March 15, 2017: SOAP #2659:  Deuteronomy 28-29; Galatians 6

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Acts (NIV) 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Observation:  In reading the Gospels, it is easy to see that Jesus was known for doing good.  “He went around doing good.”   So, Paul was encouraging the Galatians to be like Jesus.

Application:   If I claim that Christ lives in me, then my life should be known for doing good.  I need to be looking for opportunities to do good.  I should expect the Holy Spirit to draw my attention to ways I can do good to those around me.   I should be concerned if I go through a day without the Holy Spirit showing me something good I can do for others.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, show me some good thing I can do to bless those around me today.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 14, 2017: SOAP #2658:  Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5

Scripture:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 25:13 Do not have two differing weights in your bag—one heavy, one light.  14 Do not have two differing measures in your house—one large, one small.  15 You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.  16 For the LORD your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.

Observation:   God is completely holy; it is important to Him that we deal honestly in our business dealings.   To have a “heavy pound” to use when we are buying from others, so that we get a little extra is detestable to the Lord our God.  To have a “light pound” to use when we are selling to others, so that they get a little less than what they agreed to buy is equally detestable to the Lord.

Application:  It is important that there are 16 ounces in each pound I sell; and it is important that there are 60 minutes of work in each hour for which I expect to be paid.   Those for who I work must get the full measure of what I agreed to provide.  I cannot call in “sick” just to get a day off from work.  I must be honest and call things what they are.  This is not an Old Testament vs. New Testament issue.  This is a character issue…God’s character that is!   This is how the Holy God interacts with my daily/work life.  This makes me a valuable employee.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I want those for whom I work to know that they are getting their money’s worth.  And I want you to be able to smile on me as I work.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 13, 2017: SOAP #2657:  Deuteronomy 22-24; Galatians 4

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 4:17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.

Observation:  After Paul had moved on from Galatia, people came trying to convince them that they needed to keep the Jewish law to please God.   They presented their arguments with emotion.  They were “zealous.”  They wanted the Galatians to be “zealous,” to be emotionally attached to them and the Jewish law.  Paul says it is ok to be emotionally attached, but one must be careful to what one is emotionally attached.  The crowds calling for Jesus’ crucifixion were zealous.  But it is very likely that many of them had relatives or acquaintances who had been healed by Jesus.  It is not out of the realm of possibility to think that some of them had even eaten bread and fish provided by Jesus.  Yet now, motivated by religious leaders, they were zealous for His death.

Application:  I need to be careful about what I let emotionally motivate me.  Television news often shows people zealously marching and shouting prepared slogans for some cause.  Then when a reporter individually interviews some of them, they really do not understand the issue!   They have been caught up in the emotion.  I need to remember: “It is fine to be zealous provided the purpose is good.”

Prayer:   Lord, it is always good to be zealous for You!  May my love for you be easily recognized and become well known.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 12, 2017: SOAP #2656:  Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 3:8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”  … 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. … 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Observation:  This chapter gives us God’s plan in verse 8.  His plan which worked through Israel, was always greater than Israel. We read of the plan’s execution in verse 14.  One sinless man, the Jewish Messiah, would make a sacrifice for sin that would pay for the sins of the whole world and allow all people to be born again by faith in that sacrifice.  We read of the plan’s fulfillment in verse 29.  Those who have received Christ’s sacrifice and made Him their Lord, belong to Him!  They enjoy the benefits of God’s promise.

Application:   God’s plan has been realized in me:  I belong to Christ!   My life is not my own.  I live by faith in what Christ has accomplished for me and for what He wants to accomplish through me.

Prayer:   Lord, my life is Yours!  I have been bought with a price.  The purpose of my life is to glorify You, to make You look good.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 11, 2017: SOAP #2655:  Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

Scripture:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 16:18 Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly.  19 Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.  20 Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Observation:  Through Moses, God is giving instructions for establishing the government when they settle in the Promised Land.  Justice is priority.  “Follow justice and justice alone…”    Justice is more important than preferences.  It is more important than sympathy.  Mercy is also important, but it must be based on justice.  God can give us mercy because justice was satisfied at the cross.

