August 8, 2021: SOAP #4266:  Jeremiah 1-2; John 10

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 10:8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. 9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.

OBSERVATION: In this first chapter of the book of Jeremiah, we read about a powerful and personal encounter the prophet had with God.  God had an assignment.  The prophet doubted his ability to carry out the assignment.  It would be hard for him to carry God’s word to the people; he did not know how to speak; he was only a child. 

God also had serious doubts about the prophet’s abilities!  Obviously, God was not depending on the prophet’s abilities.  God was counting on His Own Presence to be with Jeremiah!  God would even place His words in the prophet’s mouth.  The prophet’s mouth would now belong to God and would speak God’s words!!!  Jeremiah would not need to get input from others as to what his message should be.  God would give him the message!  

APPLICATION:  When God gives me an assignment, He is not counting on my abilities or on my resources.  He is not counting on me to be able to get my message from a lesson plan or a book.  He is not counting on me to be able to convince other people to “support” my ministry.  If it is His assignment, He will supply.  It does not please God when I act like God is not able to provide and I have to convince other people to give.  It is true that God will often use other people to support HIS work, but He does the convincing.  When presenting the ministry and needs to others, I must be careful not to present God as unable to provide for His assignments.  I am a child of the KING; I am not a beggar!  It is my privilege to work for One who has no lack and provides for my every need. 

When people try to convince me to send them money, I wonder why God is not providing their needs?  Are they not doing God’s will?  Why is their faith in God so lacking?  Their faith in me seems to be greater than their faith in God!  There is no doubt that they are facing a great need…so great that only God has the resources to meet.  My assignment is to help their faith in God to grow! 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Our relationship is based on faith.  Without faith it is impossible to please you.  May my faith be every growing.  Amen

Pastor Leon      
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 7, 2021: SOAP #4265:  Zephaniah 1-3; John 9

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 9:1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming when no-one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

OBSERVATION: We can work in the light of day.  When the darkness of night comes, we will not be able to work.  These two truths must be mixed with a third truth.  Jesus is the light of the world! 

APPLICATION:  For as long as Jesus is with me, I can continue working.  It is not that I can continue working, I MUST continue working.  I MUST continue to do the work that He has assigned me. 

For the follower of Jesus, all work is spiritual. 

Work is not important due to its value; it may appear to be very important or very unimportant.  Work is important because HE has given it to me.  Work allows me to be involved in His kingdom here on earth.  Work allows me to show how I value God and His desire for my life.  Work allows my attitude to be seen by others.  Work allows the inside of me (where Jesus dwells) to be seen by those on the outside of me. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you assigned Adam to care for the Garden, and you have assigned me to drive a school bus and write SOAPs. Thank you for the honor of representing you to those around me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 6, 2021: SOAP #4264:  Habakkuk 1-3; John 8

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 8:28 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:  Here we see the special relationship between God the Father and God the Son.  The one who had sent Jesus was with Jesus!  The Father loved the Son too much to leave him alone. 

APPLICATION:  I am thankful that the Son, Jesus, loves me too much to leave me alone.  Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is always with me.  And with Jesus is always the Father!  I am NEVER alone!  

I can boldly go wherever God sends me because I know two things:  I know God will go with me, and I know God is already there and will be waiting for me when I arrive.  He will have prepared things for my arrival and my success. 

PRAYER: Lord, I depend on your Presence—your Presence with me and before me.  I am blest!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 5, 2021: SOAP #4263:  2Kings 23; 2Chronicles 35; John 7

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 7:16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.

OBSERVATION: This verse follows naturally from the verse the Lord gave me for yesterday.  John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” 

The relationship Jesus had with His Father was/is very close.  Jesus came to do the Father’s will and bring the Father’s teaching.  Jesus was the perfect representation of the Father. 

