Merry Christmas to all!  May Jesus and you enjoy each other’s presence today!  Make this day HIS; and make Him happy He is sharing it with you!  😊 

December 25, 2021: SOAP #4405:  1John 1-5

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 4:19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

OBSERVATION: In reading through the five chapters of 1John, two words stood out to me.  First is the word “love.”  When the One who loved the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son—when HE takes up residence in me there will be an increase in the love I experience and show to others. 

The second word is “know.”  How could it be that God would live inside me and I would not know?  The Presence of God in my life makes a difference. 

APPLICATION:  Life after death, heaven, and hell, these are issues that I do not want to leave to chance.  I want to know the truth about the future, and I want to know where I am headed. 

The Presence of God’s love working in my life raises my hope to the faith level and then to the “know” level.  The more I experience God’s love, the more confidence I have in what He has in store for me. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I know you love me, and I know you are working in my life for my good and your glory.  I know I can trust you with my future.  Have your way in me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 24, 2021: SOAP #4404:  John 19-21

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

OBSERVATION: No, Mary, your first impression was wrong!   What you saw as the worst possible situation, in reality was the greatest possible situation.  In truth, it was far better than you could have imagined! 

Circumstances said the dead body of Jesus had been stolen; reality was that Jesus had just defeated the grave!!! 

APPLICATION:  I wish I could say I have never jumped to a wrong first impression, or that I will never do it again.  But …   I am doing better.  I am learning to wait and trust the Lord.  I am learning to remember what He has said to me.  He is worth waiting for!!! 

There are times when I evaluate the circumstances according to my own limited understanding.  Then I set a course of action depending on my own limited resources.  Often in taking such action, I miss letting God use His unlimited resources to meet my need.  I miss first best and settle for second best.  People see what I can do rather than what God can do. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, remind me.  Slow me down.  Help me not be in such a hurry that I do not wait for your answer.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 23, 2021: SOAP #4403:  John 15-18

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 18:1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.

OBSERVATION: Having a routine is important.  They can become a religious exercise we simply repeat over and over.  A routine can also become a testimony of God’s faithfulness. For the past 12 years, every day (except the day I had surgery on my heart) I have taken time to write a daily SOAP.  At first they were mainly for me.  Then as I posted them on Fb, others started reading them and making encouraging comments.  Then an email list started.  Then Arputharaj, a friend in India, offered to translate them into Tamil. Then Jents Talukder started translating them into Bangla.  Then Mekala Sekhar into Telugu. Then Shafiq Masish into Urdu in Pakistan where Evangelist Shariff Masish has distributed them in crusades.  Then Mekala Sekhar into Telugu.  Then Papiya Talukder into Hindi.  This year they started spreading in Africa.  Pastor Andrew has a vision to see them spread in African countries.  He prints 6,000+ copies each month and distributes them to all the churches around Freetown.  He introduced them to Ghana and Liberia.  Bishop Emmanuel in Liberia has a ministry to pastors in West African countries and this past week started taking laptops to 7 West African countries where printers are ready to begin printing SOAPs.  A conference was held this last week in Kenya (C Owino) to teach people how the SOAPs can be used. 

APPLICATION:  It all started by being faithful to do what my pastor (Dayton Poe) asked me to do.  God has blessed my small, daily faithfulness, with His GREAT ETERNAL FAITHFULNESS!  It is amazing! 

PRAYER:  I ask the SOAP readers to pray for me.  Pray that I will quickly and correctly hear what God speaks to me.  Pray that I will use words easy to understand and phrases easy to translate.  …for the glory of God! Thank you.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 22, 2021: SOAP #4402:  John 12-14

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 12:49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me, commanded me what to say and how to say it.  50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So, whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

OBSERVATION: God’s message had been spoken by the Old Testament prophets.  It had been communicated by dramatized sermons.  It was uniquely communicated with ceremonies and sacrifices through the law by the Tabernacle of Moses.  But never was God’s message to the world more clearly communicated than by the life and ministry of Jesus! 

Jesus put God’s message into flesh.  He communicated it in words and actions.  The Father “commanded [Jesus] what to say and how to say it.”

APPLICATION:  Today, God communicates His message through the church.  He has placed the Holy Spirit in every believer to influence us to live like Jesus—not only with our words and actions, but also with our attitudes.  He tells us “what to say and how to say it.” 

My words are to communicate His truth and my attitudes are to communicate His love!

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, work your truth and attitudes into my heart that I not only speak truth from my mouth, but it flows from a heart filled with your love.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 21, 2021: SOAP #4401:  John 9-11

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 11:21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. …
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” …
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

OBSERVATION: When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days.  Jesus could have healed Lazarus, but now there was no hope—Lazarus had died.  Their faith had reached a barrier over which it could not lift them.  Even with Jesus present, their faith was dead.  They had faith until death but not beyond! 

Jesus called Lazarus back.  He called him to return.  He came back to life, but he needed the grave clothes to be unwrapped.  He returned to a life that would end in death.  Lazarus bounced back from death into the continuation of a life that would end in death. 

What a difference—the resurrection of Jesus.  No one was needed to remove any grave clothes from Jesus.  Jesus did not return to a life that was subject to death.  Jesus did not bounce back; He went all the way through to resurrected, never ending life!   And that is where He takes me!!! 

