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

June 2: Proverbs 22-24; Romans 14

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 14:1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

Observation: There is to be unity in the church based on our relationship to the Father through Jesus Christ His Son and our faith that His death on the cross is the payment for our sins. Yet in the early church, as in the church today, there are “disputable matters” about which we disagree. Neither side is to judge the other nor treat them with contempt.

Application: Quarreling is not acceptable between me and another believer who sees “disputable matters” differently than I do. We are servants of the Lord. The Lord is able to make us stand! Their acceptance by the Lord does not depend on their agreement with me. My acceptance by the Lord does not depend on my agreement with them.

Prayer: Lord, May I never show contempt to those who disagree with me rather may I listen to them in such a way that they will be open to listen to me. May we learn from each other and grow. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!