December 26, 2016: SOAP #2580:  Psalm 117; 119:81-176; 2John; 3John

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 119:152 Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.

Observation:  The psalmist had learned this lesson early in life.  God’s laws were not to be changed; they were designed to last!  God had given them with an eternal purpose that could not be changed.  Some laws were like promises made by God which were completed in Christ.  But the moral laws that were expressions of His character could only be changed if His character ever changed—and God does not change!

Application:  God’s law is not an expression of my character, but of God’s character.  I cannot change His laws to meet my preferences.  God’s law was designed to last forever!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, the better I know you, the better I understand your holy requirements by which men will be judged.  Thank you for your Son’s sacrifice on the cross to pay for my sins.  Thank you for your Word and the presence of the Holy Spirit to help me live a life that pleases you.  I want to bring joy to your heart.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Friends,  Christmas Greetings to those who read these daily devotions.  I pray the Holy Spirit sparks something special in your heart and mind as you read the SOAPs.  I pray that God will cause faith to arise in your heart to believe the God can speak to you each day.  I encourage you to write down what you hear God saying to you.  Leave a record for those who will be following you in the faith.  Leon

December 25, 2016: SOAP #2579:  1John 1-5

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 3:24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1John (NIV) 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Observation:   At Christmas time, giving gifts is a common part of the celebration.  I am sure that the custom is closely tied to the magi that came from the east bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Of course, the greatest gift was given by God who gave His only begotten Son.  The Father also gave us the Holy Spirit to make our relationship personal.

Application:  A key for me to live a victorious Christian life is to take advantage of the gifts God has given me—the gift of His Son, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift of His Word, the gift of believing brothers and sisters and church leaders.   I would be foolish to leave any of these gifts unopened.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you have provided for everything I need to live a victorious life for you.  Taking advantage of your many gifts, I can live in victory even while I am in the struggle. Thank you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 24, 2016: SOAP #2578:  John 19-21

Scripture:  John (NIV) 19:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,”

Observation:  She had received the angel’s message that she would give birth to the Messiah.  She had endured the question of her intended husband, Joseph.  She had accompanied Joseph on a journey to Bethlehem were they found no place to spend the night except with the animals in a stable.  And there in a manger she had laid her first born, Jesus!  The shepherds came with news of an angelic visit.  Later the magi from the east brought gifts.  Then she had to care for the baby on a trip to Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous intentions.  … Now she stands at the foot of His cross.  And Jesus, enduring intense suffering, sees her.  He puts aside His pain to make sure she has a place to go and someone to watch out for her.

Application:   What Jesus was doing at that moment was so much bigger than Mary.  He was dying as payment for the sins of everyone who would accept Him as Savior and Lord.   Yet His assignment was not so big that He could not take time for His earthly mother.    Today care homes are full of elderly people whose children act as though their jobs are so important that they do not have time to visit their parents.  Their jobs are not nearly as important as was Jesus that day on the cross, yet He took time for His mother.   To ignore elderly parents is not very Christ-like.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of your priorities, especially when I get to busy to remember them myself.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 23, 2016: SOAP #2577:  John 15-18

Scripture:  John (NIV) 17:24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Observation:   As Christmas is only days away, many times I have heard the question, “What do you want for Christmas?” –especially asked of children.  But as Christmas is the celebration of Jesus birth, and on birthdays we often give presents to the one whose birthday we are celebrating, maybe we should be asking, “Jesus, what do YOU want for Christmas?  What do you want for Your birthday?”     In the verse above, Jesus tells the Father what He wants.  He wants His followers to be with Him and to see His glory as the Son of God.   They had seen Him as the Son of Man; He wants them to see Him as the Son of God.  He wants them to see the glory He has in heaven.

Application:   Jesus is so much more than the Baby in the manger.  I am thankful my mom did not break out my baby pictures at every birthday as I was growing up.  Without making less of His miraculous birth 2000 years ago, I sometimes wonder if we should not be making more of His present glorified reign as the King of kings and Lord of lords, the present Victor over death, hell, and the grave—our soon to return Lord!

Prayer:   Jesus, everything about You should be celebrated!  Your every action is worthy of notice and appreciation.  Holy Spirit, guide me in giving Jesus the honor He is due.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 22, 2016: SOAP #2576:  John 12-14  

Scripture:  John (NIV) 12:1 Jesus, however, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was whom He had raised from the dead.  2 So they gave a dinner there in honor of Jesus, at which Martha waited at table, but Lazarus was one of the guests who were with Him.  3 Availing herself of the opportunity, Mary took a pound weight of pure spikenard, very costly, and poured it over His feet, and wiped His feet with her hair, so that the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Observation:   The dinner was to honor Jesus for raising Lazarus from the dead.   Although it was not a part of the ceremony, Mary saw an opportunity to express her deep appreciation for Jesus.  She seized the moment.  She anointed Jesus feet with her very expensive perfume.  She may not have intended to bring attention to herself, but the fragrance spreading throughout the house could not be ignored.

