November 9: Job 34; 1Corinthians 4-6

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Observation: My body has great value to God as it is a temple in which the Holy Spirit can live. My body has great value to me as I use it to interact with the world around me. It provides many opportunities to honor God by doing those things that please Him.

Application: I think of my mind like a computer. My computer has two types of memory: a large amount stored on a hard drive, and a lesser amount that is active and can quickly interact with whatever is happening. It seems my mind also has two types of memory, memory that requires some thought to recall and memory that is available instantly.

This verse contains information that I need to keep in my active memory. Wherever I am, whatever I am doing, I need keep aware that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, may you be honored by the way I present and use my body today. Keep reminding me of the great price you paid for me. I am yours! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November, 7: Job 31, 32; Galatians 5,6

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Observation: Our freedom is so important to God; He wants us to love Him because that is our choice. Love is expressed through our choices. If there is no choice, it is not an expression of love. Some choices can lead to bondage when what begins as a choice becomes the master. It is our responsibility to make choices that protect our freedom.

Application: Making choices to serve and please my wife is a major way of saying, “I love you,” especially when not what I would personally like to do. The same is true with God. I choose to serve God because I love Him and am convinced that He is worthy of my devotion. I must remember: the greater the sacrifice, the greater the expression of love. My choices are the proof of who I love and how much I love.

Prayer: Lord, what can I do today to please you? Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 6: Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3,4

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 4: 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,
5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

Observation: Why did Jesus come? Why was he born of a woman? Why was he born under the law? He did it to redeem us that we might become in every sense His God’s children.

Jesus stood where we stood to enable us to stand where He stands! He came under the law, to fulfill the law, not for Himself, for He Who was born without sin, and never committed a sin, needed no sacrifice for His sins. But He became the perfect sacrifice for sinful man.

He made it possible for us to receive the FULL RIGHT of sons. What do you think about that!!!! Who can fathom what that means, not only in this present life, but in the life to come!

Application: Today I am God’s son. God has brought me into His family and given me the goal to become like Jesus. Of course for me to ever realize that goal, I will need the continual guidance of the Holy Spirit just as Jesus had.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, may I hear your voice clearly today as you guide me in being like Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 4: Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

Scripture: (NIV) Mark 15:15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Observation: Who was in charge, Pilate or the crowd? Pilate abdicated his authority to the crowd. What a mistake! Four or five time Pilate is quoted as saying Jesus is innocent. It is always a mistake to want “to satisfy the crowd.” There is only One Whom we should strive to please. There are times when pleasing Him pleases others also, but He must remain our priority.

Application: A worthy goal: to make Him smile! … to please Him! … to bring joy to His heart and a smile to His face!

Prayer: Lord, may You be pleased with the way I live this day. May you enjoy spending this day with me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 29: Job 20; Mark 3-4

Scripture: Mark 3:2 (NIV) Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.

Observation: What a sad commentary on these religious leaders, “…looking for a reason to accuse…”

Application: But what about me? What am I looking for today? I want to look for opportunities to encourage and appreciate people rather than accuse them. I want to catch people doing something good, rather than something wrong.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for our police officers who serve us by catching people doing things wrong. When they go home after their shift is over, help them look for their spouse/children doing things right. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!