March 5, 2017: SOAP #2649:  Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

Scripture:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 1:6 The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.

Observation:   The Israelites had been through some high emotionally stressing times.  Increased work responsibilities, the time of the 10 plagues on Egypt, being trapped at the Red Sea then crossing on dry land.  Then God brought them to Sinai, in the Horeb range of mountains.  It was a time of God giving them the Law and directions for the Tabernacle.  It was a time of rest and productivity.  But God did not bring them out of Egypt to leave them at Sinai/Horeb.  The goal was the Promised Land!

Application:   There are times when God has told me that it was time to move on.  I had been in that location long enough.  Sometimes it was a physical location, but most of the time, it has been a change in ministry.   Sometimes, it was time to get busy doing what He has given me to do.  Someday the Lord will say, “You have stayed long enough on this planet.”  He will call us, individually or corporately, to move on from this earth to our heavenly “promised land!”   “What a day that will be!”

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep me ready to move on at your direction.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 4, 2017: SOAP #2648:  Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 11:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no-one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.  3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”  4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”  6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.

Observation:   It would seem unnatural for someone not to ask why they were taking colt.  Perhaps it was the owner who asked why they were untying the colt?  That Jesus simple answer satisfied them might indicate that they were familiar with the Lord.  Jesus had been in this area previously in His ministry.  Perhaps someone in their family had been healed.

Application:  I want to know the Lord well enough to quickly respond to any request He makes of me.  If the Lord needs something in my possession, it is His, for me to do with as He desires.

Prayer:   Lord, how can I call you Lord if I do not take this attitude. My life is Yours.  My possessions are Yours.  My time is Yours. My talents are Yours.  Use me as You desire.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 3, 2017: SOAP #2647:  Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 10:46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging.  47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So, they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”  50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.  51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”  52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Observation:    This man became part of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Perhaps his testimony caused others to join in the rejoicing. After all, how does one react upon receiving their sight? Along the road would be others who had often seen the blind beggar.  Word would have spread about this miracle.  Obviously Bartimaeus caused quite a stir.

Application:  Does my response to what Jesus has done for me make others want to follow Him too?  Hmmm …

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, how can I not rejoice when I consider all You and Your Son, Jesus, have done for me!  May my joy be contagious!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 2, 2017: SOAP #2646:  Numbers 30-31; Mark 9

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 9:30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.

Observation:   Jesus cared enough to prepare His disciples for the hard times ahead.  He was going to be killed.  But He did not stop with “they will kill him,” He continued on to “after three days he will rise!”

Application:  If I am faithful to read God’s Word, I will find many warnings about hard times ahead.  In this world, I will have tribulation.  I cannot escape it.  But if I am faithful to read God’s Word, I will also find that there is glory on the other side of the trouble.   In fact, “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  (Romans 8:18)

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to look through the trouble to the glories ahead.  May my troubles never block my view of the glories ahead.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 1, 2017: SOAP #2645:  Numbers 28-29; Mark 8

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 8:5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

Observation:   Four thousand men (plus women and children) were hungry.  Jesus asked the disciples what they had to feed such a crowd.  They had seven loaves and a few fish.   Jesus took what they had a blest it and broke it and gave it back to the disciples to give to the crowd.  Everyone had plenty to eat with seven baskets full left over.  What they had was enough!!!

Application:  I look at the impossible need before me.  Jesus asks me, “What do you have?”  As long as what I have remains in my hands, it will never meet the need.  But if I give Him what I have, He can multiply it to meet the need with such abundance that I will have more when I am finished than when I started!!!   What I have is enough!!!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, what I have may never be enough if I keep it in my hands, but when placed in your hands, it becomes more than enough!  May I never be hesitant in giving to you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 28, 2017: SOAP #2644:  Numbers 24-27; 1Corinthians 13

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Observation:  Patience is not love.  Love is so much more.  But patience is one of the characteristics of love.  When love is present, patience is present.

Application:  Patience is the willingness to forego quick and efficient satisfaction with the purpose of allowing another to accomplish the task with less speed and less expertise.  Patience is being willing to suffer personal inconveniences while waiting.  Patience is stepping back and encouraging another to do their best.  Patience allows another person to gain experience, to learn by doing, and to gain a personal sense of accomplishment.   Patience is other centered.  Obviously, patience is a major characteristic of love.

An impatient person seldom acts in a truly loving way. An impatient person is usually focused on how things affect them, how their schedule has been interrupted.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, check me when I am impatient.  Help me to see impatience as you see it.  Help me express your love and patience today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 27, 2017: SOAP #2643:  Numbers 21-23; Mark 6-7

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 7:21 For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.  23 All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’.”

Observation:  Obviously, being unclean is a heart matter before it becomes a word or action matter.

Application:   First:  Deeds begin with thoughts.  To live right, I must think right.  Second:  Jesus lives in my heart.  If I want Him to feel at home, then I must be careful about the thoughts I entertain.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I want you to enjoy living in my life. I want others to see a life that pleases you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 26, 2017: SOAP #2642:  Numbers 19-20; Psalm 28; Mark 5

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 5:27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped… 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”  31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.  33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.  34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Observation:   Many people had touched Jesus that day as he walked down the dusty road.  Yet this lady stopped Jesus.  “Who touched my clothes?”  If her touch was the reason Jesus turned to her, he would have turned to many people that day.  It was not this lady’s touch that got Jesus attention; it was her faith.  Jesus said, “…your faith has healed you.”

It is not enough to be on the same road as Jesus.  It is not enough to be only an arm’s length away from Jesus.   A meaningful encounter with Jesus happens around faith.  Jesus responds to faith.

Application:  Being in church is not enough.  Even reading the Bible not sufficient for salvation.  The Word must be mixed with faith.   I must have a mental conviction that God exists, He speaks, and He is true to His character!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to know my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus better each day.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 25, 2017: SOAP #2641:  Numbers 17-18; Psalm 29; Mark 4

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 4:2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.  4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path… 5 Some fell on rocky places, … 7 Other seed fell among thorns, 8 Still other seed fell on good soil.

Observation:   The previous harvest had produced grain for food and grain for seed.  The farmer could not eat the seed, or there would be no future harvest.  The farmer scattered it where it might multiply and provide a future harvest.  He did not keep it in his barn.  For seed to produce a harvest, it must be planted.

Application:   I need to be generously scattering the seed of God’s Kingdom wherever I am.   May seed be intentionally scattered in conversations with those willing to listen.  AND may seed be unintentionally scattered in the lives of those nearby overhearing our conversation.  God has provided me enough seed that I need not save it for just the good ground.  I have enough to scatter along the path, in rocky places and even among thorns.  Wherever I am, may there be enough seed in my conversation to start growth in every life that may be listening.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, use me to be a Kingdom seed scatter-er wherever I am.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 24, 2017: SOAP #2640:  Numbers 14-16; Mark 3

Scripture:  Numbers (NIV) 14:4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” 
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there.
6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.  9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

Observation:  Yes, the LORD was with Israel.  They had visible proof of His Presence.  They had been led to the entrance of the Promised Land by a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night.  That very morning they had gathered the “manna” God had provided daily for their food.  The water they drank came from the rock that miraculously followed them through the wilderness.  They had seen God express himself on Sinai.  It was not too long ago that they witnessed Pharaoh’s army destroyed in the Red Sea.   Yet they let the report of the ten spies fill them with fear.  How illogical!     

Application:   I need to be careful not to let the world fill me with fear when I also have so many reasons to walk in faith.      

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, as I look to the future, keep reminding me of Who You are and what you have already done!  Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!