Application:   A government cannot last that always gives mercy without satisfying the demand of justice.  It is like a bank who mercifully loans money to every need presented but does not demand the loans to be justly settled.  When wronged, I can give mercy because I can satisfy justice’s demand by forgiving and bearing the wrong myself.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, Your holiness demands justice. In love, You provided a way for me to have mercy.  Jesus willingly bore my wrong!  Thank You!  Thank You!  Thank You!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 10, 2017: SOAP #2654:  Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 1:16 … I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. 
18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 
19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.

 Observation:     After his time in seclusion, Paul goes to Jerusalem.  He saw James, the head of the church, but the emphasis is on the meeting with Peter.  I know I am reading between the lines, but I wonder if it was not because Peter had denied the Lord yet was restored to ministry by the Lord.   I wonder if Paul was not working through his feelings of having persecuted the Lord’s body so fervently.  I wonder if he identified with Peter and was interested in knowing how Peter had worked through his failings.  Perhaps Paul was wondering if he could be accepted in the church.  I wonder if Peter’s failings did not provide encouragement for Paul.   (It is interesting to note that Paul did not force his ministry on the church.  His ministry did not start until Barnabas came looking for him.) 

Application:   Everyone has a past.  Not everything in our past is something we enjoy remembering.  What a great joy to know that God forgives and forgets our past.   I have found that God takes the sins of my past and moves them from my active memory and makes them like something I read about in a book.  Then at times He uses the lessons learned to help others.
     

Prayer:   Lord, You are Lord of my present and my past.  If something in my past is useful to encourage others, it is Yours.  Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 9, 2017: SOAP #2653:  Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

Scripture:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 10:18 He [the LORD your God] defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.  19 And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.

Observation:  Along with caring for the child who has lost its father, and the wife who has lost her husband, God cares for the alien/immigrant.  He cares for the stranger who is new to the country and the one who has no citizenship rights.

Application:  If I consider myself God’s child…  If I claim that the Holy Spirit dwells inside of me…  If I claim to love God and want to please Him with my life…  …then I must love the immigrants living around me.  Their standing with our government is a temporal.   Their standing with God is eternal.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, draw my attention to immigrants living around me.  Use my words and actions to encourage them and point them to you.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 8, 2017: SOAP #2652:  Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15

Scripture:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 7:7 The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. 10 But those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him.

Observation:  This chapter contains insight into God’s character.  He loves because He chooses to love.  His love is uninfluenced.  He is faithful.  He keeps His word.  He is eternal and does not change.  He remains true to His love and word.  He is omnipotent.  There is no power on earth that can withstand Him.   It is foolish to stand against Him

Application:   This is the God Who loves me!  This is the God I serve.  He is not hard to know.  He is not a mystery character.  The better I know Him, the stronger my faith.  My confidence grows that He can and will act according to His character.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, You are amazing!  You are perfect in all Your ways!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 7, 2017: SOAP #2651:  Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

Scripture:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 6:22 Before our eyes the LORD sent miraculous signs and wonders— great and terrible—upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household.  23 But he BROUGHT US OUT from there to BRING US IN and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers.

Observation:   God did such great miracles in delivering Israel from Egypt.  If God accomplished such great feats in BRINGING THEM OUT of Egypt, they could expect Him to do just as great feats in BRINGING THEM IN the Promised Land.

Application:   Again I see the emphasis on God looking beyond the past to what He is planned for the future.  God has spoken to me, has protected me in battle, has given me specific direction, has healed me, has taught me, has provided for me…  Certainly, I can expect Him to accomplish His will for my future.

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, You are just as wise and as powerful as You have ever been at any time in my life!   I can trust You!  I do trust You!  Accomplish Your will in my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 6, 2017: SOAP #2650:  Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

Scripture:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 4:20 But as for you, the LORD took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.

Observation:   Israel was preparing to enter the Promised Land and Moses was giving his farewell address.   Moses emphasizes that God had more interest in Israel than just getting them out of Egypt.  He had a plan to establish them in the Promised Land and prepare them to become the birth place for the Messiah!

Application:  Getting me out of my present trouble may be the priority for me, but God always has a plan for the future.  He is looking beyond my deliverance, beyond my healing, beyond my freedom to how I can be useful and bring Him glory.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for Your deliverance; thank you for your healing; thank you for your freedom.  May my appreciation be seen in serving you and bringing you glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!