November 05, 2018: SOAP #3259:  Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 2:16 [We, Jews by birth,] know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So, we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no-one will be justified.

Observation:   There was a special privilege of being born a Jew.  They were born into a culture that recognized God; and that understood that God was interested in them.  But, even Jews, to whom the law was given through Moses, have come to understand that no man, Jew or Gentile, will be given a right standing before God on the basis of how well he kept the law!

There are no exceptions — no one will be justified (made just-as-if-I’d never sinned) by keeping the law.  Faith in Jesus is the only hope of justification!

Application:  I had broken the law before I ever understood its regulations.  I was guilty.  Once the law has been broken, it cannot be unbroken.  It can only be satisfied by death.  Since Jesus had no sins of his own, His death can be accepted as payment for my sins—and for the sins of all who accept Him as their Lord and Savior.  It is an amazing plan to demonstrate both the holiness and love of God.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I have been the beneficiary of many good things, but none can compare with what Your Son, Jesus, did for me.  He paid for my sins.  Now I am justified in your sight!  Thank you seems so little to say. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 04, 2018: SOAP #3258:  Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 15:42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

Observation:  Joseph of Arimathea had a unique place in history.  He is the only one recorded who touched the dead body of Jesus.  Many had touched Him while he was alive, but Joseph touched Him while dead.  He treated the body with respect.  He honored Jesus by placing His dead body in a tomb prepared for the wealthy as prophesied in Isaiah 53:9.  It was from Joseph’s tomb that three days later, Jesus came back to life!

Application:  When someone tells me that God gave them a dream that has become impossible and even has died, may they find me respecting God’s plan.  I should help them lay it in a place of honor and treat it with respect.  The Resurrected One is very able to resurrect things we consider too far gone to ever be useful.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, revive your work in me.  Bring to life Your plans for me.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 03, 2018: SOAP #3257:  Job 25; Mark 13-14

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 14:14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

Observation:  Jesus was sending two disciples into Jerusalem to prepare for the Passover supper, The Last Supper.  Jesus did not say, “Ask the owner of the house if we can borrow his guest room.”  He told his disciples to ask, “Where is MY guest room?”

Surely there is some history to that question.  Someday in heaven, someone will remember to ask, “Jesus, what made you so certain that the owner would not take offence when you claimed that his guest room was yours?  How did you know that he would be so agreeable?”

Application: I have prayed, I have sung, I have told others that all I have belongs to the LORD!  So, when He says, “Let this person use my room…  or, Use my car to take…  or, Give some money from my savings account to…”  There should be no question and no hesitation.  I should respond like the owner of the house above.

Prayer:  Lord, after all you have done for me, how can I refuse to do as you desire with what already belongs to you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 02, 2018: SOAP #3256:  Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 11:17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.”

Observation:  The temple was a building built with wood and stones, yet the Lord was concerned about how people were respecting “God’s house.” How much more is He concerned about this house that He lives in with me? My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit!

Application:  What would Jesus say that I have made His house?  A house of gripes or a house of contentment?   A den of despair or a cathedral of glory?  A place of selfishness or a welcoming place for others?

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, that you have chosen to make my heart your home amazes me!  You are the most honored Guest in my heart.  I know this is not heaven, but I want you to be honored in my life as you are in heaven.  I want you to feel at home.  I want you to feel comfortable.  I want you to always feel welcome.  I want you to be glad you are living in me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 01, 2018: SOAP #3255:  Psalm 121; Mark 9-10

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 9:41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

Observation:  As I was reading this passage, I noticed that Jesus was not addressing the people who were to give the cup of cold water, but to those who would be receiving the cup of cold water.

Jesus had said that he takes it personal when people mistreat us, but here He is saying that He also takes it personal when people do us good!

Because we belong to Jesus, God will notice the good that people do to us.  God will notice and will reward them.

Application:  There are times when I would like to repay a blessing I have received, but not sure how.  I need to remind God about this promise, then watch to see what He does to reward them!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am thankful for the times you have rewarded me for something I did to bless someone else.  Now I am going to enjoy watching to see how you reward those who bless me.  This is going to be fun!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 31, 2018: SOAP #3254:  Job 22; Mark 7-8

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 8:14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat….
17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. 20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Observation:  They had watched Jesus feed 5000 people with 5 loaves.  They had watched Jesus feed 4000 people with 7 loaves.  Now their concern was they had only one loaf to feed themselves.  They thought Jesus might have been mentioning their lack of foresight.  If 5 loaves fed 5000 and 7 loaves fed 4000, then 1 loaf should be enough for 13! (Twelve disciples and Jesus.)

