February 4: Exodus 37-38; Psalm 19; Acts 11

Creation

Scripture: Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Observation: Several years back, we were at an Independence Day celebration. The sky was covered with clouds and there was a possibility of rain. As darkness settled in, the fireworks started. They were beautiful against the dark sky. Then the first bolt of lightning stretched across the sky. The aerial fireworks in comparison seemed like they were barely above the trees. They seemed so small. What an awesome God! That night the heavens declared His glory!!!

Application: Now that the sun is rising a little earlier each day and my bus route takes me into the rising sun, I see the skies proclaiming the glory of God. Each sunrise is different, but each reveals the glory of a magnificant Creator.

Prayer: Lord, Creation is your work; its grandeur and its variety inspire me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 31: Revelation 19-22

Palms up

Scripture: Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

…three verses later…

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Observation: As in Genesis chapter 2 we find Adam and Eve were given only two choices, either to eat or not to eat, so here at the end of the Bible we find only two destinations: the “lake of fire” and “heaven.” The choice is ours.

Application: Sometimes in playing with young children I hide a small toy in my hands behind my back then bring my closed hands to the front asking them to choose in which hand is the prize. God is not like that at all. He holds the choices before us in His open hands, palms up.

Prayer: Lord, living for you is not a guessing game. Through your word and by your Spirit I can know which choice honors you. Sometimes I may not know clearly which one honors you, but I can clearly see which one does NOT honor you. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 28: Revelation 5-9

No surprise!

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 6: 15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Observation: It is very understandable that a mother would become extremely angry when someone tries to harm the child she loves so dearly. It seems that the amount of her anger could be in proportion to the amount of her love.

God the Son loves God the Father so much that He was willing to come to earth to redeem those created in His image.

God the Father loves God the Son so much and wants Him to be honored by those for whom He died.

When those for whom Christ died reject Him, no one should be surprised that it makes the Father angry. He loves His Son!

Application: It is good for me to remember that this Holy God who loves me also loves His Son, Jesus. I should not be surprised to discover that the Father takes personally how I treat Jesus. (John 5:23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.)

Prayer: Lord, you remain perfectly holy and perfectly loving at all times, even when you are angry for your anger is never expressed outside the boundary of justice and it is against those who dishonor the Father you love so much. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 12: Hebrews 5-8

The perfect fit!

Scripture: Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Observation: Jesus is the perfect High Priest who made the perfect sacrifice for sin. He meets my need perfectly!

Application: So many times I have had to settle for less than what I really needed. From two or three choices I had to choose the one that would come closest to meeting my need. It was not exactly what I needed, but it would have to do. However, the more I understand Jesus, the more I am convinced that he perfectly meets my need.

Prayer: Lord, it is a perfect match: my need and your supply! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!