June 4, 2017: SOAP #2740: Proverbs 28-29; Psalm 60; Romans 16

Scripture: Proverbs (NIV) 29:26 Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

Observation: Those seeking an audience with a ruler have their own agenda. They want the ruler to use his authority to make something happen on their behalf, often it is to correct a wrong they have suffered.

But the ruler is only a man. He is limited to human understanding. He may not understand the background of the situation. He may be limited by his own lack of desire to set things right. He may have poor counselors. There are many things that can hinder my receiving justice from a man.

However, God is not limited by any of the above! He has perfect understanding. He fully understands the underlying motives and what preceded the wrong actions. He fully understands how to set things right. He has great personal desire to set things right. And He has all eternity to do it!

Application: There are many “rulers” from which I can seek “justice.” It may be an executive with an insurance company. It may be a judge in a child custody case. It may be regarding a product warrantee. I must remember there is only One who knows the hearts and motives of those making their human judgments. It is only from Him that I am assured to obtain justice.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you alone are perfectly righteousness and just. You have proved your love for me by sending your Son, Jesus to die for my sins. You have perfect understanding in these areas that confound me. I trust you to work on my behalf. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 3, 2017: SOAP #2739: Proverbs 25-27; Romans 15

Scripture: Proverbs (NIV) 25:27 It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
Proverbs (NIV) 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.

Observation: What not to do: I should not make a big issue of my capabilities or of the good I do. I am doing it for the Lord and He sees everything. If it is to HIS benefit that others notice, He is more than capable of making sure they see.

Application: What to do: people around me should not feel a need to draw attention to their good works. I should be pointing it out for them. One of my ministries is to notice the good deeds of people around me and make sure they get mentioned.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me not need to be the center of attention. Help me mature to being completely satisfied knowing that my Heavenly Father got all the glory. And, help me to give honor where honor is due—to recognize and appreciate the good done by others around me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 2, 2017: SOAP #2738: Proverbs 22-24; Romans 14

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 14:20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.
21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

Observation: When a person has a sprained ankle, they are careful how they walk, not to further injure the ankle. They may take a different route. They may put off getting up to get some trivial item. They may ask someone else for help. They will go out of their way to protect the weak/injured ankle.

Members of the body of Christ are more valuable than an injured ankle. They should not be “destroyed.” They should not be caused to “stumble” or “fall.”

Application: As a follower of Jesus, I am not only to be careful about things that may affect my Christian life, I also should be careful about how my actions will affect those around me. I should consider the eternal life of my brothers and sisters more valuable than my freedom to do what offends them.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, make me aware of things that would cause my brother and sister to stumble or fall. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 1, 2017: SOAP #2737: Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13

Scripture: Proverbs (NIV) 20:12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.

Observation: Some proverbs are contained in two or three verses. Others are a part of a section that has a main thought. But the verse above seems to me to be a stand-alone verse. In my heart, I asked why this statement of the obvious? Of course, our Creator God made every part of our physical bodies. Of course, He made ears to hear. Of course, He made eyes to see. Then in my heart I heard a whisper, “Use them!”

Application: God made ears and eyes for me to use. I need to give attention to what I hear and see. For God to draw my attention to this verse, there must be something important He wants me to hear—something important He wants me to see.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep me attentive to what happens around me today. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 31, 2017: SOAP #2736: Proverbs 16-18: Romans 12

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Observation: We often think that it is our responsibility to make sure that those who do us evil reap what they sow. The words “repay” and “revenge” indicate that the motive is getting even, or giving back what we have received. Paul assures us that God is more than able to repay the evil that has come our way.

Application: The words ” … leave room … ” lets me know that I can crowd God out of the process. I wonder if there are evil people who have not gotten all that they deserved because in my insistence in repaying I have crowded God out of the picture.

There is very little opportunity to win a person as a friend when I am insisting on repaying them the evil they have done to me. However, God’s wrath can be redemptive. If I leave the repaying in God’s hands, they may become more than a friend, they may become a brother or sister in Christ!

“Be careful … ” tells me that this is something to which I must give attention. This has priority and I need to “be careful” to do what is right. There are many eyes on me. I should not say that it does not matter what people see. It does matter!

Prayer: Holy Spirit remind me that my Heavenly Father takes what happens to me personally. Remind me that He is more than able to set things right! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 30, 2017: SOAP #2735: Proverbs 13-15; Romans 11

Scripture: Proverbs (NIV) 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

Observation: There is no one who has better eyesight than the LORD! He does not need glasses! He has 20/20 plus eyesight! He does not need informers. He has not sent out His assistants to report back to Him on how we are doing. He sees everything personally! He sees as well at night as in the day.

