August 6: Habakkuk 1-3; John 8

Scripture: John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Observation: I usually think of this verse as a stand-alone thought. However the context adds depth. In the preceding verse, we are told that relationship of son is permanent while that of slave is temporary. The son is the heir and has authority in the household. A slave would not be authorized to give another slave freedom, but that would not be true of a son. If a slave sets us free, then we are not really free; but if the son sets us free—then we are free indeed! Freedom cannot be given by the slave and here Jesus was claiming to be the Son.

A nation can only spread freedom as long as it is free! If it becomes enslaved, its armies will be used to increase slavery! The armies of tyrants are used to maintain and increase despotism.

Application: What is true spiritually and politically has to be truth in my heart. If I do not use my freedom to protect the freedom of others and to bring freedom to those still in bondage, before long I will soon be in danger of losing my own freedom. The most vibrant Christians are those actively sharing their faith with others.

Prayer: Lord, help me use my freedom to bring freedom to others. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 30: Isaiah 60-62; John 1

Scripture: John 1:4 In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Observation: We really do not see the beam of light shining into the night sky from the high powered light at the business advertising their sale (or the rotating beacon at the airport); we see the dust particles in the atmosphere reflecting that light. In the dark we do not see the light of the sun until its rays hit the moon and are reflected to earth.

God was/is ever present, but could not be seen until Jesus put on flesh and bones to walk here on earth.

Application: As Jesus became the light of the world, He has set me as a light to my world. The darkness around me will not understand Him unless I let my life reflect His light.

Prayer: Lord, “this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…Hide it under a bushel, NO, I’m gonna let it shine…Don’t let Satan blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine; let it shine; let it shine; let it shine.” Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 28: Isaiah 53-56; 2Peter 2

Scripture: Isaiah 56: 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

Observation: ” I will … give them joy in my house of prayer.” The house of prayer is a place of joy. It is a place of God-given joy! There we find the joy of fellowship. There we find the joy of discovery. There we find the joy of participation. And there we find the joy of victory!

” … a house of prayer for all nations.” From the context this would mean that all people are welcome to come and pray in God’s house. It is not necessarily a place for prayers to be made for all nations, which clearly would be appropriate and commendable, however within this context it clearly applies to those from other nations who choose to honor God. They are welcome and their prayers will be heard.

Application: Sometimes I want others to pray for me, thinking that their prayers are more acceptable to God than mine. It is good for them to pray for me, but it is not because God cannot hear or understand my prayers. It is good to know I am always welcome to approach God in prayer, and that it is a place where God gives joy!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making it clear that in my desire to honor you my prayer is acceptable. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 19: 2Kings 18-19; 2Chronicles 28; Psalm 46; James 3

Scripture: 2Kings 18: 5 Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fast to the LORD and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. 7 And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.

Observation: In reading the passage above, I would like to be like Hezekiah, “successful in whatever” I do. But taking a step back in the presentation, I find the reason for his success; “the LORD was with him.” And in taking a second step back I discover the reason the Lord was with Hezekiah: Hezekiah “held fast” to the Lord, keeping His commandments. No wonder God wanted to be with Hezekiah and made him successful and if I want Him to help me be successful, that is where I must start too.

Application: I want to live my life in such a way that God wants to help me succeed. And since He has taken up residency in my life, I want the inside of my life (my heart, desires, attitudes, and thoughts) to be acceptable too.

Prayer: Lord, Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord and my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 18: Isaiah 32-35; James 2

Scripture: James 2: 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did….
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Observation: We are saved by faith, by faith in the power of Jesus death on the cross. Yet if our faith is not strong enough to cause us to do anything, then it is not strong enough to save us. Faith is something inside that only God can see. Actions/deeds are something that man can see. Like my pulse, respirations and heart beat for my physical life, deeds are the vital signs that my faith is alive.

Application: How will people today know I am a Christian? Will they see or hear evidence of my faith? I should live my life in such a way that people can clearly see my faith

Prayer: Lord, I want my faith to be visible. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 17: Isaiah 29-31; James 1

Scripture: James 1: 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Observation: I am saved by faith, but if that faith is not strong enough to find expression in my life, it is dead and cannot save me. My mouth is a major avenue through which faith expresses itself. Confessing that Jesus is Lord is the first work of faith, but it does not stop there. Faith also demonstrates its presence through words of love and kindness to others. My words are windows through which people can see into my life.

Application: Instead of bragging that I speak my mind, I need to learn to rein in my tongue (as we would say today: bite my tongue.) It is more important that my mouth speaks God’s thoughts.

Prayer: Lord, I want my mouth to be your servant, an instrument you can use to express your truth and love. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!