Author Archives: SOAPs by Leon

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About SOAPs by Leon

At the end of my first year in Bible College, the Lord sent me into the US Navy. It was at a serviceman's center in San Diego where I met and married Sharon. During the final years of the ten years I spent in the US Navy, most with the US Marine Corps as a hospital corpsman, I became the pastor of Bayview Chapel A/G in Kaneohe, Hawaii. After 17 years, the Lord sent us back to my birth state, Kansas, where we were pastors of Andover Assembly of God for 20 years. In retirement, the Lord has given me two assignments: first is to write these daily devotions. You are being allowed to eves drop in on what He is saying to me. You will notice the applications are usually in the first person. The second assignment is to drive a school bus. What a privilege to serve others in this practical way and to interact with people outside the church environment. My heart smiles as I continue to joyfully serve my God and others. :) A third assignment from the Kansas Assemblies of God is to be the ministry coordinator for the Kansas Senior Adult Ministries. My wife, Sharon and myself enjoy traveling around the state of Kansas, visiting the churches and encouraging ministry to senior adults and the ministries of senior adults.

Final Answer

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September 22: Daniel 9-10; Psalm 123; Luke 5

Scripture: Luke 5:5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Observation: It is right to consider circumstances in making decisions for our lives. Peter had much experience in fishing. He was the expert. He understood that sometime fishing was an exercise in futility. However Peter had come to understand something else. Jesus is Lord. What Jesus says trumps all circumstances. So Peter proceeded to do some more fishing!

Scripture: Luke 5:6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

Application: I am sure when I grew up I was like so many other children whose favorite question seems to be, “Why?” I am sure that my parents, like so many other parents I have known, often responded, “Because I said so.” Now I wonder if that was God’s way of training me to respond to Him. I do not need to understand every aspect of the decision, but when He speaks I do need to obey Him. His word is my “final answer.”  🙂

Prayer: Lord, You are faithful. I know I can trust you. “Because you said so” is enough of a reason to obey. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

The “Why” & The “Who”

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September 21: Daniel 7-8; Psalm 137; Luke 4

Scripture: Luke 4: 42 At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.

43 But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

Observation: Some people have trouble saying, “No” because they lack two key bits of information. They do not know why they are here, and they do not know who sent them. Jesus knew both, so he could say, “No” to those who wanted Him to stay in their city. The One who gave Him the mission was greater than those wanting to detain Him. And the mission was larger than just one town.

Application: When I do not know Who is sending me and why they sent me then it is easy to let others and other things crowd in on my assignment. Even in driving a school bus, there are waiting times as a football or volleyball game is being played. I must be careful that what I do in those times does not hinder me from being available when needed. I was sent with the purpose of providing transportation for the team. That is my priority. And in a greater way, God has sent me with the purpose of letting Jesus live and love through me. THAT is my priority!

Prayer: Lord, You have sent me to do your will. It is my joy to please you. J Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

It’s a personal thing!

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September 20: Daniel 5-6; Psalm 130; Luke 3

Scripture: Psalm 130:8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Observation: How important is our redemption to God? Through the Psalmist God said it is so important that He will take care of it personally. He will not send another to do it!

What is the most important responsibility one has in life today? Surely raising children is at the top of the list. Yet we often delegate that responsibility to a baby-sitter, or a pre-school, or a public school, etc. Yet to God, your redemption is so important that He will never delegate it to someone else. Besides, they could not do it properly. That would not properly express His personal love for you. He does not delegate your redemption to another! Amazing!

Application: I have heard it said that if I was the only sinner in the whole world, Jesus would have come to die for my sins. Although I cannot find a verse that specifically states that, I believe the message of the Bible strongly indicates that it is true, especially the ministry of Jesus to individuals as seen in the gospels. As for me, it is true. When I understood that He died for my sins and I personally responded to Jesus as my God, I discovered that he personally forgave my sins and we began this personal relationship that continues to today. 🙂

Prayer: Thank you, Lord for saving MY soul. Thank you, Lord for forgiving MY sins. Thank you Lord for making MY heart YOUR home! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Why am I here?

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September 19: Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

Scripture: Luke 2:49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Observation: To Mary and Joseph, Jesus had been lost. They had been searching through the streets of Jerusalem for three days, and had just found him talking with the religious leaders in the temple.

These are the first recorded words of Jesus. How appropriate that they concern His Father—the priority of Jesus life. These words set the tone for the rest of His life. Other places in the gospels we read that he had been sent to do the works of the Father and to speak the words of the Father. He was present in the world to do His Father’s work.

Application: I have been placed on earth for a purpose. I am to faithfully represent my Heavenly Father by the way I live and how I speak. The Holy Spirit has taken up residence in me to help me.

Prayer: Lord, I want to be a good representative of you to those around me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

It’s a daily thing!