Such knowledge should strike fear in those who do evil. They will not escape. The JUDGE will not need a prosecuting attorney to make sure HE understands the gravity of the charges. The JUDGE is His own personal witness! No excuse will stand before this court!

Such knowledge should fill God’s servants with hope and encouragement! God sees the good too! The smallest good deed does not escape Him. Others may not notice, but God does not miss a thing!

Application: Often little children will look around to see if their parents are watching, hoping to get a “well done!” No need for me to look around to see if He is watching. He is!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know you see everything that happens on this earth you created. I know your heart is broken at the evil you see. I pray that what you see in me brings you joy. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 29, 2017: SOAP #2734: Proverbs 10-12; Romans 10

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 10:5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.”

Observation: The only righteousness the law can give comes by keeping the law. A person’s righteousness is obtained and maintained by keeping the law. If he keeps the law, he is righteousness. If he does not keep the law, he is not righteous.

If it is important to God that we be righteous, and if righteousness can only be obtained through keeping the law, God is going to be sorely disappointed, because we have all broken the law. We were guilty even before it was given!

Application: If it is important to God that I be righteous, then He will have to find some way other than the law. He will have to find some way to impute righteousness to me, for I cannot get it on my own.

Praise the Lord, Romans 10 continues on to explain that there is a righteousness God offers me by grace and that I can receive by faith. (verses 9-11)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, in your great wisdom, you made a way. In your great love you sent your Son, Jesus the Christ, to make the perfect payment for my sins. Then you sent your Holy Spirit to live within me to help me live out my daily life. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 28, 2017: SOAP #2733: Proverbs 7-9; Romans 9

Scripture:  Proverbs (NIV) 8:15 [Wisdom speaking:] By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; 16 by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. 17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. 18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. 19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.  20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, 21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

Observation:  The wisdom speaking in the book of Proverbs is closely tied to justice and wealth.  One characteristic of worldly wisdom is that it depends on wealth.  Those who have or control money are seen to have wisdom.  But with Godly wisdom it is different.  It does not depend on wealth, but true wealth depends on wisdom.  Enduring wealth accompanies this wisdom.  (vs.18) This wisdom even brings wealth to others. (vs.19)

Rulers using worldly wisdom have trouble making laws that are truly just.  And instead of having treasuries that are full, they end up leading their nation into great debt.

Application:  I have found that what applies to nations also applies to households.  When asked about our retirement plan, I can say it was simple we tithed.  We are enjoying His provision.  We have discovered the wisdom of God’s ways.  In Malachi 3:10 God said, “Prove me…”  He has proved faithful to His word!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, as the songwriter wrote, Great is Thy faithfulness!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 27, 2017: SOAP #2732: Proverbs 4-6; Romans 8

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Observation:   Two things are intertwined in this verse: suffering and glory.  In life, those who endure and overcome the greatest hardship generally share in the greatest glory.  Those we set as heroes are those who have faced great difficulties and overcame.  They did not give up in the struggle.

The state motto of Kansas, as seen on our state flag: ad aspra per aspera means “to the stars through difficulty.”  It refers to becoming a state and having a star, representing Kansas, added to the nation’s flag.  When Kansas was added to the union, the balance of “free” verses “slave” states was broken.  The “free” states now had a majority and the civil war began.  

Suffering and glory are intertwined; however, Paul says that though intertwined, they are not comparable!   The amount of future glory far outweighs any present suffering!  They are not even worth comparing!

The suffering is earthly, the glory will be heavenly!  The suffering is temporary, the glory will be eternal!  The suffering is often from the hands of man, the glory will come from the hand of God! The suffering is often misunderstood, even by our closest friends, but the glory will be clear to all!    

Application:  Serving God is well worth any sacrifice that may be required!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you are worthy of any suffering that may come our way.  And what you have prepared for us will far surpass any suffering endured here.  Amen         

Pastor Leon 

Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 26, 2017: SOAP #2731: Proverbs 1-3; Romans 7

Scripture:  Proverbs (NIV) 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

Observation:   I get advertisement weekly about places to invest money.   Banks advertise their interest rates.  Investment companies advertise the rate of growth for their various funds.   Yet no matter how high the interest rate, no matter how great the return, King David told his son Solomon something was more profitable than investing in silver or than holding gold.    

Application:  Wisdom and understanding—that is where the real value in life can be found.  Wisdom and understanding help me with the true value of things in my life.  Wisdom and understanding not only help me obtain needed resources, they help me properly utilize the resources I already have.     

Prayer:   Jesus, I am thankful that you have become wisdom for me. (1Corinthians 1:30) Indeed, you are more precious than silver and more valuable than gold.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!