November 6, 2016: SOAP #2530:  Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3,4

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 4:15 What has happened to all your joy?…

Observation:   Joy is a special characteristic of the presence of God.  The Psalmist said that in His presence is joy.  (Psalm 21:6)   Jesus promised His joy to his follower’s joy.  (John 15:11, 17:13)   Paul knew something was wrong with the Galatians because they had lost their joy.  The joy they once had from trusting Jesus for their salvation had been lost in believing their salvation depended on how well they kept the law.

Application:  When I worked as a hospital corpsman in the US Navy, we usually started evaluating patients by considering their vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and breathing.  Those signs are not life, just signs that life is present.  I see joy as a spiritual vital sign.  Lack of joy, or joy that is easily disrupted, can indicate my faith is weak.  On the other hand, strong joy that is hard to be dampened can indicate a deep-seated faith that God is in control and is working through everything for my good.

Prayer:   Thank you Lord, for giving me your joy.  I know that being joyful pleases you and makes what I have attractive to others.  Let your joy be seen in me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 5, 2016: SOAP #2529:  Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2
Reworked SOAP from March 11, 2010

Scripture:  Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Observation: Paul said he was crucified (past tense) with Christ.  I do not hear Paul saying he is (present tense) living a “crucified” life.   Paul was obviously not dead.  There was enough life in Paul to write a letter to the Galatians.  If Paul was not living a “crucified” life, then what life was Paul living?  Paul wrote, “…but Christ lives (present tense) in me.”  It is the same old body, but a different Paul.  Old friends would have recognized Paul, but after only a few minutes, they would also recognize something different.  It was not an updated life Paul was now living.

There was no directory containing downloads with the patches needed to correct things in Paul’s life.  It was a whole new operating system!

Application:  Jesus said we must be born again.  It was not a new body I needed, it was a new life.  As Christ was crucified (past tense), I too have died (past tense) to my old life.  As Jesus lives (present tense) He now (present tense) lives in me.  Jesus earthly life is in the past.  Jesus now lives (present tense) with complete victory over all temptation, over the devil, and over the grave!  And that is the life He now lives (present tense) in me.  And that is the life I now live (present tense) with Him!  Wow!

The more I attempt to live a God-honoring life in my strength, my wisdom, my will power, the more I prove that I cannot do it.  He must live His life in me.  My challenge is to allow the Holy Spirit to direct me in living Christ’s post-resurrection, victorious life.

Prayer:  Lord, by your Holy Spirit, live your life through me today.  May you be seen in all I say and do.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 4, 2016: SOAP #2528:  Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 15:40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.  41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

Observation:   My attention was drawn to the women.  They had no responsibility in what was taking place around the cross.  There was nothing for them to do.  They were free to stand and watch.  They were free from any assignments.  They were free to move around as they wanted.  They were just doing what they wanted when they arrived at the tomb early in the morning to put spices around the body.  They were the first ones in the empty tomb!

Application:   It is good to have responsibility.  It is good that others can count on me to do my part.  BUT sometimes it is good not to have responsibility.  Sometimes it is good to be free to do whatever might be needed in the moment, or to do what seems right and good.  NOTE:  These women did not use their freedom to stay home or keep off to themselves!   Sometimes I can interact with small children and direct their attention to things that will not get them in trouble.  Sometimes I can visit with a person sitting by themselves.  Sometimes I can wash dishes.  Sometimes I can pray with someone kneeling in a corner.  Sometimes my freedom allows me to see the beginning of a great miracle.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I have had responsibility and I have had times of freedom.  Find me faithful in both.  Help me to glorify you in my times of freedom.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 3, 2016: SOAP #2527:  Job 25; Mark 13-14

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.  11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So, he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Observation:   Every day is full of opportunities, opportunities to do good or evil.   Judas was looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.   What we look for is usually what we find.

Application:   I want to spend my day looking for opportunities, opportunities to bring joy to my Heavenly Father.  I want to look for opportunities to make Jesus look good.

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, I need your help to identify the opportunities that will come my way today.  I need your wisdom as to how I can make the most of each opportunity.  I need your gifts working through me so that people will recognize your presence.  “In my life, Lord, be glorified today!” (Bob Kilpatrick) Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 2, 2016: SOAP #2526:  Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 12:1 He then began to speak to them in parables…

Observation:   It had been a couple of busy days.  Jesus had entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey to the cheers of the people.  The next morning, he entered the temple and drove out the money changers.  He left the city for the evening, then returned the next morning.  The religious leaders wanted to know by whose authority he had driven the money changers out of the temple.  He asked them a question about John’s authority to baptism—a question they would not answer.  Then Jesus began to do what he seemed to enjoy the most: He told them a story.  He wrapped the truth in a simple, real-to-life, easy to remember story.

