April 25: 1Samuel 30,31; 1Chronicles 10; Matthew 12

God’s many ways

Scripture: 1Chronicles 10:13 Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD, and even consulted a medium for guidance,
14 and did not enquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

Observation: God has many ways to accomplish His will. In the first verse of this chapter we find that the Philistines were the ones fighting Israel. Then a few verses later in verse four we read that Saul took his own life. Now in verse 14 we read that this was God’s doings.

Application: Not only does God have many ways to bring His judgment, He has just as many ways to bless us. I have received God’s corrections through many ways and I have received God’s blessings through even more ways.

Prayer: Lord, use me to be one of your ways to bless others. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

April 24: 1Samuel 28,29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11

Yoked to HIM!

Scripture: Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me …

Observation: Come to Jesus for rest: I find rest from having to be good enough to be accepted. I find He has already accepted me!
Take his yoke for training: Being yoked to the Lord, I am bound to His schedule and life. I cannot go my own way; the yoke holds me in place at His side. It is like being yoked to a college for an education. I must fit into their schedule, take the classes they offer from their teachers. I chose the college, but then I am limited to what they offer in their schedule. I am to take His yoke. He could wrestle me into His yoke but He wants me to take it willingly.

Application: I am yoked to the Lord! I go on His schedule and go where He goes. Is it limiting? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes, yes, and YES!!! It is a privileged to be accepted into His yoke.

Prayer: Lord, it is my great privilege to be yoked to you. Wherever you go, I must go with you. But wherever I find myself, you are there with me! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

April 23: 1Samuel 27; Psalm 141; 1Chronicles 9; Matthew 10

Here on assignment!

Scripture: Matthew 10: 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Matthew 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Observation: Most of the times in the gospels when we read the word “sent” it is Jesus speaking of Himself. He was sent from the Father to do His Father’s will. Here we find Jesus using the word “sent” to speak of the disciples. As the Father had sent Jesus, He was now sending the disciples.

Application: If I am to be a serious follower of Jesus, I must consider myself as being sent! I cannot ignore the fact that God has purposely placed me in my country, in my city, in my family, in my church, in my job to accomplish His will. I am here on assignment!

Prayer: Lord, as you were sent, so I have been sent. May I be faithful to accomplish your will as you were faithful to do your Father’s will. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

April 22: 1Samuel 25,26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

Visible faith!

Scripture: Matthew 9:2 Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."

Observation: The faith of those bringing this crippled man to Jesus was visible. Jesus saw their faith. Their faith was visible because they had put their faith to action. Their faith was that Jesus could heal this man. So they picked him up and took him to Jesus.

Application: When I am praying for someone else, I need to be open to doing something that demonstrates my faith. I need to make my faith visible.

Prayer: Lord, I want you and those around me to be able to SEE my faith. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

April 21: 1Samuel 24; Psalm 57, 58; 1Chronicles 8; Matthew 8

Makes sense to me!

Scripture: Psalm 57:1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
Psalm 57:10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

Observation: At the time of this psalm, David is running from a man he loves and to whom David is committed. He is running from King Saul who is trying to kill David. In the first verse of Psalm 57, David is claiming God as his refuge. In the rest of the verses (2-11), we see why. It is not illogical to trust God! When one understands the unlimited abilities of God and great love He has for us, it is most logical!

Application: God is both able and willing to help me! There is no question of His ability and wisdom. There is no question that He loves me! It is perfectly logical to trust Him!

Prayer: Lord, I trust your ability to accomplish what you deem best and I trust your love for me. I rely on your wisdom and strength. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

April 20: 1Samuel 23; Psalm 31,54; Matthew 7

Love through me!

Scripture: Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Observation: The OT law was based on a selfish basis. In relating to themselves they would understand how to relate to others. Later Jesus says that the second greatest commandment is to love one’s neighbor as they love themselves which again brings self as the basis. What a difference Jesus brought when He gave us His commandment, to love one another AS HE LOVED US! He brought love to a whole new dimension.

