June 25: Joel 1-3; 2Timothy 1

Scripture: 2Timothy 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Observation: The faith of young Timothy was generational. It began in his grandmother, then in his mother, and now was in Timothy. There is no mention of his grandfather or father. What an encouraging verse this should be for wives of husbands who do not believe in Jesus and for single moms! What a spiritual heritage these two ladies deposited in this young man’s heart.
In his writings, Paul often expresses his own joy which he has because of those who have come to believe in Jesus. In verse 4 he takes personal joy in a member of the younger generation.

Application: Planting my faith in my son and granddaughter is an important priority. And for my generation of believers, like Paul we can take joy in the younger generation of believers even though they are not our children or grandchildren.

Prayer: Lord, today open my eyes to how I can serve someone in the next generation. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

June 24: 2Kings 11, 12; 2Chronicles 24; 1Timothy 6

Priority Investment Strategy!

Scripture: 1Timothy 6: 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Observation: People who have extra money often go to financial counselors. The counselors advise them in building emergency funds, in putting aside money for retirement, and in how to leave an inheritance for their family when they die. One really BIG area is missing. They have no advice for how to invest it so that a person can continue to be blest by their money after they die! The Bible does not overlook this important issue but rather makes it the priority!

Application: Personal note: Money goals for Leon are “to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” Remember: My real priorities can be seen in how I use money.

Prayer: Lord, I want your priorities for my life to be easily seen in how I use the money you provide. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

June 23: 2Kings 10; 2Chronicles 22, 23; 1Timothy 5

The Spin Stops with Him!

Scripture: 1Timothy 5:24 The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.
25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.

Observation: Some evil works are obvious and can be seen by everyone; others go unnoticed. And the same is true of good works. Some are obvious. And some go unnoticed here on earth. BUT neither can be hidden from God who will judge and/or reward accordingly.

Application: God saw what I was doing before there were hidden cameras. And he saw so much more than the hidden cameras, he looked inside and saw my heart. He also remembers perfectly. The spin stops with Him. I cannot make things look good that were really bad, and others will not be able to make things look bad that were really good!

Prayer: Lord, You are the perfect judge for me because only you know me perfectly. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 22: 2Kings 8,9; 2Chronicles 21; 1Timothy 4

Scripture: 1Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
1Timothy 4:15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

Observation: An old song we used to sing said, “On the Jericho road, there’s room for just two, no more and no less, just Jesus and you.” Like a few other old songs, they were nice to sing, but not totally scripturally correct. Jesus does not intend for our lives to be lived in solitude. People are going to be watching us. It is OK. That is the way Jesus wants it to be. That is part of our ministry.

Application: There are times when I want my privacy. When I am tired or after I have been working through a tough situation, I feel like I deserve my privacy. But if my life is truly His, like I claim that it is, then I have to die to my desires and spend time with people. How I deal with down times can be an example for them.

Prayer: “This little light of mine; I’m going to let it shine…” Lord I sing it, now help me live it! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 21: 2Kings 6,7; 2Chronicles 20; 1Timothy 3

Scripture: 1Timothy 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

Observation: The mystery of godliness: That God wanted people to be "godly" is without question. The Ten Commandments provided guidelines as to how we were to live. But along with the commandments God gave instructions for sacrifices to be made when the commandments were broken! The law did not have the power inherent to enable the people to keep it. So why would God give a law that surely would be broken? That is the mystery! And the answer to the mystery is Jesus! God would demonstrate both His holiness and His love in sending His Son to die for our sins. His payment for our sins restores us and His living within us empowers us to live a life of love!

Application: The life Jesus lives within me has already successfully dealt with every temptation I face! As I learn to rely on His life within, I begin to understand this great mystery of how I can live a life pleasing to God. His payment for my sins restores me and His life within empowers me! Wow!!!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your forgiveness! And thank you for living in me! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 20: 2Kings 4,5; Psalm 83; 1Timothy 2

Scripture: 1Timothy 2: 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.
7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle— I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

Observation: Paul had been appointed to be “…a herald and an apostle,…and a teacher of the truth…” He had good news (a herald) and was sent (an apostle) to help people understand the truth (a teacher).

Application: I need to see myself sent with good news to those around me to help them understand the truth. Jesus is The Truth! This starts with my family and immediate friends, then spreads out to all those with whom I have contact.

Prayer: Lord, like Paul, my purpose is clear. Help me fulfill it joyfully and faithfully. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 19: 2Kings 1-3; Psalm 82; 1Timothy 1

Faithful

Scripture: 1Timothy 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.

Observation: What God thinks is most important! God considered Paul faithful. Faithfulness is far more important than ability. Ability has to do with skill; faithfulness has to do with character. Ability is useless without faithfulness. Someone may have great ability, but if they are not faithful, their ability cannot be depended on. Faithfulness makes ability available. God could count on Paul to be where needed and to represent Him truthfully.

Application: How God sees me is more important than how people see me. People may consider my abilities, but God considers my faithfulness. He has proved many times that His abilities can easily fill in my weaknesses. However faithfulness is different. Lack of faithfulness on my part removes the opportunity for me to use my abilities and for Him to use His abilities through me.

Prayer: Lord, how often you have proved that you can more than make up for my lacking abilities. May you find me faithful. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 18: 1Kings 22; 2Chronicles 18, 19; Colossians 4

Serving His Purpose!

Scripture: Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Observation: Paul not only asks for their prayers, but tells them how to pray. He does not want them praying that everything goes easy for him or that he has no trials, but that he remains faithful to his assigned task. Paul mentions “chains” as he was writing from prison, but he never requests prayer to be released.

Application: My prayers and requests for prayer can indicate the growth of priorities in my life. As I grow in Jesus, my priority will move from what affects me personally to what affects others and then to fulfilling God’s purpose.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for hearing and answering prayers for myself and for others. But above all, help me serve your purposes and accomplish your desire. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 17: 1Kings 20-21; 2Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

Serving who?

Scripture: Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Observation: "Whatever you do" covers a lot of territory! It covers all the tasks one might take on during each day. It covers all assignments given by those in authority over us. So indeed the boundaries of possibilities covered by this verse are endless.

However the limitation is that we do what we do “as working for the Lord.” If it cannot be done "as for the Lord" then it should not be done! If it can be done "as for the Lord,” then we should certainly do it “for the Lord” and do it "with all our heart."

Application: I have found that when I do something for other people with the attitude that I am doing it for the Lord, He takes it personally and rewards me as though I did it for Him! Wow!

Prayer: Lord, today is a day for serving you. I want to please you by serving others. May you enjoy rewarding me because I have been serving you in everything I do. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 16: 1Kings 17-19; Colossians 2

Paid in full!

Scripture: Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
14 having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Observation: In our relationship to God, we were dead. We were insensitive to His Presence and voice. BUT God made us alive by forgiving ALL our sins! Wow! How did He do that? He cancelled the judgment against us by nailing all our sins to the cross then dying for them on that cross!
It would be like someone taking my mortgage statement to the banker, laying it on his desk, and then putting enough cash on top of it to cover it completely! It would be paid in full!

Application: Jesus nailed my sins to the cross, and then died on that cross! The value of the payment so far exceeded the cost of my sins that my sins are totally forgiven! There are no hidden costs remaining in God’s sight.

Prayer: Lord, how can I say “Thanks” for all you have done for me! I want my appreciation to be seen in how I live today. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!