APPLICATION:  I stand at the coffin of my loved one hoping they will bounce back.  I would love to have them back and share this life with me.  But my faith looks beyond the grave.  They have passed through death to a never-ending life!  I see them enjoying the presence of Jesus.  They are now more alive than they ever were here in this life.  As the baby emerges from its mother’s womb into a bright world full of new experiences, so the believer bursts out of this life through death into a life even more full, and more purposeful, and more exciting than could ever be experienced here!    

Missing them makes me mourn; seeing them by faith causes me to rejoice! 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for faith that reaches beyond death! Amen

Pastor Leon                        
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 20, 2021: SOAP #4400:  John 7-8

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 8:26 … But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” 27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

OBSERVATION: The emphasis of John in his gospel is to present Jesus as God the Son.  Jesus died for our sins and desires a current and active relationship with us. 

In the book of John, one of the most important subjects—if not the most important subject—of Jesus’ teachings is “the Father.”  He gives all the credit for His purpose in being present, for His miracles, and for His teaching to the Father.  It is important to Jesus that we come to know His Father. 

APPLICATION:  It blesses the Father when I honor Jesus His Son!  It blesses the Father when I receive the salvation provided by Jesus.  It blesses the Father when I am born again and become a part of the family of God.  It brings the Father great joy. 

It blesses Jesus, the Son, when I honor the Father.  It blesses Jesus when I grow in my knowledge of the Father.  It blesses Jesus when I pray to the Father in the name of Jesus!  It blesses Jesus when I act and talk like a child of the Most High God, when I behave like I am His son! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, make me a blessing to the Father by helping me live a life that honors Jesus.  Make me a blessing to Jesus by helping me live a life that honors the Father.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 19, 2021: SOAP #4399:  John 5-6

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 5:30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me

John (NIV) 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was sent to the earth with an assignment.  He had a purpose.  He was present on earth for the will of another.  His purpose was all wrapped up in pleasing the One Jesus considered more important than Himself—His Father. 

Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (“not my will but thine be done,” Luke 22:42) shows that Jesus did have His own will, but it was totally subservient to the will of the Father. 

APPLICATION:  As Jesus perfectly lived His life to please His Father, now to Him belongs the pleasure of having the members of His body, the church, live their lives to please Him! 

Songs like “Make me more like, you, Jesus…”  and “To be like Jesus…”  are more than just words from my mouth.  They are commitments from my heart.  Calling Him “Lord” is more than something said without thought.    

PRAYER:  It is my pleasure to serve you, Lord.  There is no greater purpose in life than to please you.  May I bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face today.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 18, 2021: SOAP #4398:  John 2-4

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 4:13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

OBSERVATION: What a promise Jesus made to the woman at the well.  It all started with Jesus asking her for a drink.  Now He was offering her a drink that would become a “spring of water” on the inside and would result in eternal life!!!   What a promise!    

A spring must have a source from which the water comes.  If a person is going to have a “spring of water” inside, something must be put on the inside that will be the source of that water.  That something is really a someone—the Holy Spirit!  

APPLICATION:  When I receive salvation by faith—trusting that the death of Jesus on the cross is the payment for my sins and surrendering the Lordship of my life to Jesus, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in me.  He is that “spring of water” inside.  Like water, He is my renewing and refreshing that continually restores peace and joy. 

He is the water that flows from me to the dry places around me.  He draws my attention to needs He wants to meet through me.  He puts words of encouragement in my thoughts to be given to those around me.  In many ways He touches others through me. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, having you live inside is a great honor.  I surrender to the direction of your flow in and through me.  Knowing that you are working in me gives me great peace.  Knowing that you are working through me gives me great joy.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 17, 2021: SOAP #4397:  2Peter 1-3; John 1

SCRIPTURE:  2Peter (NIV) 3:1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

OBSERVATION: Peter had a purpose in writing his letters.  He wants his readers to “recall,” to remember what God has said.  Remembering God’s Word will stir up good thoughts and right thinking!  Peter was not writing to entertain his readers, but to influence their thinking.

APPLICATION:  I am the gatekeeper for my thoughts.  I must be concerned about where my thoughts are focused.

The more I interact with the world around me, the more I tend to think like the world.  Reading and meditating on God’s Word redirects my thoughts and brings them in line with God’s Word.   I have peace as I think and act according to God’s Word.

PRAYER:  Lord, as Peter’s writings “stimulate” me to wholesome thinking, use my writings to “stimulate” others.  Then, Lord, use their writings to “stimulate” their family and friends. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 16, 2021: SOAP #4396:  1Peter 1-5

SCRIPTURE:  1Peter (NIV) 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

OBSERVATION: In casting something, there is a point when I must release it from my grip.  This verse is not about casting something in my hand, but something in my heart.  It is something that has grabbed the thought process of my mind. 

Knowing that my anxieties are going into His care helps me release them from my control. 

APPLICATION:  I am not releasing my anxieties to the most skilled doctor, but to my Creator God who formed me from dust.   I am not releasing them to the world’s most intelligent lawyer, but to my Omniscient God.  I am not casting my care onto some uninterested god who dwells in the highest heaven.  I am casting ALL my anxiety on the one who loved me enough to die for my sins, enough to hear and answer my prayers, enough to spend every day living in my heart, I know He is inclined to help me! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, the more I understand your greatness and the more I understand the greatness of your love for me, the easier it is for me to trust you.  So, I cast all my anxieties on you because you care for me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!