SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: 1John 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.
10 Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.
11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

Observation: John makes it so simple. It is hard to miss. My relationship to God can be seen in my relationship to my brother. If the “Source Of All Love” dwells within me, then love will certainly flow out of me.

Application: I may be tempted to use this as a measure to see if my brother is walking in the light. But the issue is not how my brother loves me, but how I love my brother.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making the most important issue so simple. Amen.

August 21: Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1John 2

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: 1John 1:9 NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Observation: God’s forgiveness and cleansing of my sinful soul is not based on my praying the right words, or bringing the right sacrifice as proof of the sincerity of my confession. It is based on His character! Jesus does not say, “I was going to forgive you, but you did not get the words quite right.” He does not say, “Sorry, you just brought the wrong sacrifice.” When I agree with Him that I have sinned, He forgives and cleanses me based on His faithfulness to the death of Jesus. God is just and does not demand a second payment for a sin that is already covered by the blood of His Son.

Application: It is with a heart of gratitude that I serve the Lord. As the song goes, “He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay; I needed someone to wash my sins away. And now I sing a brand new song, Amazing Grace; Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay!”

Prayer: Lord, I am in awe that you are faithful and just. With overflowing gratitude I express my Amen.

August 20: Jeremiah 48-49; Psalm 67; 1John 1

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 21:3 "I’m going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We’ll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus…
John 21:9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Observation: Shortly after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, his disciples went back to their old way of life. But Jesus knew where to find them. They had returned to their old way of making a living, but when they arrived on shore, Jesus already had fish on the fire and some bread!!! (vs. 9). He already had that for which they had gone fishing AND more! He even had the bread!

Application: There are times when I might get “fuzzy” thinking about my life and what I should be doing. I may want to return to an easier way of life—one with which I am more familiar. But Jesus knows where to find me! And even before I arrive back on shore, He already has “a fire with burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread!”

Prayer: Lord, I am glad you know where to find me. You anticipate my needs and know how to provide for them. Amen.

August 19: Jeremiah 45-47; Psalm 105; John 21

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 20:1 NIV Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!"

Observation: Mary looked at the facts and jumped to the most logical conclusion. The stone was rolled away. Someone had broken in and taken the body of Jesus. What she saw spoke so loud that she did not remember what Jesus had said about rising from the dead. What caused Mary great concern should have caused her great rejoicing! Jesus was ALIVE!

Application: Considering evidence without considering what God has said leads to wrong conclusions and often brings me unnecessary alarm and concern.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, remind me of what is written in the Bible; remind me of what the Lord has spoken to me in the past; and remind me to stop, look AND LISTEN to what you may be saying now! Amen.

August 18: Jeremiah 26, 35-36; John 20

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 19:6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."
7 The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,
9 and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.

Observation: It is interesting to note Pilate’s reaction to hearing that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. Pilate himself had declared that Jesus was a "man" after Jesus had endured the whipping. (Note: verse 5) Jesus was obviously a man’s man! He had endured victoriously! He had an inner strength that amazed Pilate. Could Jesus have been even more than a "man"? Pilate was concerned. Jesus endured even more than Pilate understood, for in carrying the load of sins the eternal relationship he shared with the Father was broken. From the cross he cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.”

Application: The one who endured such suffering rose from the dead and now lives in me! He knows what it is to hurt. He knows how to be graceful and forgiving while suffering. He knows how to comfort me in trouble and rejoice with me in victory!

Prayer: Lord, there is no one in all creation I would rather have with me than you! May my words and actions show how much I value you! Amen.

August 17: Jeremiah 23-25; John 19

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 18:25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not."
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?"
27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a cock began to crow.

Observation: Jesus had warned that Peter would deny him three times before the cock would begin to crow, but Peter would have none of that. He loved Jesus too much! Now Jesus was on trial and Peter was interested enough to want to find out what was happening, but was afraid enough to deny that he was one of Jesus disciples. In the moment of denial among strangers, Peter was not thinking that someone would be present who would recognize him. But there was!

Application: I never know who is watching. Of course, Jesus is always watching. But many times others are watching too. At home, or while driving the bus, impressionable children are always watching to see how I will respond.

Prayer: Lord, I want those watching to see you living in and through me. Amen.

August 16: 2Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked towards heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

Observation: Jesus was praying that the Father would make Jesus look good. Although we may take it as a very selfish prayer, there are two things we should consider. FIRST is that Jesus continued his prayer stating that his motive was to make the Father look good. He wanted to look good so that He could make the Father look good. SECOND is the way he would be glorified. He would be hung to die on a Roman cross to pay for sins he did not commit and to demonstrate to the world the love of God in paying for man’s sins.

What a Father! What a Father he must be that a pure sinless son would be willing to suffer and sacrifice his life in order to restore the relationship between sinful man and Father God!

Application: When I ask for God to help me succeed, I am often asking so that I may look good in my own eyes or in the eyes of someone I am trying to impress. But the motive behind Jesus prayer was that He would be able to make the Father look good. That should be my motive also.

Prayer: Lord, I want people to see what a wonderful God you are and what a privilege it is to serve you! Amen.

August 15: Jeremiah 18-20; Psalm 93; John 17

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 16:32 NIV But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

Observation: Jesus is speaking to his disciples. He understood that his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death would cause his disciples to scatter to their homes. He would be left “all alone.” He would be all alone—by himself—from a human aspect, but in reality, he would not be alone. His Father was with him.

Application: There are times when I am by myself, but I too am never alone. The Holy Spirit sent by God to be our comforter is always with me! And as the Father was with Jesus, so Jesus and the Father are with the Holy Spirit in me! —Would it hurt God if I talked about being alone or having to do something by myself? Would he say, “Hey, Leon, who am I? Don’t I count? You pray for my presence, but when it is just the two of us, you talk and act like I am not there!”

Prayer: Lord, don’t ever leave me alone! And Holy Spirit, nudge me if I ever start to complain about being alone or needing to do something by myself. Amen.

August 14: Jeremiah 16-17; Psalm 96; John 16

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Observation: What an amazing promise is given in verse seven. It is not a blank promise that anyone can claim, but one given to those who remain in close relationship with Jesus and keep his words in their heart. Verse sixteen indicates when we can expect the fulfillment of that promise. It is when our lives have become fruitful.

Application: From these two verses and their context it is easy to see that fruitfulness is of great importance to our Heavenly Father. Fruitfulness is the natural result of the life of the vine flowing into the branch. Unlike the vine and branch which has no mind and makes no choice in the matter, this passage gives me the responsibility of remaining. I must choose to remain. The lesson is from the vine and branch, but the application is that I must choose to live in constant contact and dependence on God.

Prayer: Lord, may the fruit of my life bring refreshment to others and glory to you. Amen.

August 13: Jeremiah 13-15; John 15

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Observation: Jesus tells me not to allow my heart to be troubled. But how can I keep my heart from being troubled? How can I maintain peace? Jesus is giving me a key in keeping my mind at peace. It is to trust God and also to trust Him. He then tells us where He is going, what He is going to do, and gives a promise to return and take us to share what He will have made for us.

Application: I see that the key to a peaceful, un-troubled heart is a trusting, disciplined mind. Leon has an eye (even two of them). They are very important to him, but Leon is not a pair of eyes. He can choose what at what he looks. Leon has a mind. It is very important to him, but the Bible shows that Leon is not a mind. Leon has a mind and Leon can choose his thoughts. Leon must be careful how he uses his eyes and his mind. Trusting Jesus is remembering what He said then thinking, talking, and acting like it is true.

Prayer: Lord, I trust you. Amen.

August 12: Jeremiah 10-12; John 14

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!