March 27: Judges 1-3; 1Corinthians 12

Many parts/One body

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 12:19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

Observation: God designed the church to have many similarities to our physical bodies. In this chapter, Paul is referring to the church as a body. A body is a combining of different parts. A body in which every member was a right hand would not be much of a body. Some parts might be similar to each other like a right and left hand, or a right and left foot, yet they are important because of their differences. Some parts are so different like a shoulder and a kidney, or a lung and an ankle. Yet every part is important.

Application: How do these different parts form my body? First, they are connected and committed to express Leon’s life. Second, Leon’s blood carries Leon’s life to every member. Third, Leon’s nerves carry the direction from Leon’s head so that different members of Leon’s body move in coordinated action.

How do the different members in the body of Christ become one body? First, our commitment to God and to each other links us together. Second, His blood/His life is in each member. We have been born again! Third, like a great nervous system, the Holy Spirit directs each member. Though we are different, our coordinated efforts bring us joy and make God look good!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, coordinate my words and actions with the other members of the body of Christ. Coordinate our differences to be a benefit in accomplishing God’s plan. Amen

March 26: Joshua 23-24; Psalm 44; 1Corinthians 11

Not their power/Not their numbers

Scripture: Joshua 23:9 The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God.

Observation: Joshua was giving Israel his farewell message. He encourages them by recounting what God has done and he warns them of the dangers of breaking God’s laws. It was not their power, but their God who made them victorious over their enemies. It was not their numbers, but their God that sent the enemy running.

Application: My God’s presence is more powerful than my problems. His presence changes the odds to my favor!

Prayer: Mighty God, You are my God! Nothing is impossible with you! With you all things are possible! You are not tired or worn out. I count on you to work all things together for my good. Amen

March 25: Joshua 21-22; Psalm 47; 1Corinthians 10

The Importance of History!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians (NIV) 10:1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

Observation: Paul understands the importance of the Israelites knowing their history. Their history would build their faith as they considered what God had done for the nation of Israel. Their history would also serve as a warning if they would consider how unbelief and sin brought national disasters.

Application: How appropriate this message is for the United States of America. As late as 1954 President Eisenhower encouraged congress to add the words “under God” in the pledge of allegiance to our flag. Indeed, we are “one nation under God…” Today, many, even in places of government, are ignorant of our history. They seem to have no concept of the place God had in the founding and preservation of our nation. By ignoring God we miss both the blessings of encouraged faith and the warnings of impending judgment for sin.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the rich heritage we have. Holy Spirit, continue to bring history to our thoughts. Help us to be wise enough to understand our history and change our ways accordingly. Amen

March 24: Joshua 18-20; 1Corinthians 9

Running to win!

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to gat a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.

Observation: Paul was comparing his spiritual life to Olympic type of games. If one is going to participate, it is best done with all one’s heart. Preparation and participation become one’s priority. Sacrifices are made for the sake of competing at one’s best.

Application: It was between my junior and senior year of high school. I remember sitting at my desk at home and thinking, “If everything I know about Jesus is true, then it just does not make any sense to go half way! If I am only going to live for God half way, it is just not worth the effort. I might as well get as much out of the world as possible. If I am not going to live for God with all my heart, I am just wasting my time.” I decided to go for God all the way.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you know the times I have been totally sold out to you and the times I have slacked off. Forgive me for the times I did not serve you as you deserve, with my whole heart. Again sitting at my desk, I now recommit myself to live for you whole-heartedly. You deserve nothing less. Amen

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 8:13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

Observation: Paul knew that idol gods were really nothing and that meat sold in the market that had been dedicated to those idol gods was good meat; he was free to eat that meat. But if someone believed the idol was really a god and saw Paul eating meat that had been dedicated to that idol they may be offended and their spiritual life hindered. So Paul would refrain from eating so that he would not offend his brother. Paul’s love for his brother or sister in the Lord was greater than his desire to exercise his freedom. Giving up his freedom was not done begrudgingly, but willingly and lovingly.