Application:   The stories that Jesus told help me remember the truth he was teaching.  He still speaks to me in illustrations from my daily life.  Help me to relate stories that portray your truth to others.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, as I read your Word and look at the world around me, your Holy Spirit shows me so many beautiful, yet simple illustrations of your truth.  You are amazing!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 1, 2016: SOAP #2525:  Psalm 121; Mark 9-10

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 10:28 Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”  29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.  31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Observation:  There are some important principles to note in this passage.  First, heaven notices the sacrifices made for the gospel.  Second, God is no man’s debtor.  We sacrifice because we are responding to the sacrifice He has already made for us.  But He takes it personally and repays us in this life.  Third, it is worth-while to follow Jesus!   Fourth, I can expect to be persecuted as My Lord was.  Fifth, His rewards extend into eternity!

Application:   I have found the above principles working in my life.  I have not been able to out give God.  I am not wealthy in comparison to many, but I am able to give and can be more generous now than in the past.  (Generosity is not based on how much is given, but how much remains.)

Being faithful to tithe has proven to be a wise financial practice.  It is the foundation of my financial plan.  My retirement is based on tithing.  I am so glad I learned this principle early in life and so glad that I have been faithful to tithe in difficult times.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, It is my privilege to serve you.  You bless me so much more than I deserve. Your generosity and faithfulness far exceeds mine.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 31, 2016: SOAP #2524:  Job 22; Mark 7-8

Scripture:  Job (NIV) 22:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: 2 “Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise man benefit him? 3 What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless? 4 “Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you?  5 Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless?

Observation:   Job was suffering yet maintained that he had not sinned.  His friends were convinced that he must be a great sinner or he would not be experiencing such great suffering.  Eliphaz asks Job, “What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous?”   Every time I read this passage, I want to interrupt and say, “Eliphaz, if you only knew!  It is so important to God to have a righteous man that He sent His Son Jesus to die on a cross in payment for man’s sins!  That is how much it means to God for man to be righteous!”

Application:  To take a careless attitude toward sin is contrary to God.  After what He was willing to sacrifice to pay the price for my sins, how can I think of sin as though it is unimportant?

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, how can I express my appreciation for your extravagant sacrifice made for my sins?  One small way is to consider sin as disgusting as you do.  A second way is to bring you pleasure by living a righteous life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 30, 2016: SOAP #2523:  Job 21; Mark 5-6

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 and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. … 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Observation:   What was it about her faith that brought her healing?   First, her faith was not in the garment, but the One wearing the garment!  He was the focus of her faith.  Second, her faith motivated her to action.  Later James would write that faith without works is dead.  Her faith cause her to work her way through the crowd, to get close to Jesus, and to reach out and touch Him.  In the next chapter, we read: “And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside— they placed the sick in the market-places. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.”  Mark 6:56

Application:   My faith is more than just a thought in my mind.  True faith comes out my mouth and is seen in my actions.  If my faith is not strong enough to affect the way I talk and the way I act, it is dead and not strong enough to save me. (James 2:17 & 26) Like a muscle, faith grows as I exercise it.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, I know you want my faith to grow so You speak to me and give me things to do that are beyond my abilities.  But in obeying you, my faith grows and you accomplish your will through me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 29, 2016: SOAP #2522:  Job 20; Mark 3-4

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Observation:     It had been a full day.  A large crowd had followed Jesus to the lakeside (Mark 3:6) where He had taught the crowd by telling them parables, real-to-life stories that had a spiritual application.  Then Jesus had taken time to explain the parables to his disciples.  Now, evening had settled upon them and He wanted to go to the other side of the lake.  They took Him in the boat, JUST AS HE WAS.  There seemed to be no preparation; they just picked up and went.  He was tired and went to sleep.  But He was also full of the Holy Spirit.  He was not a storm chaser; He was a storm calmer!

Application:   In the boat of my life, I want Jesus, just as He is!!!  I want Jesus to understand the limitations of my flesh.  I want Jesus to calm the storms in my life!

Prayer:   Jesus, be who you are in me. My faith is in you, your character, and your ability.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 28, 2016: SOAP #2521:  Job 19; Mark 1-2

Scripture:  Job (NIV) 19:25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.  26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I, myself, will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

Observation:  Job was enduring terrible suffering that he did not understand.  He was conversing with friends who were trying to convince him that his suffering was because he was such a terrible sinner.  Yet, from his heart come this expression of faith: “I know that my Redeemer lives!  I know that He will come to this earth.  I know that I will personally see Him!”  Job did not know the reasons behind his sufferings.  Job did not know how things would work out.  But he knew his Redeemer lives!  Today, everyone who reads the book of Job knows how God restored and blest Job.  But at the time of Job’s confession, the outcome only looked negative.

Application:   Obviously, my troubles are not as serious as Job’s, but when going through tough times, I want that same confession to come from my heart and be heard on my lips.  It should come easier to me because I know how my Redeemer came to earth and died for my sins!  I have the Holy Spirit living within me.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of the great blessing I have in the forgiveness of my sins, in the promise of heaven, and in your Presence!  My Redeemer lives!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!