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September 18: Ezekiel 45-46; Luke 1

Scripture: Ezekiel 46: 13 “‘Every day you are to provide a year-old lamb without defect for a burnt offering to the LORD; morning by morning you shall provide it.
14 You are also to provide with it morning by morning a grain offering, consisting of a sixth of an ephah with a third of a hin of oil to moisten the flour. The presenting of this grain offering to the LORD is a lasting ordinance.
15 So the lamb and the grain offering and the oil shall be provided morning by morning for a regular burnt offering.

Observation: Here we have the phrase “morning by morning.” Daily things are so important. They may become routine, but they are so important. They may not be exciting, but they are so important. They may be overlooked for a day, maybe two, but they are so important.

So much of my life is planned around a daily routine. Many of those routines enable me to have meaningful interaction with other people, like a family eating dinner together or weekly business meetings.

Application: I should not be surprised that what is true of my physical, mental, and social life is also true of my spiritual life. I should not try to fool myself into thinking that my spiritual life is a priority if there is no daily routine to maintain it.

Prayer: Lord, help me be faithful to spend time with you in my daily life. I need it the most when it is the least convenient. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Not even close!

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September 17: Ezekiel 42-44; Revelation 22

Scripture: Revelation 22:3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Observation: When the Apostle Paul considered going to heaven compared to remaining here in this world, he said going was “better by far!” (Philippians 1:23) It isn’t even close! What on earth can possibly compare to seeing Him face to face!

Application: I started this devotion early this morning but did not have time to finish it. Then this afternoon I received the totally unexpected news that my one cousin older than myself, on my dad’s side of my family has just died. I needed this verse. My heart seemed shocked, “Hey, that cannot be; Donna is my generation!”

I like the song:
“What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see;
When I look upon His face, the one who saved me by His grace.
When He takes me by the hand, leads me through the promised land;
What a day, glorious day, that will be!” (James Hill)

Prayer: Lord, It will be worth it all when I see You face to face! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Entrance Requirements

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September 16: Ezekiel 40-41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21

Scripture: Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Observation: After being given a description of this “city” we refer to as “heaven,” we are given the requirement for entrance. Those who DO what is shameful and deceitful are excluded. And one’s name must be recorded in the “Lamb’s book of life.”

The other books mentioned in heaven are the books of our deeds. (Revelation 20:12) But it is clear that no one will make it into heaven based on their works. One must have been “born again” with the new life God gives and their name recorded in the “Lambs book of life.” There is just no other way!

Application: It is not always easy dealing with the temptations we encounter in this life, but I can rest assured that…
“It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.
Life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase.
So bravely run the race, till we see Christ.” (Esther Kerr Rusthoi)

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your “work” in dying as the payment for my sins.
Thank you for the new life you put within me! And, thank you for writing my name in the Lamb’s book of life. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

A Missing Link?

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September 15: Ezekiel 38-39; Psalm 145; Revelation 20

Scripture: Psalm 145:3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no-one can fathom.
4 One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.

Observation: Every generation has two responsibilities. The first is to listen. They should listen to the older generation tell of the special ways God has worked in the past. The second is to tell. They are to tell the next generation. They are the link from the past to the future.

Application: May I not be a missing link. I must be careful to pass along what I have heard and what I have experienced.

Prayer: Lord, I need your Holy Spirit to bring to memory what I have heard, and remind me of what I have experienced. I want to be faithful to pass along what you have done for me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Respecting All Creation

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September 14: Ezekiel 36-37; Psalm 110; Revelation 19

Scripture: Ezekiel 36: 6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations.

Observation: In this verse God speaks through His prophet, not to the people, but to the land. As God’s creation, we know that God cares about us so much that He sent His Son to pay the penalty for our sins. Sometimes we need to be reminded that the earth is God’s creation also, and He cares about it too.

Application: I am bothered when someone takes something I have created and treats it disrespectfully and wastefully. I should expect that God would feel the same way about His creation.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for not treating your creation with more respect. I am not showing much love for you when I waste what you have made. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Wonderful Hope & Strong Warning

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September 13: Ezekiel 33-35; Revelation 18

Scripture: Ezekiel 33:14 And if I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but he then turns away from his sin and does what is just and right—
15 if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die.
16 None of the sins he has committed will be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he will surely live.

Observation: What wonderful hope God extends to the sinner. The same God gives a strong warning to the righteous in the preceding verse.

Scripture: Ezekiel 33:13 If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he has done.

Application: God is a Loving and Holy God. He is so loving to forgive me, but so holy to not let me continue or return to sin. Sin is a major issue to God and it must be to me also. His holiness would not allow God to just overlook my sin; His love caused Him to send His Son to die in payment for my sins. His love forgives my sin, but His holiness requires I turn from sin. And He does more than just forgive my sins; He takes up residence in my life. Amazing! His life within gives me the power to overcome sin.

Prayer: Lord, may I be quick to repent, to turn away from any sin you show me in my life. I am so thankful for your love and I want to please you with my life. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!