God’s Problem

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January 15: Genesis 37-38; Psalm 7; Luke 15

God’s Problem

Scripture: Psalm 7:10 My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day.

Observation: There are two characteristics God must have in order for us to claim He is good. If God does not love and save His people, how could we call Him good? If God is not holy in dealing with sin which harms those He loves, how could we call Him good?

God’s problem: what does He do when those He loves the most get involved in what He hates the most? To overlook sin and let it destroy those He loves would not be good. To let his hate for sin destroy those he loves would not be good.

God’s solution: He sent Jesus to die on a cross thus making the appropriate and sufficient payment for man’s sin.

God’s dilemma: when those who have received forgiveness and cleansing from sin refuse to tell others the good news and they themselves continue to live as though sin is no big thing! Duh…

Application: If I truly love God, then what He thinks and feels is important to me. So I will tell others around me of His great love and will keep sin from becoming a part of my lifestyle.

Prayer: Lord, I want to live my life to please you. I want to bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

How special is that!!!

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January 14: Genesis 34-36; Luke 14

How special is that!!!

Scripture: Genesis 35:13 Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him.
14 Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.
15 Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.

Observation: The Creator God who made the heavens and the earth talked to Jacob! How special is that!! It was something to celebrate. Jacob marked the spot in such a way that it would always be remembered as special. He named it Bethel which means “the house of God.”

Application: I have special memories of places where God has spoken to me. When I think of those places, I remember the specific things God told me which in time brought major change to my life. AND just a special are the daily times when God speaks to me from the Bible. God talks to me. How special is that!!!

Prayer: Lord, from one of my favorite songs, “And You walk with me, and You talk with me. And You tell me I am Your own. And the joy we share as we tarry there—none other has ever known.” Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Purpose and Expectation

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January 13: Genesis 31-33; Luke 13

Purpose and Expectation

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 13:6 Then he (Jesus) told this parable: “A man had a fig-tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.
7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig-tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig round it and fertilize it.
9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Observation: Each part of God’s kingdom has been created with a purpose. He expects that His creation fulfills its purpose.

Application: God has an expectation of me. Of all creation, the highest purpose was given to man. I am to glorify God (make Him look good) in everything I do. He expects me to do that and is disappointed when I do not fulfill my purpose. His mercy and grace is abundant, but time is short.

Prayer: Lord, may you find in me what you expect. May I bring joy to your heart. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Value

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January 12: Genesis 29-30; Luke 12

Value

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Observation #1: Even the birds of little significance to me are not overlooked by their Creator. He created them and they have value.

Application #1: I need to be careful to treat God’s creation with respect. I should value creation as He values it. I should value creation because it is His work.

Observation #2: God is interested in the smallest insignificant details about man—even the number of hair on his head! Man has more value to God than other creation. For man He was willing to send His Son to die for our sins!!!

Application #2: How can I feel worthless or insignificant when I know that I am valuable to my Creator.

Prayer: Lord, as the song-writer put it: “I sing because I’m happy; I sing because I’m free. His eye is on the sparrow; and I know He watches me.” Civilla Martin Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Joy

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January 11: Genesis 27-28; Psalm 4; Luke 11

Joy

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 4:7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.

Observation: The Psalmist realized that he had greater joy in his heart in the bad times then the godless had in their best times.

Application: The reality of this verse was made clear to me in Viet Nam. Taking a break and sitting beside the trail one afternoon I heard those around me laughing and looking at pictures of their girls and cars back home. It was then I realized that I had more joy right there in Viet Nam than they had in their good times back home! Wow!

Prayer: Lord, there is joy in serving you. There is joy in seeing you work through me. But best of all, there is the joy of your Presence! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Sheep/Servant

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January 10: Genesis 25-26; Psalm 6; Luke 10

Sheep/Servant

Scripture: Genesis 26:32 And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said unto him, We have found water.

Observation: How great it is to find water. The servants seemed to be excited. Their labors had been rewarded. They found what they had been looking for — what they had been digging for.

It is nice when one can live by a river of running water and enjoy its thirst-quenching, life-sustaining water. It is great when that water can be channeled to water herds and fields. However there are many wonderful places to live that do not border a river. For those willing to dig, those places too can enjoy the blessing of water.

