bring joy to my Heavenly Father and Jesus my Lord.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 17, 2019: SOAP #3513:  Isaiah 29-31; James 1

Scripture:  James (NIV) 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Observation:   Chapter 28 of Job talks about the great effort man expends to find silver.  Silver is valuable and worth the effort.  Then in verse 12, Job asks, “But where can wisdom be found?”  James tells us where to find wisdom.  We need but to ask God.

Application:   Even harder than men sought silver in Job’s day, people today seek knowledge.  They go to 12 years of elementary and high school.  Many go to 4 years of college and many to 4 more years.   Education has become big business!  Colleges and universities continue to build bigger and bigger buildings.  The cost of an education continues to increase.  People gain more and more knowledge.  They put more and more facts into their mind.

But where can wisdom be found?  Can someone tell me what all these facts mean?  Can someone tell me what to do with this knowledge?  Where can I go for the purpose of my being?

James tells me to ask God.  Wisdom is gaining knowledge of God then placing all other knowledge in right relationship to the knowledge of God.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I take you at your word.  I ask for wisdom to be a better husband and father.  I ask for wisdom in driving a school bus.  I ask for wisdom in preparing these SOAP devotions.  May your wisdom expressed through me make me a blessing to others and bring you glory. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 16, 2019: SOAP #3512:  Isaiah 25-28; Hebrews 13

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Observation:   What a logical question.  If God is my helper—if God has promised to never leave me—if God has promised never to forsake me—if that is really true, then what can man do to me?

The All-knowing, All-powerful, All-present God who created the universe and who sent His Son to die for me—yes, that is the God who is my helper and is always with me!   Nothing can happen to me without His oversight.  And if He has allowed something to happen to me, He is surely able to help me through it!   As He promised, He is able to make all things work together for good because I love Him and am called according to His purpose! (Romans 8:28)

Application:   My worry can change nothing.  His presence can change everything!  Nothing can happen to me without His knowledge and permission.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Your love amazes me.  Thank you for watching out for me.  Thank you for being my helper.  Indeed, with you on my side, what can man do to me?  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!