July 4, 2015: SOAP #2039

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 1:8 But about the Son he [God] says, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.
10 He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

Observation: In these verses we see God the Father speaking to God the Son, Jesus. Jesus is the King whose kingdom will never end. He reigns in righteousness; He hates wickedness. He hates evil because He understands what evil does to those He loves. Evil goes contrary to His nature. He created the earth. Yet because of evil, the earth will not last, nor any of the governments on the earth. Only God’s Kingdom will last.

Application: My King loves righteousness and hates wickedness. Those are characteristics of His kingdom and of those in His kingdom. My King loves people and wants His kingdom full of people. My King hates what evil does to people. My King died for me to take the end results of evil on my life. By His Spirit my King lives in me and gives me victory over evil.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son, Jesus. Thank you for the Holy Spirit. Thank you for including me in your great Kingdom. Amen

July 3, 2015: SOAP #2038: Isaiah 6-7; 2Chronicles 26-27; Philemon

My Focus

Scripture: Isaiah (NIV) 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.

Observation: King Uzziah reigned in Jerusalem for fifty two years. It was a very prosperous time for the nation. In the prosperity and stability of the government it would be easy for Isaiah to have his eyes on the capable leadership of King Uzziah. But when the king died, Isaiah’s focus changed. He looked beyond the earthly throne and saw the heavenly throne. On that throne sets One who is “high and exalted”—One who will never die!

Application: When the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the United States government all disappoint me, I must look beyond to see the One who is “high and exalted” and still seated upon the throne of heaven.

I have learned to see doctors as having a license to “practice” medicine. They are not the perfect all-knowing healers we would like them to be. I must see the politicians and statesmen in the same light. As great as our republic is, it is not the perfect government. It too will pass. Imbedded sin will cause it to fail. But I am part of a kingdom whose King will never die, Whose authority is supreme, and Whose rule is righteous and loving.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, lift my eyes above the failure and disappointment I see around me. Help me keep my eyes focused on the heavenly throne. Amen

Pastor Leon

Chaplain

Andover Police and Fire Department

Andover, Kansas 67002

July 2, 2015: SOAP #2037: Isaiah 4-5; Psalm 115-116; Jude

What He Desires

Scripture: Jude (NIV) 5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe

Observation: Jude warned about evil teachers who taught that because God is so gracious believers were free to live in immorality. James reminds them of something these Jewish Christians should already know. Just because the Israelites were delivered from bondage in Egypt, they did not all make it into the Promised Land. They were free from the land of Egypt, but some of Egypt was still in them. Because of their unbelief and sin, God brought judgment to all who were older than twenty years of age when they left Egypt (Numbers 32:11; except for Joshua and Caleb.)

Application: God has freed me from the world, but I must be careful not to let the world back into my life. What was true for the nation of Israel is true for the United States. What was true for the Israelites is true for the Hiebert family. My past may be a blessing to me, but I am not saved by my past. I am not saved by what God did in the past. I am saved by maintaining a current, living relationship with the Great God of Creation. It is not a once-a-week thing, or something-from-the-past thing; it is a today thing! My past cannot guarantee my current relationship; neither can my past prevent me from enjoying a current relationship with the Lord!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, to walk and talk with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—that is what you desire. Amen

July 1, 2015: SOAP #2036

Scripture: Isaiah (NIV) 1:2 Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manager, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. …4b My people have walked out on me, their GOD, turned their backs on The Holy One of Israel, walked off and never looked back.

Observation: Man was made in God’s image with the capacity to hurt when relationships fall apart. How much more does God hurt when His people turn their backs on Him? He has such great plans for man. He has invested SO MUCH in the relationship. Surely His heart is often broken.

Application: My God, Who has done so much for me, hurts as He sees the condition of this world He created, and of man who He formed out of the dirt and in whom He breathed life. In the above verses His heart was hurt by Israel turning away from Him. Today, His heart is hurt by a nation that He has blest in so many ways but has been turning from His ways.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am sorry for the pain your creation has caused you. I am sorry for the pain I have caused you. I pray that my life today brings you joy. Amen

June 30, 2015: SOAP #2035:

Scripture: Titus (NIV) 2:14 Who [Jesus Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Observation: God has a reason for saving us from sin and spending eternity in hell. He wants us for Himself. He has a great future planned for us! He wants us to be people He can be proud of. His people, having been freed from sin, look for opportunities to do what is good.

