August 4: 2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34; John 6

Scripture: John 6:7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have A BITE!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,
9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them.
11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had ENOUGH to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are LEFT OVER. Let nothing be wasted.”

Observation: The disciples considered the need with “a bite” sized mentality. Jesus met the need with an “enough” AND “left over” provision! He took a boys sack lunch placed in His hands and multiplied it into a dinner that fed 5000! WOW!!!

Application: My faith can be as limited as what I have in my hand or as limitless as the One into whose hand I place it.

Prayer: Lord, I am a boy with a “sack lunch”—a short devotional thought. In email, on face book and blogs I release it into your hands. Make it “enough.” And, Lord, may there be “left overs” to share with others. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 29: Isaiah 57-59; Psalm 103; 2Peter 3

Scripture: Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perish, and no-one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no-one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.
2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.

Observation: What a thought. There are times when God removes the righteous so that they will not have to endure the evil times coming. It is a ministry of God’s grace to spare them. After all, they are going to a better place. Paul said it is “far better” to depart.
The second verse above gives two special words in describing death. The first is “peace.” The battle is over. The second is “rest.” The labor of living is over.

Application: I have often sung, “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.” (E. Hewitt) I am glad I do not have to wait until I arrive to rejoice in what is prepared for me.

Prayer: Lord, you promised to prepare a place for me in your Father’s house. The very thought of it causes my heart to rejoice. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 26: Isaiah 46-49; 1Peter 5

Scripture: Isaiah 46: 1 ¶ Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary….
3 “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth.
4 Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.…

Observation: Those in the world, who worship idols, find that those idols a heavy burden. They cannot do anything for themselves and must be carried by their worshippers. What a contrast is Jehovah God! He does not depend on His worshippers to carry him; He carries His worshippers!!!

Application: My hair is already mostly white (what is left) and I have crossed into my sixties. God will not only sustain me, He will also rescue me. What a privilege to serve Him. He accepts me in spite of all my weaknesses and flaws. It is truly amazing!

Prayer: “Jesus, Jesus, how I trust you; How I’ve proved you o’re and o’re; Oh, for grace to trust you more!” (Louisa M.R. Stead) Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 21: 2Kings 18-19; 2Chronicles 32; James 5

Scripture: James 5: 7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

Observation: For an example of patience James has us consider the farmer. In Bible days, once the ground had been prepared and the seed planted, there was not much to do but wait and let the natural processes take place. He waits through the autumn and spring rains. He waits with anticipation for the harvest.

Application: I too need patience and anticipation for seeds I have planted. The storms I dislike so much may be just what is needed to prepare for the harvest. And I need to remember that I am a seed God has planted in this world and The Great Farmer will soon be coming for His harvest. I need to let God work His work in me. He is preparing me for the harvest.

Prayer: Lord, like the farmer, You wait patiently for harvest. Thank you for your patience. Have your perfect way in my life. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 16: Isaiah 25-28; Hebrews 13

Scripture: Isaiah 25: 1 LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things,
things planned long ago.

Observation: God does as only God can. He works in “perfect faithfulness.” “Perfect faithfulness” requires perfect understanding and unlimited resources. God has both!

Application: Of course I will let those around me know of this wonderful God I serve.

Prayer: Lord, “many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand, but I know YOU hold tomorrow, and I know YOU hold my hand.” Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 15: Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12

Scripture: Hebrews 12: 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Observation: My faith in the work of Jesus for my salvation does not negate my responsibility to make every effort to live at peace with others and to be holy. Trusting in God’s provision for my righteousness does not set me free to continue to sin. I must resist temptation. That may mean standing true while being persecuted or it may mean resisting temptation the enemy brings my way.

Application: As my father demonstrated by his life, I must remember that living for Jesus may not always be easy, but it is always worth the struggle. I must not be surprised to find that I have an enemy who is actively working to destroy me and I must keep reminding myself that sin is much more serious than he wants me to think. Keeping my focus on Jesus by continuing to praise Him all day long helps me put the struggles I face in proper perspective.

Prayer: Lord, Your sacrifice for me far surpasses any sacrifice I may ever be called to make for you. You are worthy! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 14:  Isaiah 19-21;  Hebrews 11

Scripture:  Hebrews 11: ³⁹ These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, ⁴⁰ since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Observation:   They were ALL commended for their faith, yet if you read through this chapter you will find those who experienced great success had not yet received the promise.  And those who had experienced great tragedy had not missed it!   They all had something for which to look forward.
Like some marriage promises, some people’s faith is not too weak, it is too short.  It does not last till death.

Application:  God has something for me worth waiting for.  The way I understand this verse is that even those who have preceded me in death must wait until we all arrive before they can enjoy the fullness of the promise.

Prayer:   Lord, “Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true.  There’s a race that I must run, there are victories to be won.  Give me power every hour to be true.” Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!