Jesus was one with His father.  When people saw Jesus, they saw the Father at work through Him.  When people heard the words of Jesus, they heard the Father speaking through Him.  Even more than a representation, Jesus came to be the expression of the Father. 

APPLICATION:  The relationship Jesus had with His Father is an example of the relationship He wants with me.  …and that I am growing to want with Him. 

So, I like to sing: “Make me more like you, Jesus…”  “To be like Jesus…”  “Jesus, be Jesus in me, no longer me, but you…”

PRAYER: Lord, you are a mystery.  You are far beyond my limited comprehension.  The little I know of you draws me to know your more. Lord, “you are beautiful beyond description; too marvelous for words…” Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 4, 2021: SOAP #4262:  2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34; John 6

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 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 had taken the will of the Father to be His will.  He did not consider His life to be His own.  His single purpose was to do His Father’s will. His purpose was set by His Father. 

From the first recorded words spoken by Jesus as a boy in the temple to His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion, Jesus clearly showed that His Father had first place in His life. 

APPLICATION:  The questions that come to my mind:  Who sets the purpose for my life?  How committed am I to doing His will?  Am I always wanting to know the big picture for my life, or can I trust Him to lead me day by day, or even hour by hour?  If I hear and obey His moment-by-moment directions, I know I will end up where He wants me.  If He gives me the big picture now, I will take every short-cut to arrive as quickly as possible.  And in so doing, I will miss training and ministry along the journey.  If I follow His day-by-day leading, I will be well prepared when I arrive at the destination He has for me. 

PRAYER: Lord, to do your Father’s will cost you your home in heaven, enduring the limitations of a man on earth, and the suffering of the cross.  But you considered your Father and His will well worth the sacrifice.   Lord, the joy of being a part of what you are doing makes any sacrifice required of me well worth enduring.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 3, 2021: SOAP #4261:  Nahum 1-3; John 5

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 5:22 Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 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. 24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

OBSERVATION: As we hear the words of Jesus AND believe the Father who sent Him, we have eternal life.  That is in keeping with John 3:16. 

The Son is to be honored as God, the same as the Father is honored as God.  For the sake of redeeming man, the Son submitted Himself to being sent by the Father to become the Son of Man and to endure the cross as the sinless sacrifice for the sins of man.  What love the Son had for the Father to provide Him a family of redeemed people whose sins are forgiven.  They are not just swept under the rug, but their penalty is properly covered by an adequate sacrifice.  No wonder the Father has given the Son a name above every name! 

APPLICATION:  Eternal life is received as I hear what Jesus said and believe the Father.   From living a life separated from God, I have crossed over to a glorious life in relationship with God the Father, through the working of God the Son, and by the indwelling of God the Spirit! 

PRAYER: Almighty and All-wise God, you have, and are, working your plan to perfection.  May my life fit into your plan to honor you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 2, 2021: SOAP #4260:  2Kings 21; 2Chronicles 33; John 4

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 4:6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

OBSERVATION: I like this passage; it shows the humanity of Jesus.  The Creator of the universe had laid aside his deity.  Now walking on the dusty road in Samaria, he became tired, hungry, and thirsty. 

He came across a place to rest and sent his disciples to look for some food.  When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, he asked her for a drink.  Being a Jew, he would not be expected to carry on a conversation with a Samaritan, especially a Samaritan woman who came by herself for water.  Being tired and hungry, we would not expect him to take his resting time to minister to this woman. 

But Jesus used the opportunity provided by his limitations (tiredness, hunger, and thirst) to minister to this lady.  He saw a person who was hurting and in need of what he had to offer. 

APPLICATION:  How do I respond when someone interrupts my personal time.  What is my attitude like when people interrupt the time I need to care for my “hunger” and “thirst.” 

Can see their interruption as a divine appointment?  Then after the encounter, like Jesus I can say, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” (verse 32) 

PRAYER: Lord, help me to see interruptions as you see them.  Help me not to miss opportunities to let your presence in me flow to others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 1, 2021: SOAP #4259:  Isaiah 65-66; Psalm 62; John 3

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 62:11 One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, 12 and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.

