Category Archives: Direction

What is wisdom like?

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December 15: James 1-5

What is wisdom like?

Scripture: James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him
James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Observation: Wisdom is valuable and when short in supply, obviously one needs a good source from which to gain wisdom. What better source of wisdom could one find than God! And He is not grudging, but generous in giving out wisdom.

Application: Many times I have asked for wisdom; however I do not ever recall taking the time to consider the various characteristics of this wisdom from heaven. “Giving someone a piece of my mind” may show my worldly wisdom, but it does not display the wisdom from above. “Submissive” was the characteristic I needed today when someone told me I could not do what I needed to get done. It was something I have done many times in the past without even a question.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the book of James that that gives me specific ways to live out this new life you have given me. Help me better learn the submissive expression of your wisdom. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Placed on purpose

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November 30: Rom 1-4

Placed on purpose

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 1:5 Through him (Jesus) and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.

Observation: It is through Jesus Christ the Lord that the apostles and the church to which the gift of apostles was given, have received grace. The grace first worked in the life of the apostle. Then secondarily it worked through the apostle in calling Gentiles to the Lord. We are called to an obedience which comes in response to faith. Obedience is the logical expression of faith! All of this is through His indwelling resurrected life. It is also to His glory! It is for the sake of His holy Name!

Application: Each position I have (pastor, bus driver, or whatever) is given to me by the grace of God and God has placed me there as an outlet through which His grace can be distributed. My obedience to God is a natural expression of my faith and provides a visible witness for others to see how the presence of God in my life can make a difference.

Prayer: Lord, shine through me today. Help those nearby to easily see in me the great value of your grace. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

In me AND through me

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November 29: 1Thes 4-5; 2Thes 1-3

In me AND through me

Scripture: Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Observation: It is good to read these words, but Paul is telling us to minister these words to each other. He did not write “encourage yourself,” but “encourage each other.” Not only are we to take comfort and encouragement from these words, we are to give comfort and encouragement with these words. We are to use these words and the thoughts they communicate to build each other up and help each other through the tough times.

Application: God not only ministers to me as I read His Word, He equips me to minister to others. With the Word that ministered to me, He uses me to minister to others.

Prayer: Lord, Your Word works in me and through me. Use me today to pass along what you have given me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Until

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SOAP for November 19: Matthew 1-4

Until

Scripture: Matthew 2: 13 ¶ When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

Observation: Joseph was told to go and told to stay until he was specifically told to return, which happens in verse 20. It was not up to Joseph when to return, nor up to his interpretation of the circumstances, but God’s clear word of direction.

Application: Stay there until I tell you… It is tempting to let trouble, or lack of success, or simply the desire for change set my times, but Joseph was sent to a location and told to stay “until.” When I have been given specific directions, I should stay “until.” If I went somewhere just to check it out, then I could probably leave for the same reason. But, if the Lord sent me, I have to stay!

Prayer: Lord, my commitment is to remain faithful where You have placed me until I am certain that You are directing me otherwise. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

My Future

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November 16: 2Corinthians 3-6

My Future

Scripture: 2Corinthians 5:4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Observation: What a grand purpose God had in making us! Here we see the purpose God had in creating man was not to live in mortality but immortality! This earth suit in which we dwell was created to be temporary. We will soon be clothed with that which cannot die!

Application: My expectations of the future have a great influence on how I cope with my present circumstances. My expectation of coming before a Holy God makes me want to be sure that my sins are forgiven and that Christ is living in my heart. I do not have to get all my rewards in this life; God will have all eternity to take care of matters. My expectation of coming before a Loving God makes me want to please Him by loving those around me. If it costs me to love, I recall how much it cost Him to love me.

Prayer: Lord, with all my heart I can sing: “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.” Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Prepared for use

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November 3: Job 25; Mark 13-14

Scripture: (NIV) Mark 14:14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’
15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

Observation: What a privilege for this household to host the last supper. The room could be used because it was “furnished” and “ready.” The owner had provided and prepared it for such an occasion.

