December 06, 2019: SOAP #3655:  Philippians 1-4

Scripture:  Philippines (NIV) 1:23 …I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Observation:   Knowing for certain that it was better for their sake to remain, Paul knew that he would remain.   He would continue working with them for their progress and joy in the faith.   I like the way Paul speaks of the joy of faith.  It seems that too many Christians have forgotten that faith is a joyful thing!

True faith is a joyful thing.  How could it be otherwise?  Confident that God is with me; confident that He is for me; confident that He is able to overcome every obstacle I face—surely that is a joyful faith!

Application:  Some Christians are always thinking about how hard it is to live for Jesus.  They talk like the devil is always troubling them and they are wondering what he might do next.  That does not leave a very desirable witness for the world.  But when the “joy in the faith” shines out of a believer’s life, it makes their faith desirable.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, when I get in a tough spot, remind me that I have a joyful faith.  Help me to shine forth a joyful faith to those around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 05, 2019: SOAP #3654:  Ephesians 5-6; Psalm 119:1-80

Scripture:  Ephesians (NIV) 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Observation:  When parents are great and family life at home is sweet, it is not uncommon for children to want to be like their parents.  We have a perfect Heavenly Father.  He dearly loves us and expresses that love in many ways. It is natural that we would want to be like our Heavenly Father.

The challenge is:  how can I imitate God while living here in this life?  I can think of many reasons why that is impossible.  The only one who has ever imitated God is Jesus.  There is only one way for me to move ahead in such a challenge.  I must have Jesus living His life within me!

Application:   My goal is to get to know Jesus better, to become better acquainted with his life here on earth, to see things as He sees them, to understand what is happening around me as He understands them.

Prayer:   My prayer is a song: “Jesus, be Jesus in me.  No longer me, but thee.  Resurrection power, fill me this hour; Jesus, be Jesus in me.”  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 04, 2019: SOAP #3653:  Ephesians 1-4

Scripture:  Ephesians (NIV) 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation:   In Paul’s opening greeting he encourages the saints in Ephesus to enjoy the loving favor extended by our Heavenly Father, and the peace that naturally flows from that grace.  Men look for peace and strive for peace but without grace it cannot be found.  Even among men, often someone in grace must be willing to forgive before peace can be obtained.

Paul states that the grace and peace come from both God the Father AND the Lord Jesus Christ. The writer sees both on the same level or rank. They both are giving the same gift. Like my family giving a gift and the card denotes only “The Hiebert Family” — the receiver must look at all the members equally and thank us all. If we stated how much each gave, then the receiver would give more thanks and honor to one than another.  Grace and peace come from both God our Father AND the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is a distinction here noted, however. Not of the gift given, nor of the rank, nor of the nature of the Giver, but of relationship of the giver to the receiver. One relates to the believer as Father, the other as Lord.

Application:  With Jesus as my Lord (Owner, Boss, Commanding Officer), I need to follow His example in how to relate to our Heavenly Father.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, how blessed I am to be in your family!  Lord Jesus, how blessed I am to have you as my Lord and to do as you direct.  You always lead me to what is good for me and what blesses the Father.  You are amazing!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 03, 2019: SOAP #3652:  Romans 13-16

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Observation:  God is the one who delegated to men the authority to judge other men and hold them accountable.  (Genesis 9:5-6)   God has established authorities and He takes the responsibility to judge the rulers who misuse their authority.

Rulers, those in authority, used to be called “public servants.”  In some places they still carry that name.  They are to be “God’s servant.”  They are to reward those who do good and in this encourage others to also do good.  And they are to punish those who do wrong and in this discourage others from doing wring.

Application:   In whatever area of delegated authority I have, I need to be careful to encourage people to do good and discourage people from doing wrong.  I must remember that all authority is yours and the authority I have is only delegated from you.  I will answer to you for how I used it.

Also, I need to pray for those in authority.  (1Timothy 2:1-3)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for authority.  It is a great tool to use in serving you.  Give me wisdom in its application.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 02, 2019: SOAP #3651:  Romans 9-12

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 9:5 Theirs [the people of Israel] are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

Observation:  God had only One Son and could send him to the world through only one family, living in one nation.  He died on only one cross — once and for all.  God blessed the world through Israel.

Application:   I need to live my life knowing that there are some people who will only hear about Jesus through me.  They will not attend a church, go to a crusade, or hear a gospel program on the Radio or TV.   If they are going to hear about Jesus, it is for me to tell them.  It is for me to live my life in such a way that they will want what I have.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, so live in and through me that all those nearby will hear about Jesus and want to make Him the Lord of their lives. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 01, 2019: SOAP #3650:  Romans 5-8

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Observation:  The salvation given by God is a complete salvation.  It deals with our past.  We “have been justified”—made just as if we had never sinned—through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It deals with our present.  We “now stand” in God’s grace!

