July 5: Hosea 2-5; Hebrews 2

SOAP (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer)

Scripture: Hebrews 2:10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation (Jesus) perfect through suffering.

Observation: Jesus was/is perfect in that He is God, the Son. He was/is perfect in that he had not sinned. But He was not the perfect sacrifice until He had been tempted. His temptation and suffering proved He was the worthy sacrifice for our sins.

Application: Because He overcame temptation to sin, his death is accepted as the payment for my sins. And because He overcame temptation, He understands what it is to be tempted and He can knowingly help me to overcome temptation. His death for me covers my sins; His life in me enables me to overcome the temptation to sin! Indeed, He is perfect!!!

Prayer: Lord, what a great sacrifice you were willing to make to erase my sins and become my ever-present help in temptation. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

I pray that the Lord, our God, will enjoy our celebrations today. As we today celebrate the declaration of our freedom from England, let us not forget the One who purchased our freedom from son…

Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

July 4: 2Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

Scripture: Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Observation: :…the radiance of God’s glory…” and “…the exact representation of his being…” and “…sustaining all things by his powerful word.” These descriptive phrases of Jesus stretch my mind. This One who was born of a virgin and walked among men as a man was clearly more than just a man. He is the glory of God made visible! He is not just a copy. He is the exact representation of God. He represents God down to His very nature. He is everything God is. Yes, this is the One Who willing died for me on the cross!!!

Application: What a privilege to be a servant of Jesus! That He would choose me! He deserves my best. He deserves my all. I could never make a sacrifice for Him that would be worthy of His sacrifice for me!

Prayer: Lord, In my heart I sing the old chorus: “You are my everything, You are my all. You are my everything, both great and small. You gave Your life for me; made everything new. You are my everything; none other will do.” Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

July 3: Isaiah 6-7; 2Chronicles 26-27; Philemon

Whose prisoner am I?

Scripture: Philemon 1 ¶ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow-worker,

Observation: In Clark’s Commentary we read, “some think that the term “prisoner…” should have been translated “bound with a chain.” Very likely Paul was bound with a chain to the arm of a Roman soldier. Yet Paul describes himself not as a prisoner of Rome, but as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus.” The cords of love that bound Paul to Jesus were stronger than the chains of Rome that bound him to the soldier.

Application: Whose prisoner am I today? What chains are binding me? To what am I bound?

Prayer: Lord, like R.K. Carter wrote in his song, “Standing on the Promises” I want to be “bound to you eternally by love’s strong cord.” Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

July 1: Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

(Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer)

Scripture: Jude 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Observation: Jude was planning to write to the church about the wonderful salvation we share, but things came to his attention that changed his mind. There were people in the church who were twisting the truth. They were saying that since God is so full of grace, we have a free license to keep on sinning. God will just keep on forgiving. Then Jude gives several examples of people who started out right, but changed along the way.

Application: There is an aspect of life that is a battle and I must fight to remain true to the scriptures. The examples in the book of Jude make it clear that it is not that I said the sinner’s prayer 10, 20, or 50 years ago; it is about how I am living now and how I finish my race. I must continue. I cannot change God’s grace into permission to continue living in sin. Confession (agreeing with the truth of sin in my life) without repentance (turning away from the sin in my life) is just playing games with God. That is not a good thing to do!

Prayer: Lord, You are not playing games with me and you do not want me playing games with you. May sin be as terrible to me as it is to you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

(Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer)

July 1: Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

Scripture: Titus 3:8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
…
14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.

Observation: In chapter 2 we read that we should be “eager” to do good. Here we have the instruction to “devote” ourselves to doing good. Devoted has the concept of being faithful and continuing to do good even when it is difficult or inconvenient.

Application: When I am devoted to doing good, my actions are an expression of what is in my heart rather than a response to the good or bad things that happen to me. The best way I know to judge what is good is to consider how God see it.

Prayer: Lord, I want my actions today to bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 30: Amos 7-9; Psalm 104: Titus 2

Scripture: Titus 2:14 (Jesus) who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Observation: One characteristic of people who belong to Jesus is that they are “eager to do what is good.” It may be a burden. It may not be easy. But they are eager because they want to please the Lord. They want to please Him because they love Him. People who are eager usually do not complain. People who are eager accept the challenge before them joyfully.

Application: If there was ever anyone eager to do something it should be me eager to do what pleases the Lord. As the eagerness of others challenges me, my eagerness should be an example to others.

Prayer: Lord, I want you to see in ma an eagerness to do what pleases you. It is my privilege to serve you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 29: Amos 4-6; Psalm 86, 87; Titus 1

Scripture: Titus 1: 1 ¶ Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—

Observation: Paul’s purpose was to build up the body of Christ by encouraging their faith and increasing their knowledge of the truth. “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 8:1. But here Paul gives the purpose of knowledge—to lead us to godliness. Knowledge of the truth should make us better lovers of God and of others.

Application: Knowledge that God is with me and guiding my steps helps me remain calm when the car air conditioning breaks down and we spend an unexpected night in Illinois. There is great peace in knowing that God is with me. Instead of fretting over the problem, I can look for an opportunity to let Jesus shine through me. My problem becomes an opportunities for unexpected ministry. NOTE: any knowledge I gain should lead to making me a better servant of the Lord and give me more opportunity to serve others.

Prayer: Lord, the knowledge that you are faithful to take care of my problem sets me free to look for the opportunity to serve you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 28: Amos 1-3; Psalm 80; 2Timothy 4

Scripture: 2Timothy 4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Observation: Paul is in prison as he is writing this letter to Timothy, yet he sees himself “in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus.” He is writing with a conscious awareness that God is with him and that God in agreement with what he is writing.

Application: It is best for me when I stay aware of God’s presence. What I do in private or in public should be done with the awareness that He is with me and done with a desire to do as He would do. Whether I am doing house work, driving a bus, at church, writing a SOAP—it should all be done with an awareness of His presence!

Prayer: Lord, according to Your Word, you are with me at all times. Big or small, public or private, may everything I do please you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 27: 2Kings 13, 14; 2Chronicles 25; 2Timothy 3

Scripture: 2Timothy 3: 1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Observation: God’s description of “terrible times” is much different than man’s. When man thinks of “terrible times,” he tends to think of health issues, money troubles, or oppressive governments, or bad weather, or natural disasters as earthquakes, tsunamis, wild fires etc. When God thinks of “terrible times” He is thinking of how wickedness affects the lives of the creation He loves so much that He sent His own Son to be the payment for their sins! To God, “terrible times” are when sin dominates the lives of people. Note: As our president recently celebrated “Gay Pride Week” in the White House, surely these are “terrible times” in God’s eyes.

Application: I need to align my thinking with God’s thinking.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, impress my mind with truth. Help me see things as they really are for that is the way you see them. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

June 26: Jonah 1-4; 2Timothy 2

SOAP to and for

Scripture: 2Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Observation: Correctly handling the word of truth would include loving it, reading it, understanding it and applying it to our lives. It would also include helping others to love it, read it, understand it and apply it to their lives.

Application: This “SOAP” ministry is simply passing along to others what the Lord is giving “to me for me.” They are not written for others, but for me. But the Lord uses them to help and encourage others also. Hopefully these SOAPs will encourage others to look into God’s Word and find God speaking “to them for them.” The “Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer” outline is a simple way for anyone to meditate on God’s Word.

Prayer: Lord, You have given me this ministry of SOAP. I want to "handle the word of truth" in a way that blesses You. First, I acknowledge it is “to me for me.” Second, use me to help others understand that Your Word is “to them for them.” Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!