Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 9: Job 34; 1Corinthians 4-6

Scripture: 1Corinthians 4:1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Observation: A person’s values can be seen in their faithfulness. If they value their work, they will be faithful and dependable in the assignments entrusted to them. Their attitude and performance will show how they value their work. The same is true with one’s spouse and family. Faithfulness demonstrates value.

Application: I have been entrusted with the life of Christ! May I prove faithful. I want my attitude and performance to clearly show how much I value His Presence in my life. And may my faithfulness show how much I value my wife and son—and my church family too.

Prayer: Lord, may my life prove faithful in keeping and displaying what you have entrusted to me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 8: Job 33, 1Corinthians 1-3

Scripture: 1Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

Observation: God created man’s body to give him an avenue of communication with the world, with other men, and with God. When God lives in my body with me it becomes of even greater value. It becomes an avenue for God to communicate to the world and with others.

Application: I must treat my body with respect. It is God’s temple.

Prayer: Lord, in your wisdom, you provided me a body. In your love you have chosen to join me. Through my words and deeds may my body communicate your presence. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November, 7: Job 31, 32; Galatians 5,6

Scripture: Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Observation: Freedom—what a wonderful blessing freedom! Yet what an awesome responsibility accompanies it. Freedom is something to be used! Freedom has to do with choice. The choices are mine to make.

Application: I am free to make choices. Although I can use my freedom to choose what I like, God wants me to prove my love for Him by using my freedom to serve others. God gives me freedom so I can choose to serve Him because I believe He is worthy. God gives me freedom so I can choose to serve others. I have freedom to choose how I respond to what happens to me.

Prayer: Lord, may I use the freedom You have given me to please you by serving others. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 6: Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3,4

Scripture: Galatians 3:24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.
25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

Observation: God gave the law to teach us the evilness of sin and provide sacrifices that would be accepted as token payments. They were acceptable because they looked forward, in faith, to the death of Jesus on the cross. His death, and only His death, has the value to cover the price of sin.

Application: The more I understand the Bible, the more I appreciate God’s plan in dealing with man through history. I believe God created man to have a unique opportunity to express the depths of his love. His love even reaches to cover man’s sin by giving His only begotten Son as a sacrifice. His love reaches me!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are amazing! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 5: Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

Scripture: Galatians 2:1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.

Observation: Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem was after three years (note: Galatians 1:18), and now fourteen years later he makes a second visit. Unless we take time to notice the specifics, we might get the idea that Paul was converted in one chapter and then just a short time later was preaching in Antioch and then moving into his missionary journeys. Here we read of 14 years between events.

Application: God often takes His time. He is not in a hurry. It is important for me to have both faith and patience. I need faith that God does indeed have a plan that is worth waiting for. And I need patience to wait for His timing. If I let Him do His work in me I will be ready when His timing is perfect.

Prayer: Lord, I trust your plan and timing. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 4: Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

Scripture: Mark 15:39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Observation: People watched how Jesus lived, how he taught, how he performed miracles, and finally, how he died. The centurion had probably watched many men die, but this one was different.

Application: Today people are watching how Jesus lives in me. May what they see convince them that Jesus is indeed the Son of God!

Prayer: Lord, when people see how you live in me, may they be convinced that you are God and more than worthy of any sacrifice I may make. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 3: Job 25; Mark 13-14

Scripture: Mark 14:70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."
71 He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don’t know this man you’re talking about."

Observation: It was probably his accent and/or clothing that indicated that Peter was from Galilee and someone who knew Jesus. When they would not accept his word that he did not know Jesus, Peter began to curse and swear. He was hoping his words would break any identity with Jesus.

Application: My words can identify me as a follower of Jesus or not a follower of Jesus. I need to be careful how I speak. My words can carry the patience of Jesus or the impatience of Leon.

Prayer: Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Psalm 141:3) Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 2: Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

Scripture: Mark 12:41 ¶ Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.
42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Observation: Jesus not only paid attention to who was giving, but also to how much they gave! Jesus did not say that the rich were giving little, but that they were giving from their wealth. However the widow out-gave them all, for from her poverty she gave everything she had!

Application: My giving is important to God. He watches what I do with the money He has entrusted to me. How I use my money is one way I demonstrate my love for Him!

Prayer: Lord, I know you watch me give; may it bring joy to your heart! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 1: Psalm 121; Mark 9-10

Scripture: Mark 9:37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Observation: I can look at ministry to children as though I must be bringing Jesus to them. I think that when they accept me, they are accepting Jesus. But that is not what this verse says. It is not when they welcome me, they welcome Jesus. It is when I welcome them, I welcome Jesus!

Application: I need to encourage people who minister to children to begin to expect Jesus to reveal Himself to them in special ways. They need to expect to see and hear Jesus talking to them through the children they have welcomed into their lives. What I do to children, Jesus takes personally. And what I do to Jesus, the Father takes personally! Sometimes I act as though my ministry to children is a blessing to the children. It is really a blessing to me!!!

Prayer: Lord, help me not to forget this truth. I expect to find you working in my life in special ways because I minister to children. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!