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

October 31: Job 22; Mark 7-8

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 8:23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Observation: Seeing people as trees walking was not satisfactory to Jesus. It may have been an improvement for the blind man, but Jesus wanted him to be able to see clearly. So Jesus touched him a second time; then he saw everything clearly.

Application: I know that there are times in my life when I have not seen people as Jesus sees them. I see how they irritate me, or what they do wrong. I too need another touch from the Lord so that I can see them clearly.

Prayer: Lord, touch my eyes so that I may see people as you see them. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

The Great Multiplier

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

October 30: Job 21; Mark 5-6

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 6:35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late.
36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

Observation: The disciples said, “Send them away.” Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.” The disciples saw the problem in terms of money. Jesus saw the problem in terms of what was available. After checking they found five loaves and two fish! The fish and bread were placed in Jesus hands. He gave thanks and broke them; then he gave the pieces to the disciples. And the disciples did what he had originally told them to do! They gave the people (5000 men plus women and children) something to eat! They all had enough to eat with twelve basketfuls of leftovers!

Application: When Jesus gives me to do something, He already knows what I have available and He knows how he can take what I have and multiply it to meet the need. I have to place my limited resources in the hands of the Great Multiplier!

Prayer: Lord, when I place my resources in your hands, there is often more left over than I had at the start! You are amazing! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 29: Job 20; Mark 3-4

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”…
37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Observation: In the storm, it seems the disciples forgot what Jesus had said before they left. “Let us go over to the other side.” The word “us” let them know that he was going with them. “Let us go…” tells me that they were not just going to make an attempt; they were going to do it! “…to the other side” tells me that they were going to go further than half way. They would be going all the way to the other side.

Application: If I let them, circumstances can make me forget what Jesus has said to me. I must remember what He says to me!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of what Jesus has said to me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 28: Job 19; Mark 1-2

Scripture: Job (NIV) 19:23 Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll,
24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever!

Observation: It is hard not to smile at the irony of Job’s words. Job probably was thinking that no one heard what he said or understood his suffering. I would like to tell him, “Job, your words have been recorded, and read/heard by more people than you could have ever imagined!!! They have not been written on just one scroll, but upon thousands of scrolls, and then in millions of books! Your words are part of the eternal, inspired, Word of God!”

Application: There may be times when I think no one is listening or understands. But there is a God in heaven that hears my every word, even knows my every thought! He understands perfectly. And as He brought Job through to great victory, He will bring me through my troubles also!

Prayer: Lord, I am so thankful that You are listening to my every word with a heart of great love for me. I am thankful that foolish talking and negative confessions do not always stop your love for me. Your Holy Spirit helps me to speak wisely and to confess your great love. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 27: Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27-28

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 27:35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.

Observation: Paul was on a ship in the midst of a storm. He was among sailors and others traveling to Rome—276 of them. He had just told them that God had shown him that they would be shipwrecked; the ship would be lost but there would be no loss of life. Now he encourages them to eat, and takes food himself. But before he eats, he gives thanks to God.

Application: I remember the first time I entered the cafeteria at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. I watched the people going through the line choosing their food, then finding a place to sit. I watched to see if any would give thanks to God for their food. Sure enough, I saw one. So after getting my food, I sat across the table and also gave thanks! Boyd Adams and I had a great friendship there in Hospital Corps School and later. He taught me my first chords on the guitar.

Prayer: Lord, may I be faithful to give thanks for my food when alone, or in front of others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 26: Job 17; Acts 24-26

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 24:16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

Observation: Paul is on trial before Felix. The lawyer representing the Jewish religious leaders has made his case against Paul. Now Paul in beginning his defense makes the statement contained in the verse above. His goal is to keep a clear conscience.

Application: That is a worthy goal for me. I can keep a clear conscience by doing what brings joy to my Lord’s face and refusing to do what brings Him distress.

Prayer: Lord, today I want to give you many reasons to smile. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 25: Job 16; Acts 21-22

Scripture: Job (NIV) 16:19 Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.
20 My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;
21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.

Observation: In his suffering, Job was having trouble getting through to God. He needed an advocate. He needed someone to go to God on his behalf, to represent him before God. He needed an intercessor. He needed an intercessor who would plead for him passionately because he was Job’s friend.

Application: In Jesus I have what Job needed! What a thought! Jesus pleads with God on my behalf, not because it is expected, nor because he is bound to do so, but he does it as my friend! He does so with the love of a friend. He does so with the desperation a friend would have for his friend in trouble. I am His friend! He knows my name. It is amazing!

Prayer: Lord, what an amazing thing it is to be loved by you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 24: Job 15; Acts 19-20

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 20:33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.
35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work, we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Observation: Paul is giving a farewell message to the leaders of the church of Ephesus. While he had been with them, he had worked as a tent maker to support himself and give to others. He did not just work to survive; he worked to give. It is good when this important truth can be seen in the lives of church leaders.

Application: Many times I have been blest to receive, but it really is a greater blessing to give!

Prayer: Lord, you are the greatest giver and you are working to make a giver out of me. I’m glad! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 23: Job 13-14; Acts 17-18

Note: Job’s friends were convinced that Job must have done something very bad to deserve his terrible suffering. They wanted Job to acknowledge his great sin. The trouble with that reasoning was: Job had not sinned. And as badly as Job was hurting, he was not going to confess to sins that he had not committed. Below is his response:

Scripture: Job (NIV) 13:3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God. 4 You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you! 5 if only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.

Observation: Surely there are many of us who would like to tell someone to shut up, like Job did in verse 5! Reading it makes me laugh, but Job was not laughing when he said it. There are times when people just do not understand what we are going through. But as we read the whole book of Job, we come to know that God does understand! He understood even better than Job! And we come to know that He will set things straight!

Application: When it seems no one understands, I can trust God. Even when I do not understand, I can trust that He does. And I can trust His love for me to work things out for my good and for His glory.

Prayer: Lord, no one else may understand, but You do! I trust you to bring me through these troubles. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 22: Job 11-12; Acts 15-16

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 15: 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing.
28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:
29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.

Observation: When God put His Holy Spirit on non-Jewish people, it caused quite a stir among the Jewish believers. The big question: were new believers in Jesus from outside the Jewish religion going to be required to live according to the Jewish law?

It had become clear to the church leaders that God was accepting people they previously thought were un-acceptable. God was giving the Holy Spirit to non-Jewish people in the same manner as He gave to Jewish people. God was looking at the heart!

Application: I can only see the expressions that come out from the heart, but God sees the heart. I must be careful to make sure that what seems good to me also seems good to the Holy Spirit!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I want to walk in close communication with you. I want to hear you even when you speak softly. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!