November 20: Matt 5-7

What A Book!

Scripture: Matthew 4:3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Observation: Jesus, the Complete Word of the Father made flesh, answered the devil with the written word!!!! What a joy for us who look to Jesus as our example. He only used what WE have available! The Living Word was using the Written Word to overcome the devil’s temptation.

Application: No book is more important for me to know than the Bible. In it God reveals Himself to me. In it He speaks to me. He gives me encouragement and comfort, wisdom and knowledge, guidance and understanding. It is my proven sword to fend off Satan’s attacks.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Bible. Thank you for your example in using the written word in overcoming Satan’s temptations. Teach me to do the same. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 18: Ps 124, 2Cor 11-13

He Came To My Side!

Scripture: Psalm 124:1 If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel say—
2 if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us…

Observation: Who can think of all the possible scenarios if “the LORD had not been on our side?”

Application: I know that the emphasis is not so much Him being on my side, but for me to be on His side. But sometimes in His grace, He comes to my aid even when I am not walking in His perfect will. In fact, that is what Calvary was all about. Jesus came to the side of sinners in order to bring them to His side of righteousness. Think of it: “if the Lord had not been on my side” at Calvary, I would still be lost in my sin!

In reading the New Testament and better understanding the great judgment to which I was headed, and the great gulf that separated me from God, and the great grace that brought the LORD to my side — surely I can sing this with more appreciation and feeling than ever the psalmist. Surely I each can add many of my own verses to this great anthem.

Prayer: Lord, only you know where I would be if you had not come to my side. Thank you for coming to my side! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 17: 2Cor 7-10

Whatever action necessary…

Scripture: 2Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Observation: What a difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. Godly sorrow is being convicted of the wrongfulness of the action taken. It leads to acknowledging the wrong, restitution if possible, and receiving forgiveness. On the other hand, worldly sorrow is being sorry one was caught. There is little if any acknowledgment that the action taken was wrong. The blame is placed on others. When whatever consequence is finished, there is little to prevent a reoccurrence.

Application: God desires me to be truly sorrowful for my sins and quick to repent. He wants me to be sorry enough to take whatever action necessary to stop sinning. He wants me to receive His forgiveness and walk on as a child greatly loved by his Father and whose love for his Father is well known.

Prayer: Lord, instead of making excused and blaming others, I need Your help to see sin as you see it. What a great price you paid that I might be forgiven! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 5: Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

Observation: At times when we read the scriptures we forget how much time passes between events. We read them as though they happened back to back. Unless we take time to notice the specifics, we might get the idea that Paul was converted in one chapter and then just a short time later was preaching in Antioch and then moving into his missionary journeys.

Application: The truth is that God often seems to be taking His time. From my perspective, I think He is moving too slowly. From His perspective He is moving in perfect timing; He moves when the greatest good can be accomplished. Although He is not in a hurry, neither does He waste time. When the timing is right, He can move fast, even in nano seconds! I have also found that sometimes when I am waiting on God, He is waiting on me.

Prayer: Lord, I have lived long enough to see the value of your timing worked out more than once in my life. Even though I know your timing is best, I still get impatient. Help me to trust your timing. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 1: Psalm 121; Mark 9-10

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 9:2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them….
8 Suddenly, when they looked round, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Observation: Peter, James and John were with Jesus on a true mountain top experience. They were privileged to watch as Jesus stepped back into heaven and had a visit with two Old Testament saints: Elijah and Moses. But all of a sudden, it was over. Elijah and Moses were gone. But Jesus remained. Together they went back down the mountain to face the troubles in their world. The One with them as they went up the mountain was the same One who came back down with them!

Application: Wonderful experiences with friends and even wonderful experiences with God have come to an end, but His Presence has remained constant! And like the Psalmist (Psalm 23:4) I have found that what is true of mountain-top experiences is also true of valley times. The One who goes in with me will be the One who comes out with me.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your constant Presence in my life! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 26: Job 17; Acts 24-26

Scripture: Acts 26: 15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.

16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.

17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them

Observation: Here the Apostle Paul is telling of how he met the Lord. He must have been greatly surprised that the Lord was the very one He had been persecuting! He was probably even more surprised that this Jesus did not come with revenge, but with an assignment. Paul was being sent to people from whom he would need to be rescued. Even before Paul first needed to be rescued, he had already received the promise of rescue from the Lord.

Application: Experiencing trouble is not an indication that I have missed the Lord. I should not be surprised when trouble comes my way. And I too have the promise of the Lord to be with me and to bring me not to a life free from trouble, but to a life victorious over trouble. Like Andre Couch sang: “…if I never had a problem, I’d never know that God could solve them; I’d never know what faith in God can do.” “

Prayer: Lord, if you are sending me to a place in which I will need rescue, you will rescue. If you are sending me to a place that needs provision, you will provide. If you are sending me to a place that needs a message, you will give the message. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!