It deals with our future.  The future is not something we dread, but something for which we rejoice.  We have the hope of the glory of God.

Application:   With my sins forgiven, my past is settled.  I am standing in God’s grace.  The Holy Spirit now dwells in my life and I am learning to rely on His leading.  The more I acknowledge His presence and listen to His leading, the more I am amazed at how things work out!   My future is bright as heaven is my certain destination!   Wow!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, what a wonderful and complete salvation you provided through the death and resurrection of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Thank you!  May my appreciation be evident in how I live my daily life.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 30, 2019: SOAP #3649:  Romans 1-4

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Observation:  Faith is not only at the first and then at the last.  It is not how we begin and how we end our life with Christ.  The faith is “from first to last.”  Faith is how we take the trip from first to last.  Faith makes a difference in how we live each day.  Faith is to be applied to every little thing AND every big thing we face every day!

Application:   There have been major things that effected how I lived my everyday life.  The commitment I made to the US Navy affected every part of my daily life for 10 years.  It changed the clothes I wore.  It changed how I made decisions.  It changed how I saw myself.  It established my purpose for each day.

Getting married changed everything.  Sharing a loving, committed, daily relationship with Sharon has changed everything for the past 50+ years!

Over these, and every other determining factor in how I live my life, is my faith—my confidence in God and His presence.  In the Navy, I lived by faith!  In my marriage, I live by faith.  My faith affected what I did yesterday, and today, and it will affect what I do tomorrow.  I LIVE by faith.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, may living by faith become as natural as breathing the air you have provided.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 29, 2019: SOAP #3648:  1Thes 4-5; 2Thes 1-3

Scripture:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 4:1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Observation:  As Jesus taught, he took no credit for his teaching, but clearly told His listeners that he was giving them only what the Father had given him.  Here we see Paul doing the same.  He was not telling them what he wanted them to hear, but what God wanted them to hear. The instructions Paul had given the Thessalonians was given under the direction and authority of the Lord Jesus.

Application:   As I approach the tenth anniversary of writing and posting these daily SOAPs, the determination of my success remains the same.  As an active senior pastor, my goal for preaching weekly sermons was to give out only what God wanted me to say.  Now, in writing these daily SOAP devotions, it is my goal to only write what God is saying to me.

Once in a while I sense God speaking through me to someone else, but all the time, even when God is speaking to someone else, I know God is speaking to me.  For that reason, the application portion is written in first person.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, only you can determine my success in writing these SOAPs.  Only you, truly know what you are saying to Leon.  Holy Spirit, help me understand and make clear with my words what you are saying to me.  Use these SOAPs as an example to others for daily Bible reading and as an encouragement to look for what you are saying to them each day.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 27, 2019: SOAP #3646:  Matthew 28; 1Thes 1-3

Scripture:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 3:6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

Observation:  Timothy brought Paul a good report of the believers in Thessalonica.  Paul was experiencing some trials and persecution, but the report brought great encouragement to Paul.  The report re-invigorated Paul, it lifted his spirits, it drew him on in his calling to preach the gospel.  It reminded Paul of the joy he would have when standing before God.

Application:   I want my life to have the same effect as those in Thessalonica.  When people hear about Leon, may they be encouraged.  If they are going through hard times, may they be encouraged to faithfully continue serving the Lord.  May thoughts of me bring a smile to their face and encourage their resolve to please our Lord.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, especially as I gather with dear friends in expressing our thanksgiving for your bountiful blessings, make my life a blessing to others.  Use me to make others aware of Your Presence and how blessed I am to serve such a wonderful God!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 27, 2019: SOAP #3646:  Psalm 125; Matthew 26-27

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 26:1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him.

Observation:  Just two days away from the darkest day on earth.  Man would kill his Creator!  Satan would incite men to kill the only One who had never sinned!  Religious leaders would break religious laws to bring about the death of the only One who had ever kept all the laws!  The hope of sick people who had only heard about the Healer would be dashed to pieces!  What a dark day! …and in only two days!

But those of us who know the rest of the story know that it was just five days away from the greatest day on earth!!!  In five days, the grave would be empty; death would be defeated!  In five days, sin would be atoned!  In five days, the Resurrected Jesus would appear with no indication that he had experienced the cruelty of a Roman crucifixion!  In five days, hope would overtake despair and joy would overtake sorrow!

Application:  There are times when great trouble is only two days away.  Sometimes God removes the trouble and give me victory; sometimes He leads me through the trouble to the victory just beyond!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to always see trouble in the light of victory. Victory preventing the crisis is great, but often the victory after the crisis is even greater.  However it comes, my eyes are on you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!