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

February 7: Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14

Scripture: Acts 14:19 NIV Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.
20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

Observation: Paul was stoned and appeared dead by those stoning him. He survived the stoning and the next day left for another city. He did not travel by ambulance, train, plane, but walked. After being thought dead, he walks to the next city! Surely God’s hand was on him!

Application: Two days ago as I was closing up my school bus, I slipped on some dust on the floor and fell down the steps of the bus. I was able to limp back into the bus barn and later that evening an x-ray showed a broken bone. Getting around is quite painful and I have a fresh appreciation for Paul walking to Derbe after being stoned and left for dead.

Prayer: Lord, your touch brought healing and restoration to Paul. May your touch do the same for me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 6: Leviticus 1-3: Acts 13

Scripture: Leviticus 1:2 NIV "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.
3 ¶ "‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD.
4 He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.

Observation: The offering bringer was to lay his hand on the head of the animal to be sacrificed and by so doing would be saying, “This animal represents me and will be sacrificed in payment for my sins.” Verse four says, “It will be accepted on his behalf.” If God was so willing to accept the sacrifice of an animal on behalf of the sinner, HOW MUCH MORE is He willing to accept the sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus, as the payment for our sins!!!

Application: If the Old Testament worshipper found forgiveness in the sacrifice of an animal, HOW MUCH MORE can I find forgiveness, and peace, and joy, and justification, and acceptance in the Once and for all sacrifice of the sinless Son of God!

Prayer: Lord, you are more valuable than silver, more costly than gold, more precious than diamonds! Your sacrifice more than covered my sins. I am grateful and humbled! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 5: Exodus 39-40; Psalm 15; Acts 12

Scripture: Exodus 40:34 NIV Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle

Observation: In chapters 25-31 we read God giving the specific details for building the tabernacle. In chapters 35-39 we read of the specific details of the actual building of the tabernacle. At the end of chapter 39 and throughout chapter 40 we read ten times that they did it “as the Lord commanded.” And in verse 34 we read the results of their careful obedience: “the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”

Application: I can see that God rewards careful obedience with the glory of His presence! I want to be careful to obey Him. It is not that I have to obey, but He loves me and knows what is best for me. It just makes sense to obey Him. And what a reward!!!

Prayer: Lord, I know you do not always give me the details of what I am to do, but when you do, may I follow them carefully. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 4: Exodus 37-38; Psalm 19; Acts 11

Scripture: Psalm 19:9 NIV …The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Observation: David, the author of this psalm, had a high opinion of God’s laws. They are trustworthy, right, extremely valuable, pleasant, and very worth the effort to pay attention and keep. God’s laws were important to David because God was important to David.

Application: How important is God to me? My value of God can be easily seen in my value of His word. If He is important to me, then His word is important to me. If His word is not very important to me, then He is not very important to me.

Prayer: Lord, when I take time to think things through, some things become very simple. How I value You can be seen in how I value the Bible, Your Word! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 3: Exodus 35-36; Acts 10

Scripture: Exodus 35:5 NIV From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze;

Observation: When the Israelites left Egypt, the Egyptians were so glad to see them leave they gave them anything they requested. They carried out the wealth of Egypt. Now God is requesting an offering of items to be used in building the tabernacle. Five times in this chapter and several times in the next chapter one reads that God wants the giver to be willing. God is blest when people give willingly. God is so worthy that people who serve him should serve him willingly. God so loves that he can only be pleased when people give willingly. People can only give what God first gave them. God can see himself in people who give willingly.

Application: In serving the Lord, how is just as important as what. How I serve the Lord demonstrates how worthy I believe He is. How I serve the Lord demonstrates how much I want to please Him.

Prayer: Lord, may you enjoy my service and my giving. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 2: Exodus 33-34; Psalm 16; Acts 9

Scripture: Psalm 16:7 NIV I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

Observation: What a comforting thought that even at night our thoughts can be guided by the Lord. Even in our time of rest, we can be receiving instruction from the Lord.

Application: I can evaluate the activities of the day apart from the heat of the moment and the intensity of their surroundings. I can learn as the Holy Spirit directs my thoughts. I can ponder the events of the coming day; the Holy Spirit can prepare me with His divine instruction.
Both my conscious meditations and my unconscious dreams can be Holy Spirit directed!

Prayer: Lord, I am blest to know that you can guide my thoughts even when I am at rest. My days and my nights are yours! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 1: Exodus 30-32; Acts 8

Scripture: Exodus 31:6 … Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you:

Observation: This verse comes from God speaking to Moses. God was in the process of giving Moses the plans for building the portable tabernacle that they carried in the wilderness for 40 years. To Moses, God gave the plans; to Bezalel, Oholiab and the craftsmen God gave the skill. God did not give the skill to Moses or the plans to the craftsmen. Accomplishing God’s will required they work together.

Application: I am convinced that I cannot accomplish God’s will by walking and working alone. I only hinder God’s plan when I insist on my independence. Freedom is important because then my choices really prove my love (or lack of love) for God. For me to use my freedom to live independent of others would show that I really do not understand the body of Christ. Only when we freely choose to walk and work in a relationship in which we lovingly submit to one another can we accomplish God’s perfect will.

Prayer: Lord, I am free to love you. I am free to use the gifts you have given me for your glory and the good of others. I am free to let others use the gifts you have given them for your glory and my good. I am free to work with them in accomplishing your will. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!