Application: What God has done in the past should affect how I deal with the present!   What God has done in the past should affect how much I worry about present needs.  If I soften my heart, if I open my eyes, if I open my ears…then considering what God has done for me in the past changes my perspective of what He can and will do for my present situation!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, continue reminding me of what you have done as recorded in scripture.  And continue to remind me of what you have done for me in my lifetime.  Father, you are more than willing and capable of meeting all of my needs!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 30, 2018: SOAP #3253:  Job 21; Mark 5-6

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 6:39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Observation:  Jesus fed 5000+ people with not even enough food to feed one group of 50 or 100.  Then after feeding everyone until they were satisfied, they picked up 12 basketfuls.  I do not know how big the baskets were, but that they even picked up one is amazing!   Jesus provided more than enough!

Application:  Sunday at our church we had a dinner after the morning service.  Sharon and I were blest to take home some left overs.  We ate some that evening and have some for a future meal.  We talked about the dinner as we ate the leftovers.   We will talk about it the next time we eat some more.

I wonder how many people ate from those 12 basketfuls.  I wonder if they talked about how that food had been provided.  The story must have been repeated over and over.  I wonder if they shared some of the leftovers with neighbors who were not present when Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes.

Everything God does has leftovers.  Leftovers include the blessings that continue long after God’s intervention.  Leftovers include memories.  Leftovers include sharing the testimony of God’s grace and mercy.  Leftovers continue to bless me and bless others as I share what God has done for me.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for leftovers!  Your blessings continue, even to the next generation!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 29, 2018: SOAP #3252:  Job 20; Mark 3-4

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 4:26 He [Jesus] also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces corn—first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Observation:  God has created this world with some possibilities that can be of great benefit to people.  Planting seed starts a process that produces multiplication without additional work.  Planting plus waiting time equals multiplication.  The sun provides the warmth; the rain provides the moisture; the ground provides the proper environment.  Man’s part is preparing the ground, planting the seed, waiting with faith in God’s plan, and harvesting.

Application:  Seed and money work for us with the same principles.  Giving brings receiving.  Farmers should easily understand the principles of giving and receiving.  But I am glad one does not need to be a farmer to learn these principles.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, when you created the world, thank you for including principles by which we can live. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 28, 2018: SOAP #3251:  Job 19; Mark 1-2

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 2:6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?

Observation:  In the first chapter, Mark tells us of the Spirit descending on Jesus when He was baptized in water by John the Baptist.  He tells us that the Spirit sent Jesus into the wilderness where He was tempted by satan.

In the passage above I think we have an indication of how the Holy Spirit communicated with Jesus.  It was a spiritual exchange.  “Jesus knew in his spirit…”  His spirit was pure and He recognized that thoughts in His mind were coming from the Holy Spirit through His Spirit.  He recognized the input of the Holy Spirit with so much certainty that He acted accordingly.

Application:  I am learning to recognize when the thoughts in my mind are from a source outside me.  The Holy Spirit communicates through my spirit into my mind.  Sometimes it takes me longer to quiet my heart/mind to recognize what He is saying to me.  Sometimes I recognize it too late, after the opportunity has passed.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help me to recognize your voice/thoughts more quickly.  Thank you for your patience in working with me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

October 27, 2018: SOAP #3250:  Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27-28

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 114:1 When Israel came out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back;
4 the mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.
5 Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back,
6 you mountains, that you skipped like rams, you hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, 8 who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.

Observation:  In a poetic way, the psalmist takes key points in the history of Israel to give proof of God’s presence and power!

Application: Yesterday, Sharon and I celebrated 50 years of marriage.  We too can look at our history and see evidence of God’s presence and power.  He has proved Himself to be true to His word; He has never forsaken us.  He has been with us when we have been together.  And when we were apart (I was in Viet Nam, Okinawa, Philippines) He kept us together.  He has and continues to be our provider.  We have found Him to be a great talker!  He speaks!  We have found great value in His Written Word.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for the written accounts of Israel’s history.  You can be easily seen.  And thank you for the memories of our history.  Israel’s written history and our personal memories are full of evidences of your love for us—your presence, protection, and provision. We are so blest to be your children!  Amen!

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!