An Expert Forgiver

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

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

Scripture: Luke 11:2 NIV He said to them, "When you pray, say: "‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’"

Observation: It is difficult to understate the importance of forgiveness. We all need forgiveness, but the prayer Jesus gave us to pray limits the forgiveness we receive from the Father. He forgives us in proportion to how we forgive others. Now that we are His children, He expects us to be forgivers also.

Application: God wants Leon to be a forgiver. The possibility of restored relationships and the knowledge that I will very likely be needing forgiveness myself should make it easier to forgive.

Prayer: Lord, You have already forgiven me and your presence enables me to forgive also. Knowing that my future forgiveness depends on how I forgive makes me want to be an expert forgiver! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

Scripture: Genesis 26:32 NIV That day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug. They said, "We’ve found water!"

Observation: The sheep must be led to where the water is, the servant should be able to "find" water, digging if necessary. The sheep are led to where the water is, the servants can bring water to where the sheep are. Sheep drink from the surface, servants can dig below the surface. Sheep drink from the water on top, servants drink water from rivers that flow much deeper.
The sheep must be maintained in circumstances where water is available. The servant has the power to change circumstances. The servant can bring water to dry places! The servant can do more than just live off his circumstances, he can change them. It takes work. One has to dig to find water. But if one is willing to do the digging, many generations to come can be blessed!

Application: One of the first scripture passages I learned was Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd…” I learned that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. As a lamb/sheep in His flock I learned to trust him. However as I grew and matured in my Christian life, I learned to be a servant. I am learning to serve Him. As a servant I am growing so He can trust me. As a servant I am to be useful.

Prayer: Lord, may I be a useful servant! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

January 9: Genesis 23-24; Luke 9

Scripture: Luke 9:25 NIV What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Observation: I have heard that one sign of maturity is being able to give up a present pleasure in order to have a more pleasant future. Nate Saint said it, “A man is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Application: To spend my time and resources to gather things that will not fit into my casket is foolish. To spend my time and resources in helping those whom I will meet in heaven—that is wisdom.

Prayer: Lord, help me live today with eternity in mind. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 8: Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

Scripture: Genesis 22:18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

Observation: The above promise was made by God to Abraham after Abraham had passed a difficult test of faith and obedience. As evidence that God has kept this promise, consider the following: “At least 187 Jews and people of half- or three-quarters-Jewish ancestry have been awarded the Nobel Prize, accounting for 22% of all individual recipients worldwide between 1901 and 2012, and constituting 36% of all US recipients during the same period. …Jews currently make up approximately 0.2% of the world’s population and 2% of the US population.” (http://www.jinfo.org/Nobel_Prizes.html) Does God keep His promises or what!!!! Wow!

Application: As I am faithful to obey God, I find that the same God who kept his promise to Abraham, is faithful to keep his promises to me.

Prayer: Lord, You are faithful! It is worth any effort and any sacrifice to serve you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: Genesis 18:8 NIV He (Abraham) then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they (the LORD and two others) ate, he stood near them under a tree.

Observation: What an interesting passage. Before sending judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, the JEHOVAH appeared in human form to see how bad it was. On the way to a city where He would be disrespected, the LORD stopped at Abraham’s tent. I am sure it was not Abraham’s food that attracted LORD to his tent, but that Abraham was his friend and would respect him. He would share with Abraham what he was about to do. He would let Abraham intercede for the city. But while he was there, He would eat what Abraham offered.

Application: If God stopped at my door today I believe he would happily eat whatever I had to offer even if it was only a glass of cold water. I believe the Lord would say, “If it is good enough for my child, it is good enough for me.” I believe He would say, “I’ll eat at his table now and before too long he will be eating at mine!” (Revelation 3:20b “ ..I will come in and eat with him and he with me.”)

Prayer: Lord, I am honored to know that you eat at my table, live in my house, ride in my car, and participate in my life. May my life demonstrate my love and appreciation. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 6: Genesis 15-17; Luke 6

Scripture: Luke 6: 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

Observation: Three words stand out to me. First is the word “torrent.” Torrents (storms) come to everyone. We cannot stop them, we can only prepare for them. The second word is “building” or “built.” Lives are not placed on a foundation, they are built. There is a process involved. It does not happen overnight. The third word is “foundation.” There are many foundations on which one can build their life, but only one take the “torrent.” God’s Word is the only solid foundation because God’s character is trustworthy and true!

Application: I am building my lifetime one day at a time—one action at a time—one choice at a time. I am building on God’s Word! The Lord has provided me a fabulous foundation; it is fit for the greatest mansion that has ever been built. I do not want to build a shabby house on such a great foundation!

Prayer: Lord, Your Word is the foundation for my life. I know I can trust Your Word because it is based on Your Character! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 5: Genesis 12-14; Luke 5

Scripture: Luke 5:3 NIV He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
5 Simon answered, "Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

Observation: The experts had determined that it was time to quit fishing. It was time to put up the boats, wash the nets, and go home. They were fishermen, with years of experience. But Simon was willing to humor Jesus and do what He said.

Application: Sometimes I think I am the expert and have it all figured out. Sometimes I think that what God wants is just a waste of time. I wonder how many times I have missed His miraculous supply because I did not do what He said.

Prayer: Lord, “because you say so” will always be enough reason for me to do your bidding. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 4: Genesis 9-11; Luke 4

Scripture: Genesis 9:6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.

Observation: God had just become so fed up with the sin of man that he wiped out all but Noah and his family with a flood. Yet God had not forgotten that man was created in His image. Sin had so marred that image that God had to take drastic steps to cut back sin’s advances, yet God still recognized His own image within man!

Capital punishment is tied to man being made in the image of God. This applies in two ways. First, whenever a man is killed, it is a sin against God and one made in His image. Second, as man has been made in God’s image, man has the ability and responsibility to judge.

Application: Every single person around me carries the image of God! I honor God by treating each one with respect. How I treat them, how I talk to them, and how I talk about them should express the respect I have for our Creator God!

Prayer: Lord, may my respect for you be seen in the respect I show to those who were made in your image. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 3: Genesis 6-8; Luke 3

Scripture: Genesis 6:6 NIV The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them."
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Observation: It seems to me that many people want to think of God as a God of love, which he is. There are some people who seem to see Him as an angry God, which he can be. But not too many of us see God as a hurting God. Yet verse six above says “his heart was filled with pain.”

Application: When our closest friend is hurting, we consider something extra we can do to comfort or cheer them. We send a card; we make a phone call; we take them a dinner; we stop by for a visit. Things I see in the news make my heart hurt, how much more do they make His heart hurt! There may be something I can do today to refresh my Heavenly Father.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, show me today what I can do to ease your pain and bring joy to your heart. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 2: Genesis 3-5; Luke 2

Scripture: Genesis 5:1 NIV This is the written account of Adam’s line. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.
2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them "man".

Observation: The Bible claims to be the inspired word of God. Here we have a personal eye-witness account from the main participant, the Creator Himself. Since there is no one alive today who can verify or deny this account, and since God is believable and is alive today, it makes sense to believe it. If one chooses not to believe this, then there is a natural desire to come up with another possibility of how humans came to exist on this planet. Evolution is as good an explanation of any other possibility. It just does not line up with the Bible account.

Application: I am male and my wife is female. We were created in the likeness of God! Whether or not the people around me know it, they too were created by God and in His likeness. This requires that I treat all human life with respect—those who agree with me and those who do not.

Prayer: Lord, help me to see the people around me as your handiwork who carry your likeness. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!