Application: This is not just for families, or relatives, or friends; this is how I am to treat everyone. This is how I am to do business. This is how I am to treat the caller on the phone I would rather not talk to. This is how I am to treat the other driver’s on the road.

Prayer: Lord, if my relationship with you does not change the way I relate to others, I do not have a very good relationship with you. I need you to love through me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

April 17: 1Samuel 19; 1Chronicles 7; Psalm 59; Matthew 4

Health Food

Scripture: Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"

Observation: Jesus, the Complete Word of the Father made flesh, answered the devil with the written word! What a joy for us who look to Jesus as our example. He only used what WE have available! The Living Word was using the Written Word to overcome the devil’s temptation. What an emphasis is placed on the written word! It is the Word that sustains us. It is the Word that I am to use to refute the devil.

Application: My spiritual health food is found in the written Word. I can count on the Holy Spirit to remind me of the written word to overcome the devil. I gain spiritual strength and health as I read and live the Word of God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for providing food for my physical health. And thank you for providing food for my spiritual health. As I am responsible to eat the physical food you provide, I am also responsible to “eat” the spiritual food you provide. I have a part in my physical and spiritual health. Thank you for your Word. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

April 18: 1Samuel 20-21; Psalm 34; Matthew 5

Letting My Light Shine

Scripture: Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Observation: I remember an abandoned fire base in Viet Nam where I found some waxed cloth used as packing for ammunition. When twisted tightly, it could be used as a crude candle. The benefit of candles is light. We place them in our homes where their light gives the greatest benefit. And so God intentionally places His people where their lives will be best seen by others.

Application: I do not have to make my light shine; I am to let my light shine. God does not want me hidden from the world but has carefully placed me where I will be seen. It is not my wise words but my good works that men are to see. And the result of their seeing my good works – they will praise God!

Prayer: Lord, when I find myself in a dark place remind me that you put me there to let your light shine through me. I do not have to make it shine, I have to let it shine! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

April 19: 1Samuel 22; Psalm 17,35; Matthew 6

What a difference!

Scripture: Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
Psalm 17:13 Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword.

Observation: Satan does not look at us the same way God looks at us! We bring pleasure to the Lord. We are the “apple of His eye.” However we do not bring pleasure to the devil. It is his intent to do us evil.

CONSIDER: You are the center of God’s plans. You are the purpose. You are the reason. He loves you. Although Satan may do his best to tear you down, you are not the object of his hatred. He hates God. He is mistreating you to get at God. He cannot get to God so he turns his attention on what God loves. Satan is the original terrorist! The terrorists do not necessarily hate those they hurt. They are just using them to strike at what they really hate!

Application: What a thought, to think that I am the “apple of His eye!” The “apple” of our eye is that which brings us pleasure. It is that which brings us joy. We enjoy looking at it. It is like the picture of my granddaughter.

How amazing to think that God looks at me the same way. It brings Him pleasure to consider me!

Prayer: Lord, to think that you love me and take pleasure in me makes me want to please you. May I bring much joy to your heart today. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

April 16: 1Samuel 18; 1Chronicles 6; Psalm 11; Matthew 3

Pleasing God

Scripture: Matthew 3: 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Observation: I hear God the Father saying, “Here is my Son. I love my Son. My Son pleases me.”

Application: To live a life, or a year, or a month pleasing to God, I must live days pleasing to God. Days are filled with hours, minutes, and seconds. Seconds and minutes are the starting place for pleasing God. I can please God a second at a time.

A beautiful oil painting is made up of many brush strokes. One at a time each brush stroke is placed purposefully until the painting is finished. I should consider each day a painting I am making to please the Lord. Each second and each minute are brush strokes in a painting I will present to the Lord at the close of the day.

Prayer: Lord, if my days please you, then my life will please you. I want to live each day to bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!