Application: Are my home, my car, and my possessions available and ready to be used by the Lord? More important, is my life available and ready to be used. I need to keep it “furnished” with the truth from the Bible. If I want the Lord to use me, I must prepare myself to be used and make myself available. I should be as diligent in preparing my life for use as the firefighter is in preparing the fire engine for its use.

Prayer: Lord, show me how to prepare myself and my possessions for Your use. As the song say, “To be used of You is my desire.” Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Prepare the way of the Lord

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Scripture: Mark 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Observation: John the Baptist was the voice crying in the wilderness and his message was “Prepare ye the way of the Lord…”

Application: I can take it as my assignment. There are those around me that the Lord wants to use me to “prepare the way of the Lord.”

Prayer: Lord, may I act and speak in such a way that causes those around me to be prepared to receive you when you call them. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Get rich!

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October 23: Job 13-14; Acts 17-18

Scripture: Job 13:5 (NIV) If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.

Observation: Although this verse always brings me a smile, I know it was spoken out of Job’s frustration at the counsel of his “friends.” They were thinking that Job’s troubles were the result of some great sin and he needed to confess it. If Job was living today maybe he would have said it like my mom would laughingly tell me, “If silence is golden, then shut up and get rich!” Ha!

Application: There are times when I need to apply this verse to me. I need to listen more than talk as the one with whom I am speaking knows much more than I. There is no place this is more important than in prayer. I know God loves us and it pleases Him for us to talk to Him, but what can I tell Him that He does not already know? Absolutely nothing!! On the other hand, what can He tell me that I do not already know? Almost everything!!!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for listening to me. I am blessed to know you love me and care to let me express my thoughts and feelings. But more important, thank you for talking to me! I need your wisdom and guidance. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Misapplied Truth

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October 19: Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10-11

Scripture: Job 5:27 (NIV) “We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself.”

Observation: Eliphaz has just spoken of the grandeur of God and how He takes care of those who trust in Him. He has attempted to take the truths about God and apply them to Job. He now advises/urges Job to apply those truths to himself.

Eliphaz is like so many counselors today who take truth and apply it with worldly wisdom. Is so doing they miss the reality that is at the heart of the problem. Here Eliphaz is making judgments without a clue about what God has already said about Job. If he had known about the spiritual battle taking place, his counsel may have been along the line to encourage Job to hold onto the truth about this wonderful God we serve. God does work through all things for good. God can be trusted to work things out. We must hang on through the tough times. Instead, he accuses Job of sin.

Application: I can be just like Eliphaz, taking the truth I know about God and misapplying it to situations that I only see from what is visible. If I am going to be useful to God and helpful to others, first I need divine help. Of course God has already made provision for my lack. He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside of me. I must grow in listening to Him!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, how I need You to help me in applying the truth I know. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Who Gets My Approval?

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October 18: Job 3-4; Acts 8-9

Scripture: Acts 8:1 (NIV) And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

Observation: A few verses back in the previous chapter we read that those doing the actual stoning of Steven laid their coats at the feet of Saul. (Here is the first mention of the one who became better known as the Apostle Paul.) Saul did not actually throw the stones, but by enabling those who did he was giving his approval. He knew what they were doing.

Application: I wonder how many times I have passively given approval by standing by and saying nothing, or by enabling a store to give to godless causes by purchasing their product. When I drive by an abortion clinic, I know what they are doing inside. Should I buy at stores I know openly participate in the homosexual parades? What does it take to get my approval—a less expensive item at another store—the convenience of not needing to go to a further location?Does peer pressure mean so much that I remain quiet when someone tells a dirty joke in my presence, or worse, speaks the Lord’s name vulgarly?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I am thankful I do not have to walk around thinking that everyone is doing something wrong, however I am thankful when you make me aware of places/things undeserving of my approval. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!