Application:  Many times it is for me to seize the moment—to take the quickly passing opportunity to glorify God.  It may be speaking a word of faith, or encouragement to someone nearby.  It may be offering to pray for a need.  It may be providing an offering of money or time.  I need to seize the moment to do that which brings glory to Jesus.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, as Mary was “availing herself of the opportunity,” may I be aware and quick to respond.  Help me to miss fewer and fewer opportunities as I grow in serving you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 21, 2016: SOAP #2575:  John 9-11

Scripture:  John (NIV) 9:24 A second time therefore they called the man who had been blind, and said, “Give God the praise: we know that that man is a sinner.” 25 “Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know,” he replied; “one thing I know — that I was once blind and that now I can see.”

Observation:   They were certain.  They were sure they could not be wrong.  They just needed someone else to agree with them.  (Like many in the news media today.)  They wanted the blind man who Jesus had just healed to confirm what they “knew.”  But the man would only testify to what he knew for sure.  He knew what he had personally experienced.

Application:   This passage has many angles from which I can make personal application.  First, from the man healed from blindness, I must be faithful to testify of what God has done for me.  Second, from the Jewish leaders, I see that I must be careful not to look for proof to support what I already know.  I must search out truth.  Truth stands firm as its own foundation.  Truth does not need outside support to hold it in place.  Truth is its own foundation.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, when I stand on the foundation of Jesus, “the way, the truth, and the life,” I stand secure.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 20, 2016: SOAP #2574:  John 7-8

Scripture:  John (NIV) 7:31 Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?”  32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. … 41 Still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? 42 Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”… 46 “No-one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared.  47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

Observation:  I had to smile when I read the above passages.  The Pharisees were convinced that they were right.  To them things were so obvious that they had to be right!   It was inconceivable they could be wrong.  -As I was reading this, it sounded to me like today’s news media in the USA.  They were convinced that Hillary Clinton was going to win the election.  It was inconceivable that Donald Trump would win.  Anyone believing Trump would win was laughed out of the conversation. -But the Pharisees and today’s news media were obviously wrong.  A little honest investigating would have helped both!

Application:  Truth is important!  Truth must be important to me.  The truth about Jesus is priority! The Holy Spirit will lead me to the truth.

Prayer:   Jesus, You are the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) The more I know the truth, the more I will understand You!   The more I know you, the more I will understand the truth.  Teach me truth!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 19, 2016: SOAP #2573:  John 5-6

Scripture:  John (NIV) 6:66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.  67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Observation:   The time came in Jesus ministry when many of his disciples gave up on following him.  Some of his sayings were hard to understand.  Perhaps it was because he was not moving toward becoming the political leader they hoped.  When He asked the twelve apostles if they would be leaving Peter answered for them all.  “Leave!!! Where would we go?”

Application:   If I am looking for someone who, in perfect love for me, will only speak truth to me…  If I am looking for someone who will only choose what is best for me… If I am looking for someone who is worthy of my whole devotion…  where else could I go but to Jesus?

Prayer:   Jesus, you alone are worthy.  I trust you with my whole life, all I am and all I have.  The best thing I can do for my wife, my family, my friends is to give myself totally to You!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 18, 2016: SOAP #2572:  John 2-4

Scripture:  John (NIV) 4:25 [Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well.]  The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”

Observation:    As I was reading this, I thought it must have been a special joy for Jesus to reveal Himself to this thirsty woman, “I who speak to you am he.”  Then I sensed the Lord saying to me, “I still like to reveal myself to people.”  Across my mind came memories of recent testimonies I have read of people in Muslim countries turning to Jesus because of dreams and visions.  Jesus is still revealing Himself to people looking for something to satisfy their thirsty souls.

Application:  Yes, He is the one!  I have tasted and received the life-giving water Jesus offers.  It is for me to share with a thirsty person today.

Prayer:   Jesus, to the thirsty people around me, may I be faithful to tell them that you are the answer to the longings in their thirsty soul.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 17, 2016: SOAP #2571:  2Peter 1-3; John 1

Scripture:  2Peter (NIV) 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Observation:  Christmas is not only an expression of God’s love in sending His Son Jesus to die for our sins, it is an expression of God’s holiness.  The sacrifice for sin had to be prepared in a way that would stand the scrutiny of the highest court in the universe.  Only a sinless sacrifice could pay for the sins of others.  The sacrifice had to be proven sinless not because it had no opportunity to sin, but because it had every opportunity to sin, yet resisted and remained pure!   Oh, what a Savior!!!  He met the righteous demands of the One and Only Perfectly Holy God!

Application:  In love, God forgives me and pays for my sins by the death of Jesus.  In holiness, He sent the same Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus—that same Holy Spirit to live within me and help me overcome temptation.   Oh, what a God!!!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, you are amazing!  You know me perfectly.  You have perfectly supplied for my needs!  I am blest to be yours! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!