January 3: Genesis 6-8; Luke 3

It’s A Process

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 3:21 ¶ When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened
22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.

Observation: Jesus had been 12 years old when he accompanied his parents to the temple in Jerusalem. When his parents discovered he was missing on the return trip, they finally found him talking with the religious leaders in the temple. Jesus is now 30 years old. There have been 18 years of maturity and ministry preparation in the privacy of Joseph and Mary’s home and carpentry shop.

Application: Maturing takes time and it is difficult to measure the growth in a day by day evaluation. Progress is slow and in small steps. Much of it is done out of public sight and has to do with observing and interacting with mature friends. It’s a process that cannot be ignored nor thought unimportant. It brings great rewards.

Prayer: Lord, living for you is a daily journey that I learn by asking questions and watching the daily lives of others. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 2: Genesis 3-5; Luke 2

Slow Times

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 2:39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Observation: After the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the visit to the temple, the escape into Egypt and return, Joseph and Mary settled into the routine of daily life. They had done all they could do and everything required of the Law, and now was the time of just living. It was family life with a small child, and with the brothers and sisters that were born into the family. It was time needed for Jesus to grow and develop.

Application: There have been times of waiting for God to give the next move. They were times of holding steady to the course God had set. They were times of God’s instruction and character building. They were not times to run, change course, or develop my own plan. They were times of growing in the natural circumstances of life.

Prayer: Lord, your timing is amazing. Thank you for helping me not to get discouraged in the “slow” times but learning to appreciate your Presence. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

I am sending a special Christmas greeting to SOAP readers today. May the Lord enjoy spending this day with you! May this be the best birthday He has ever had!

December 25: 1John 1-5

Amazing Love

Scripture: 1John (NIV) 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! …

Observation: Who could ever describe the indescribably great love the Father has for us? Certainly no one in this life. We cannot even begin to understand the heights from which Jesus descended to become man. We cannot even begin to understand the horribleness of sin and its consequences.
And God did not love us in a stingy manner, but lavished His love on us—exorbitant, outlandish, excessive, extreme, unbelievable love.
This result of this love was that we should be called God’s children.
We are identified with Him by name. The world may call us many things, but He calls us His children!
We are not only called children of God–that is what we actually are!
This is reality!

Application: A child of God—that’s what I am! Christmas is a time for exchanging gifts with those we love. He loves me and sent His Son Jesus to die for me. I love Him and give my life to bring Him honor and glory.

Prayer: Lord, As I celebrate your birth today, I do it with appreciation for the love lavished on me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 24: John 19-21

The Christmas Story Continues…

Scripture: John (NIV) 19:17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Observation: As we are now in the season in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is good to remember the reason He came to earth was to die for our sins. The story of His birth continued to His death, then continued to His resurrection, and continues even to today!

Application: In a small, yet wonderful way, I have become a part of the continuing Christmas story. When Jesus forgave my sins and adopted me into His family, I became a part of the continuing story of Christmas. The Christ who came to the earth to die for me, today by His Spirit lives in me.

Prayer: Lord, as I celebrate your coming to earth, I especially celebrate your coming into my life. The Christmas story continues in me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 13: Hebrews 9-11

A city prepared by God!

Scripture: Hebrews 11:15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Observation: As people age, they often think about places they have been and would like to return. I’m sure some would like to visit places they have only heard about. However if our aging has been done in the Lord, we should be looking for a better country and a city prepared for us by God!

Application: Having lived in Hawaii for many years, when I hear people say how much they would like to visit the Aloha state, I like to tell them, “It is indeed beautiful, but if you are going to heaven, you will not feel like you missed a thing.”

Prayer: Lord, May I be as diligent in preparing my heart for you as you are in preparing a place for me! May you enjoy living in my heart as much as I will enjoy living in the place you are preparing for me! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 9: 1Timothy 5-6; Titus 1-3

Past, Present, & Future

Scripture: Titus (NIV) 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy….
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Observation: In verse seven I see three themes: a past, a present and a future.

Application: As to my past, I have been forgiven and in God’s eyes I am “just-as-if-I’d” never sinned. I was justified by His grace! (Romans 3:24)
As to my present, I am an heir. I am God’s child. I am family! (Romans 8:17)
As to my future, I have a hope of eternal life. It is a hope of living forever with God in the place Jesus went to prepare for me! (Titus 2:13)

Prayer: Lord, you have provided for the whole of my life, my past, my present, and my future. It is good to know my whole life is in your hand. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 8: 1Timothy 1-4

Only One!

Scripture: (NIV) 1Timothy 2:4 (God our Savior) who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men…

Observation: I remember as a very young boy, our family would stay with my grandparents in the summers where my dad helped with the farm work. I remember being awakened one night by Uncle Urban who drove out to let us know the Arkansas River was flooding and would soon be at our door. We had to leave in a hurry. I remember the long drive as we followed my uncle to his home. He knew which bridges were already underwater and which roads would lead to crossable bridges. We trusted him and followed him readily. He was our way out of trouble. He was the only one who had come from a place of safety and knew the way to take us with him back to that place of safety.

Application: Having a great desire to escape the judgment coming on sin, I am so glad that Jesus came from a place of safety and made the necessary sacrifice to provide me peace with God. He not only knows the way to heaven, He is the way—the only way! Sometimes I look for short-cuts, but He knows the best places to cross the rivers.

Prayer: Lord, You are the only one who came from where I want to be to where I am. You are the only one who knows the way to heaven! I place my life in your hands and trust you. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!