S.O.A.P.

March 15: Deuteronomy 28-29; Galatians 6

Doing Good

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Observation: Paul recognizes the possibility of becoming weary in doing good. He gives a word of encouragement. A harvest is coming from the seeds sown. Sometimes we do not want to wait for the harvest. We want instant results. We want to give up and quit! But Paul’s statement is sure: "…we will reap…" No doubt about it!

Application: I know that doing good is in itself its own motivation. I should do good just because that is what I should do. However there are times when I am not so spiritual; I need other motivation. I need to be reminded that sowing good seed will bring a good harvest. I need to do good to others because I can expect to harvest a crop of good myself.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for doing me good. Thank you for showing me to sow seeds of good into the lives of others. Thank you for pulling out weeds and watching over my harvest. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 14: Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5

Faith & Love

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision (being under the Jewish law) nor uncircumcision (not being under the Jewish law) has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Observation: Paul is saying that neither being under the Jewish law nor not being under the Jewish law matters. The only thing that matters is a faith in Christ Jesus that is expressed by love. Those who have faith in Jesus love God and love people. Love may not be the only expression of faith, but without love, the others are not believable.

Distances are measured in inches, feet, yards and miles. Liquids are measured in pints, quarts and gallons. Solids are measured in ounces and pounds. Love is measured by sacrifice.

Application: If faith expresses itself through love, then the depth of my love will show the strength of my faith.

Prayer: Lord, may my faith grow strong and my love for you be well known. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 13: Deuteronomy 22-24; Galatians 4

That’s just the way He is!

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Observation: What a change: from being a slave to sin to being a son of God! From serving sin because we were in bondage, to serving God because we love Him. And we love Him because He first loved us!

Application: I do not have to serve God—I get to serve God. It is my privilege to serve Him. Because I love Him I consider myself His servant. Because He loves me He considers me His son! Because I love Him and see myself as His servant, I serve Him joyfully. Because He loves me and considers me His son, He makes me His heir! He is always outdoing me! That’s just the way He is!

Prayer: Lord, I am your creation. I am your child. I am your friend. I am your servant. I am your son. I am your heir. I am blest! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 12: Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

How can I say thanks!

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 3:22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Observation: The scripture makes it clear. The Law declares without exception that we are all sinners. We can escape neither the fact nor the undesirable judgment at the end. The obvious result is that we must find a way out, and there is no way out EXCEPT through Christ. What we have available as an escape from judgment is extended to us through the grace of God in a promise which we accept by exercising our faith.

Application: God says, “Leon, I kept my promise and gave my Son as the sacrifice to pay the price of your sins. In Him you will have my forgiveness.” Leon says, “God, I believe you kept your promise. I believe your Son Jesus died for my sins; I accept your forgiveness not because I am worthy nor have accomplished anything for which I should be rewarded, but only on the basis that you love me and that the death of Jesus is more than sufficient to atone for my sins.”

Prayer: Lord, as Andre Crouch wrote: “How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me; things so undeserved, yet you did to prove your love for me; the voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude; all that I am, and every hope to be, I owe it all to Thee!” Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 11: Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

What a change!

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Observation: As a child I remember my dad pastoring a small church and working as an automobile mechanic during the week. Many times I would be around the shop and even got a job in the gas station out front. I learned that some motors were to be repaired, others upgraded, but some had to be totally replaced.

Application: My life had been ruined by sin and had to be replaced. As my dad replaced an old engine with a new one, so God has replaced my life with the life of His Son, Jesus! Wow! And although everything is not yet wired perfectly and there are aspects of this new life I am still discovering, I for sure do not want to go back to the old life.

Prayer: Lord, having you living inside me! Wow! Like the song says, Jesus on the inside, working on the outside; oh, what a change in my life.” Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 10: Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

Change

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 1:23 They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."
24 And they praised God because of me.

Observation: After his conversion, Paul left the area around Jerusalem where he had been persecuting the church. The people in the churches that had been persecuted by Paul heard the amazing report about the change in his life and praised God.

Application: I need to be open to the changes God brings to my life. They are changes that make my life more useful in serving Him and serving others. God wants to continue to make changes in me that will cause others to give Him praise.

Prayer: Lord, I belong to you. I may not be comfortable with change, but I am willing to let you make the changes you know are best for me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 9: Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

The Perfect God for me!

Scripture: Deuteronomy 10: 17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.
19 And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.

Observation: The Lord had told Moses that his death was near, so Moses was reviewing all that God had done in delivering them from bondage in Egypt and being with them as they traveled in the dessert. In repeating their history and the commands God had given, Moses gives them some key information about the One Who is leading them.

Application: I am so glad to know that Israel’s God is my God!!! He is mighty and awesome; he cannot be fooled. He is impartial and cannot be bribed; He is absolutely just. He is kind and compassionate! He is the perfect God for me!

Prayer: Lord, You are the perfect God for me. You know me completely. You know my needs and how to take care of those needs. I am blest to belong to you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 8: Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15

Never at HIS expense!

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 15:15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Observation: Who was in charge, Pilate or the crowd? Pliate abdicated his authority to the crowd. What a mistake! It is not always wrong to satisfy others, but never at His expense!

Application: Who am I trying to satisfy? When I please myself or please others am I doing it at His expense?

Prayer: Lord, at the end of today, may we both look back and smile at a day well lived. J Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 7: Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

She did what she could.

Scripture: Mark 14:8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.

Observation: This lady had a great appreciation for Jesus and while he was reclining at a dinner table in a wealthy home in which he was a guest, she broke open a jar of very expensive perfume and poured it over his head. As the odor filled the room everyone present became aware of what happened, and this lady was criticized for the “waste.” It could have been sold and the money given to the poor. But Jesus defended her. “She did what she could.” He said she did it in preparation for his burial. In a few days some ladies would be arising early to go to a tomb to anoint the dead body of Jesus, but he would already be raised to life. Only this lady had the privilege of serving Jesus in this way.

In so many of the miracles in the Bible we see both man’s part and God’s part. The miracles cannot be understood as coming about because of man’s part—only because of God’s part. Man’s part always came before God’s part. And man’s part was always something that he could do. “She did what she could.”

Application: I must be willing to do what I can. I can pray. I can reach out and touch in Jesus name. I can give what I have. I do what I can do in humility and in trust that Jesus will do what He can do!

Prayer: Lord, I do what is possible for me to do all the while trusting you to do what is possible for you to do. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 6: Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

Priceless & Unfailing

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 36:7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Observation: In the surrounding verses the song writer praises and worships God by verbally expressing different aspects of God’s character. In this verse he describes God’s love as both unfailing and priceless. It is impossible to put a value on unfailing love. Of all the love songs ever written, the greatest songs are those about the greatest love—the love of God!

Application: I am rich beyond measure; I am love by God! He loves me with a priceless and unfailing love. He loves me though imperfect; with His help I can love others though imperfect.

Prayer: Lord, how can I say thanks for your love. I can only love you in return and try to prove my love by doing those things that please you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!