Application: As this is true physically, how much more it is true spiritually. There are times when God leads us to the river’s edge. The shepherd in Psalm 23 led the sheep to "still" water where they could easily and safely drink. But our relationship to the Good Shepherd should grow beyond that of being a sheep. At some point in the process we become servants. The sheep must be led to where the water is, the servant should be able to "find" water. Servants find a way to bring water to the sheep. Sheep drink from the surface; servants can dig below the surface to rivers that flow much deeper.

Prayer: Lord, I am glad you are the Good Shepherd and I am, and will always be one of your sheep! Now, help me be a useful servant. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

The Big Picture

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January 9: Genesis 23-24; Luke 9

The Big Picture

Scripture: Luke 9:46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.

Observation: If Jesus had been walking in the flesh, this surely would have frustrated him. Only two verses back He was explaining to them how He would be betrayed. He was preparing Himself for the single greatest act of serving in the history of creation. He was preparing to offer Himself as a sacrifice in payment for our sins. And here His disciples, having totally missed the big picture, are arguing about who will be the greatest! Instead of dealing with them out of frustration, Jesus makes it a teaching moment by having a small child stand before them emphasizing that it is the one who is the least who is really the greatest.

Families have stood around a casket arguing over who is going to get what is left behind totally missing the obvious that they too will die, and that what their relative left behind, they too will leave behind.

Parents who discipline their children out of frustration may get the undesirable activities to stop for the moment but they miss valuable opportunities to teach lessons that will shaped their children’s future.

Application: It is easy to ignore the big picture and focus on the specifics that affect me. But to properly deal with the specifics, I must keep the big picture in view.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, especially now in my senior years, help me to always see things in the light of eternity. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

That Place

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January 8: Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

That Place

Scripture: Genesis 22:14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

Observation: It was not the place Abraham’s tent was pitched. It was not the place where the servants had been left along the trail as Abraham and his son, Isaac, moved toward the place God would show them. It was the place where Abraham was to make the most difficult sacrifice ever required of him. He went there to offer his son as a sacrifice, but just in time God stopped him. Then he saw a ram nearby caught in the thicket with which they made the sacrifice. That is the place Abraham named Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord will provide.

Application: If I want to claim God as my Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider, I must not be hesitant in making the sacrifices He requires of me. The place where I can claim my Jehovah-Jireh, is the place where I am willing to sacrifice what has value to me.

Prayer: Lord, you have already proved yourself faithful in sacrificing for me; now may I be faithful in sacrificing for you. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Urgency = Mercy

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January 7: Genesis 18-19; Psalm 3; Luke 7

Urgency = Mercy

Scripture: Genesis 19:16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them.

Observation: Lot was hesitant, and dragging his feet. There was so much that they would have liked to take with them. They were literally being pulled by their hands out of their home and out of the city of Sodom. The impatience of those pulling them from their home was really an expression of mercy in saving them from the judgment that was coming. Lot was unaware of the magnitude of the disaster coming.

The forest ranger with news of an approaching forest fire; the police officer with the news of a fast moving hurricane; the doctor with information about a fast growing cancer; each has a message of mercy that can come across in a very impatient manner. Patience is not the virtue needed in urgent situations.

Application: When God brings me into a place of urgency and demands instant obedience, it is not because He is impatient, but because He is merciful. It is to my harm when I ignore the urgency of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, as I grow in you, help me to respond quickly to your direction for my life. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

After this…

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January 6: Genesis 15-17; Luke 6

After this…

Scripture: Genesis (NIV) 15:1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

Observation: What a statement God made to Abram! No need to fear for God is promising to be his protection—and his reward. It is easy to claim that statement as God’s word to me and to overlook the rest of the verse. Yet the first two words are just as much the Word of God as the last

This statement of blessing, like other statements God made to Abram, came after Abram had done something that pleased God. It was God’s response to Abram. Abram’s actions had pleased God. Here it was Abram’s refusal to accept the riches of men offered as a reward for rescuing them. Abram wanted people to know that his riches came from God and not from man.

Application: It’s simple: if I want God’s blessings on my life, I should live a life that God wants to bless!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, check me when I overlook important parts of your Word while I hurry on to the portions that say what I want to hear. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!