OBSERVATION: God said it, that settled it!  The psalmist heard it.  Now he was repeating it.  God’s one thing contained two things worth remembering.

One thing:  God is strong!  He is mighty!  He is the Almighty!  He is omnipotent!  Nothing is impossible with God!  No one can stop Him.  He does what He pleases—what He determines should be done. 

The second thing:  God is loving.  His strength is used within the bounds of His love.  We are the object of His love.  He cares for us. 

APPLICATION:  God has sufficient power to take care of all any needs, any health issues, any enemies, and whatever else may rise against me.  AND God’s love makes Him inclined to help me.  He may not take care of my needs in the way I think He should, but His way is always better!  He can turn a terrible defeat into a wonderful victory!  He turned His gruesome death on the cross into a glorious victory. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, it is wonderful how a little knowledge works such peace and joy in my heart.  Knowing your power and love builds my faith and gives me courage to face each day.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 31, 2021: SOAP #4258:  Isaiah 63-64; Psalm 107; John 2

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 107:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. …
8, 15, 21, 31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. …
43 Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD.

OBSERVATION: God is eternal.  His love endures forever.  It will never run out.  Even when His holiness demands retribution, He acts out of love.  He loves His creation too much to let it be destroyed by sin.  …a reason for thanksgiving! 

God is omniscient.  He is all wise!  His love is unfailing.  It will always accomplish His purpose.  God expresses His love for our good.  God understands tough love.  God’s wisdom is expressed in love. …another reason!

God is omnipresent.  He is everywhere present.  Wherever God is, His love is also there.  God dwells among people and his love motivates Him to do wonderful deeds on their behalf.  …another reason! 

God is omnipotent.  There is all powerful.  His love is a great as His being.  His strength can express limitless love.  …and yet another reason!

APPLICATION:  All of God’s eternal, ever-present power, wisdom, and knowledge are expressed in holiness and love.  God’s power, knowledge and wisdom are amazing, but God’s holiness and love are beautiful. 

If the God who knows everything about me and has all power…if that God wanted to terrorize me, there would be no way for me to appease Him.  But the God who has all power and knows everything about me is totally holy and totally loving.  He loves Leon!  As Gary Wilkerson wrote, “The devil is not as eager to destroy you as God is to deliver you.”   I AM THANKFUL!    

PRAYER: Lord, You give me so many reasons to be thankful!  More than the minutes in an hour; more than the hours in a day, and more than the days in a week… Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 30, 2021: SOAP #4257:  Isaiah 60-62; John 1

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 1:35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus….
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).

OBSERVATION: The previous day, Jesus had been baptized by John and the Spirit in the form of a dove descended onto Jesus.  Quite probably John’s two disciples were with him and were witnesses.  Now on the next day, John was back in the area with two disciples.  “When he saw Jesus passing by” he drew his disciples’ attention to “the Lamb of God.”  With that announcement, John lost his two disciples, Andrew and probably John.  They became the first disciples of Jesus. 

Matthew 4 shows Jesus calling Andrew and Simon from their work as fishermen.  It seems logical to me that the above encounter happened earlier and prepared them to leave everything to follow Jesus. 

John’s assignment was to prepare the way for Jesus.  (John 1:7-8.15,23)   Many people came to hear him and be baptized.  He was not called to build a large organization of many disciples.  He was not called to build an evangelistic center.  He was not offended that his disciples were following Jesus.  That was His purpose in ministry. 

APPLICATION:  The same must be true of my ministry.  If they are going after Jesus, it is my purpose and joy.  When children leave our home to follow what Jesus is showing them and to go where He is calling them…that is our joy.  We have fulfilled our assignment in their lives. 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, help me keep in focus the purpose for my life to introduce people to Jesus.  Use me for your glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!