January 15, 2017: SOAP #2600:  Genesis 37-38; Psalm 7; Luke 15

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 15:1 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering round to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”

Observation:  People generally do not gather around someone who denigrates them or puts them down.   I do not think the tax collectors and “sinners” gathered around Jesus to hear Him condemn them.  He was gracious to welcome them and would go to their house for a meal.

He saved His cutting criticism for religious leaders who pretended to be one way, but in reality, were quite different.   Jesus spoke truth to the “sinners,” but He spoke it in love.  He made things easy to understand.  It was their choice to spend time with Him.

Application:   Most sinners do not need to be told they are sinners.   They need to be loved and know that God loves them.  They carry the image of God.  They are important.

The Holy Spirit can guide me when and how to speak about matters of holiness.  But when I am prompted to speak to someone about sin, may they already know that I love them.  May there be no doubt in their heart that I love them.  Then may I speak truth clearly.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, you have sent me into this world to live among people who need you.  Use me for their good and for your glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 14, 2017: SOAP #2599:  Genesis 34-36; Luke 14

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 14:7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:  8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.  9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.  10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.  11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Observation:  A person who voluntarily humbles himself will exalted by others.  And if people do not exalt that person, God will exalt them, and that is even better!!!

Application:    Any businessman or woman knows that the road to success is to excel in serving customers.  Governments which serve their citizens are considered good; those which rule their citizens are bad.

The times I complain, I see a need but want someone else to meet it.  In those times, I seldom consider that God might be showing me a way to be successful in life by serving others.   I need to consider what my part might be.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, show me, teach me, help me to walk in humility.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 13, 2017: SOAP #2598:  Genesis 31-33; Luke 13

Scripture:  Genesis (NIV) 32:9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups.  11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. 12 But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’”

Observation:  Jacob had learned a key in praying to God.  He did not have the written Word, for the first five books were written by Moses and Moses had not yet been born.  But what God had said to Abraham and Isaac was considered very important and had been carefully handed down to Jacob.  Even more important was what God had personally said to Jacob.  So, in prayer, Jacob let God know that he valued God’s word by remembering it and believing God meant what He said!

Application:  It is good for me to remember what God has said in His written word, but in prayer, it is better for me to speak about what God has said to me personally.   Reminding God of what He has said is not because He has forgotten, but to let Him know that I have not forgotten!  It lets Him know that I value His word and consider Him faithful to fulfill it.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for speaking to me.  I know You are faithful.  As I see You fulfilling Your word to Israel, I know I can trust you to fulfill your word to me!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 12, 2017: SOAP #2597:  Genesis 29-30; Luke 12

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 12:39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.  40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Observation:   We should expect an unexpected return of Jesus.  We must stay ready.

Application:  People prepare for their day, not in any way thinking that this will be their last day.  Jesus may not come for everyone, but their unexpected death will usher them into His presence.  While He may not come for His church today, the Bible tells me I have no promise of a tomorrow.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep reminding me that living in my temporary home may soon come to an end.  Keep it as a dominant thought in my mind. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 11, 2017: SOAP #2596:  Genesis 27-28; Psalm 4; Luke 11

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 11:9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Observation:   Sometimes we have but to ask.  With simple faith believing and receiving from God.

At other times, it is for us to seek out the answer.   To search the scriptures, to search our hearts, to keep looking as we wait for God to reveal the answer.

And there are times some action is required, so we knock.  Some personal involvement comes as we invest our time and resources into the matter for which we need His involvement.  Of course, our involvement is only like knocking on the door.  The opening of the door comes from Him.  The answer in the open door expresses His wisdom, power and resources.

Application:   First:  I must not stop asking and believing.  Second:  I must not stop seeking until I find.  Do I desire it enough to seek?  Third:  I must not stop knocking until the door is opened and God is revealed in the situation for which I am praying.  Am I desperate enough to keep on knocking?

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, continue to teach me to pray and how to pray.  May the Heavenly Father enjoy hearing from me in prayer.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 10, 2017: SOAP #2595:  Genesis 25-26; Psalm 6; Luke 10

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.  3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves…. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’… 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

Observation:   Yesterday, the Lord directed my attention to the 12 apostles participating in ministry.  In the above verses, Jesus increased the number to 72.   They found that what Jesus had imparted to them to be greater than demon power.  They found the ministry to be a source of joy.

Application:   The Holy Spirit has been given to me to equip me for ministry.  I miss out on the joy God has for me when I withhold myself from being used of God.

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, use me in ministering to others in the Mighty Name of Jesus.  I surrender myself to be used of you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 9, 2017: SOAP #2594:  Genesis 23-24; Luke 9

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 9:1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.  … 6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere. … 10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done…

Observation:    Not all the ministry in the gospels was done by Jesus.  Jesus sent THEM to preach, THEM to heal the sick, THEY departed, THEY went through the towns, THEY preached, THEY healed, THEY returned, THEY reported back.

Application:   Jesus was preparing the disciples for the time He would no longer be with them.  Later in the book of Acts, the church continued the ministry of Jesus.  As Jesus ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit, so the early church ministered in that same Spirit.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, find me to be an open channel through which you can continue the ministry of Jesus today.  Flow through me, Holy Spirit, flow through me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 8, 2017: SOAP #2593:  Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 8:41 Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.

Observation:   Yesterday we read of a Centurion coming to Jesus on behalf of a highly-valued servant who was dying.  In the verses above we read of a Father seeking help for a dying daughter.   During an interruption, they received news that the girl had died, which resulted in even a greater miracle—a resurrection!  Yesterday’s Centurion and today’s father were both concerned about people who were special to them.

Application:   Both the Centurion and the father set a good example for me to care for people special to me.  I must be quick to go to Jesus on their behalf.   I may feel helpless in doing anything to help those I love, but as long as I can pray, the situation is not hopeless.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I bring my loved ones to you. I am so limited in how I can help, but you are limitless!  They do not have a problem to difficult for you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 7, 2017: SOAP #2592:  Genesis 18-19; Psalm 3; Luke 7

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 7:2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.  3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.

Observation:    The servant was highly valued.  Probably, the centurion could have easily replaced him, but there was a personal connection.  This servant was special to the centurion so he was willing to do whatever he could do to see that he would recover and not die.  And from what he had heard, there was nothing better to do than getting in touch with Jesus!

Application:   What about the people that are special to me?  The best thing I can do is to get in touch with Jesus on their behalf.   I know Jesus better than that centurion.  Contacting Him should be my first step in helping them, not my last step.  Contacting Jesus (praying) might lead to other steps, but it should always be the first step.  It just might be the only step needed!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, some people are too special to me not to pray.  Holy Spirit, remind me to pause for prayer before running off to do something for others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 6, 2017: SOAP #2591:  Genesis 15-17; Luke 6

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Observation:    My attention was drawn to “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”    This is the same principle as in Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Application:   Obviously, the largeness or smallness of my giving affects how I receive.  I give with a small cup and I reap a small cup, but it is more because it is “pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”  Then I have a little more to add to my large cup of giving.  From which I reap a large cup that is “pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”  Then I have more to add to my pail of giving from which I reap a pail…  And so it goes and grows!

My tithe is just returning to God what is His.  If I do not tithe, the Bible says I am robbing God!  So, my giving comes from my 90%.  It can start small, but faithfulness and time will grow it into a great ministry.  A special part of the return on giving is joy.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, thank you for including the principles of giving in your Holy Word.  I am blest to see them working in my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!