Application: How am I to live? The righteous and holy God has bought me for himself. He paid the price I owed for my sin. He has joined me in living my life. Whatever my circumstances He is with me. In whatever country I live, under whatever laws I live, my first priority is allowing Him to live His life in me. For Him to enjoy sharing this life with me, I need to let Him live His life of righteousness and purity.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, it is my joy to share my life with you. Help me live this life in a way that you can enjoy it too. Amen

June 29, 2015: SOAP #2034:

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 86:14 The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life—men without regard for you.
15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Observation: When getting attacked, we must remember that God does not look at us the same way. What people say about us can tie up our thoughts for days, even years. People attacking us are not considering what God has to say and are not looking at us as God sees us. We need to keep our thoughts focused on wat God says about us.

Application: My greatest concern is what God thinks about me. Knowing that He is compassionate and gracious makes me very appreciative that He is the One ruling my life. I am so thankful that He is loving and faithful.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I have given my life to you and I trust you. What you think about me is more important than what any man thinks of me. I am glad that You are God! Amen

June 28, 2015: SOAP #2033

Scripture: 2Timothy (NIV) 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

June 27, 2015: SOAP #2031: 2Kings 13,14; 2Chronicles 25; 2Timothy 3

Victory or Defeat

Scripture: 2Chronicles (NIV) 25:7 But a man of God came to him and said, “O king, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the people of Ephraim. 8 Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.”

Observation: Judah was preparing for war with Seir. They had hired one hundred thousand troops from Israel to bolster their army of three hundred thousand. The man of God confronted the King and the troops were sent home. Judah went on to victory.

One does not have to read much in the Bible to realize the truth of the words: “…for God has the power to help or to overthrow.” This truth can be easily seen in the rest of this chapter.

Authors Peter Marshall and David Manual wrote two books, “The Light and the Glory” and “From Sea to Shining Sea.” In them they show God’s blessing as the USA fulfilled God’s purpose for our nation and God’s judgment as we ignored Him. (What a terrible price our nation paid for slavery!)

Application: What was true for Israel in the Old Testament is true for the USA today. What is true for nations is also true for individuals—it is true for me. The Sovereign God, with His favor or displeasure, has the power to bring me victory or defeat, success or failure.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are the Sovereign God of the Universe. Continually remind me that what I do affects you and what you do affects me. Amen

June 26, 2015: SOAP #2031:

Scripture: 2Timothy (NIV) 2:1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus…

Observation: I hear Paul writing to young Timothy not to let anything shake his confidence in God’s grace. All we have received and will ever need comes to us, not because we deserve it, but because of God’s grace. His grace can be best seen in Jesus who gave Himself to make a way for us to be a part of His family. And along with Jesus, God will graciously give us everything we need.

Application: Being “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” means that I have stopped looking for another way to get into heaven other than by the death of Jesus.

Being strong in God’s grace greatly affects how I think. There is no need to worry because I am trusting in God’s grace. He will give me strength to accomplish what He has assigned me to do.

Being strong in God’s grace would mean that I look at everything in the light of that grace. I remember several conversations in Hawaii with Sam Sasser, then the pastor of First A/G in Honolulu. I will always remember that He often mentioned the “grace” of God. He credited the grace of God for everything in his life.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your grace is sufficient and abundant. It is amazing. I trust your grace. Amen

June 25, 2015: SOAP #2030

Scripture: Joel (NIV) 3:16 The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, the earth and the sky will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.

Observation: Even during a time of judgment, God promised to be a refuge for his people; he would be their strength! In God’s hand they can feel secure knowing that God is greater than anything that they may experience.

Application: Today, our nation has turned from God as Israel did in the days of the prophet, Joel. The army of locust that invaded Israel in Joel’s day brought economic destruction. Our economy took a great hit and is growing slower than our population while our national debt is growing much faster. Today God is willing to restore a nation that repents. Today we serve the same God who promised to be with Israel during a time of judgment on the nations around them.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, in time of trouble, I trust you to care for me. You are my refuge; You are my stronghold! Amen