February 14: Leviticus 23-24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

Forward in Faith!

Scripture: Acts 21:11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’"

Observation: Paul should not have been surprised when his trip to Jerusalem ended up with him a prisoner on his way to Rome. All along this return journey to Jerusalem he had been warned that trouble awaited his arrival. Also when he first accepted Jesus as the Messiah, he was told that he would suffer and take the gospel to the kings of the Gentiles. (Acts 9:15-16) So Paul moved forward in faith!

Application: When we receive warning from the Holy Spirit that trouble is ahead, we need not fear. We can anticipate it as a challenge in which God will bring us through to victory. We can move forward in faith expecting God to work out the difficulties.

Prayer: Lord, when you warn me of coming trouble I can move forward in faith with assurance that it will not be bigger than you are able to handle! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

February 13: Leviticus 20-22; Acts 20

It’s all about HIM!

Scripture: Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

Observation: What gives value to life? Different people have different thoughts. Some value their lives in respect to their families and others in respect to their possessions. Bottom line is that we all possess the human life made in the image of God which gives everyone value. And Christians should have even a greater sense of value as they have the Spirit of the Creator God living within them. Wow!

Paul had come to love God to such a level that he valued his own life only in terms of fulfilling God’s purpose.

Application: What am I? I am His creation! Whose am I? He bought me with the sacrifice of His Son! Why am I here? I am here to fulfill His purpose. My life is all about Him!

Prayer: Lord, my life is all about you! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

February 9: Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16

On duty

Scripture: Leviticus (NIV) 10:8 Then the LORD said to Aaron,
9 "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.
10 You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean,
11 and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses."

Observation: Two things were of vital importance. FIRST: Both for their sake, and for the sake of the nation, it was important that the priests hear from God. They must be sensitive to the voice of God the Holy Spirit. They were to serve the nation of Israel by making good judgments and for this they could not have their minds numbed by strong drink.

SECOND: It was important that they be able to teach. They must be able to communicate clearly. Those receiving the teaching must be able to have confidence that God’s words were being explained and applied correctly.

Application: In Viet Nam I took a turn each night with the radio, taking reports from our listening posts. In Hawaii I had duty every third or fourth evening and weekend in the dispensary at Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station. In the Old Testament, the priest served in the temple on a rotation as “duty priest.” However since the New Testament days, we do not taking turns serving in a temple made of wood and stones. My body is a living temple of the Holy Spirit and I am on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For me to be useful to God and to others, I must keep myself sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, I am always on duty serving you. Holy Spirit, may nothing keep me from hearing what you speak to me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

February 8: Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15

The sufficiency of the Sacrifice!

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 15: 9 He (GOD) made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Observation: Peter was speaking to the leaders of the church on behalf of the Gentiles who have been recently saved. Some in the church wanted the Gentiles to become Jews and keep the Jewish law. I hear Peter saying two things: First, the Jews have not been able to live up to the law, how can they expect the non-Jews to do it. And second: both the Jews and the non-Jews are saved by God’s grace, not on the basis of how well they kept the law. Everyone is accepted into the church on the basis of God’s grace.

Application: How wonderful is grace! It is the personal expression of God’s love to me! I am accepted not on the basis of how perfectly I have lived my life, but on the basis of the sufficiency of the sacrifice on the cross. And now in response, I live my life only for His glory!

Prayer: Lord, May my thankfulness be seen in all I do! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

February 7: Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14

Appreciation

Scripture: Acts 14: 26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Observation: They had been sent out to take the good news of Jesus to other parts of the Roman world. They had completed their work and now had returned home to give an account of what God had accomplished. Romans 10:14-15 says “…and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they are sent?” How right it is to give credit where credit is due. Those who send and those who work behind the scenes must be given opportunity to rejoice. Those who have given encouragement, those who have passed along the benefit of their knowledge and experience, those who stood by in hard times—they all deserve opportunity to rejoice.

Application: I need to be careful to express appreciation to those who enable me to accomplish what God gives me to do. They deserve the opportunity to rejoice in any victory that I may experience.

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for the special people who started me in ministry, and for those who have supported me along the way. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!