Application: The principle in this verse goes far beyond eating meats dedicated to some idol. Sacrificing something I am free to do or something that is dear to me should not be a heavy burden when it is for my brother. I am reminded of the song, “He ain’t heavy; he’s my brother.” (A phrase popularized by Father Flanagan as the motto for Boy’s Town)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to love my sisters and brothers as you love them. Amen

March 22: Joshua 12-14; 1Corinthians 7

Eternity in View

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 7:12 …If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him…15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Observation: Our marriage/our parents’ marriage(s) is/are an important part of our lives. The Bible gives clear instructions about marriage. How are we to face difficult relationships? Are we to run? Are we to give up on our marriage? In the above verses I see two things. First; the breaking of a marriage should never be the believer’s choice. And second; we need to live with eternity in view.

Application: I need to look at my wife, not just what she means to me now, nor what she can accomplish now, but to look at her with eternity in view. How is eternity being affected by her life? What rewards will be awaiting her in heaven? How is her life bringing joy to our Heavenly Father and how can I encourage her in pleasing Him more?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to be a source of encouragement for my wife to live her life in a way that best pleases you. Help me not to hinder her but to encourage her to be all she can be in Your Kingdom. Amen

March 20: Joshua 7-8; Psalm 69; 1Corinthians 5

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 69:4b I am forced to restore what I did not steal.

Observation: This chapter contains many word windows through which the reader can see the suffering Messiah. Many commentaries apply the latter part of this verse to Christ. They focused on Christ restoring to man what man lost in the fall. I found very little appreciation for what Christ restored to His Father. To the Father He restored the potential of fellowship with this highest of creation. To the Father He restored the legal avenue for fellowship with fallen man. To the Father He restored fellowship with that for which the Father was willing to sacrifice His Son! It is amazing to consider how much man is loved by the Father! It is amazing to consider how much the Son loves the Father to be willing to embark upon and complete the "earth" assignment!

Application: Jesus worked to restore a broken fellowship that He did not break. Now that my fellowship with the Father has been restored, it is for me to finish out my “earth” assignment continuing the ministry of Jesus in the anointing of the same Holy Spirit that anointed Jesus.

Prayer: Holy Spirit I want to work with you in continuing the ministry of Jesus to restore relationships to a loving Heavenly Father. Speak through me, touch through me, flow through me to a broken world. Amen

March 19: Joshua 3-6; 1Corinthians 4

Scripture: Joshua (NIV) 4:20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’”

Observation: In driving around Kansas, I like to stop and read the historical markers placed beside the roads. I like to read about the Indians who once roamed the prairie, about the covered wagon trails, about the river crossings, and wells, and other points of historical interest.

At the Lord’s instruction (4:1) Joshua had one man from each of the twelve tribes pick up a stone from the middle of the Jordan. After crossing the river these stones were set up as a memorial so that future generations would not forget what God had done. It was very important for the Israelites to have such memorials; they did not have the Bible in their homes. Seeing those river stones would start conversations as children would ask their parents about their meaning.

Application: In living out our Christian life, it is good to think about future generations and leave something for a witness to what God has done. God did not stop working when the New Testament was completed. He continued and He continues! Knowing that God has been involved in our generation will help them to have faith that God will be involved in their generation.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, out of the hard places of our lives, may we take time to pile up some stones as a memorial for the next generation. May it be easy for them to see that You are the center of our lives. Amen

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

March 18: Joshua 1-2; Psalm 37; 1Corinthians 3

Scripture: Joshua (NIV) 2:11 When we heard of it, or hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

Observation: Before entering the Promised Land, Joshua sent spies into Jericho. Forty years earlier, the Israelites had refused to enter the land God had promised to them because they feared the people who lived there. They did not know that the inhabitants of their Promised Land feared the Israelites even more than the Israelites feared them!

In this verse we see that it was not the Israelites they feared, but the Israelite’s God! They feared Israel’s God more than the Israelites did!

Application: Fear is a form of worship. What I fear holds a place of worth and importance in my life. What a shame it is when the world fears my God more than I do!!! The greatest fear in my life should be that I disappoint my Heavenly Father or bring shame to Him.

Prayer: Holy God, you are the all-powerful creator, the maker of heaven and earth. You alone are to be feared and worshipped. You loved me so much you send your Son to die for my sins. The greatest joy in my life should be to bring you pleasure. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!