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

January 4: Genesis 9-11; Luke 4

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 4:3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.:
4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”
Matthew 4:3 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Observation: Jesus was being tempted by the devil. The first avenue of temptation was to use his power as God to turn a stone into bread. Jesus had just finished a 40 day fast and was hungry but he refused to follow the devil’s direction. There is something more important to life than bread.

Application: If the physical need for food is so important that I stop three times each day to take in some physical food; then I should be willing to stop and take in some spiritual food—the Word of God. If I take a bite of food and hold it in my mouth to enjoy the flavors, then I should be willing to pause at a verse in my reading, hold it in my thoughts and investigate its meaning. If during the day I think back on what I had at my last meal and how good it tasted; then during the day I should pause to re-think what I read in God’s Word. It’s a daily thing—taking in God’s Word—it is like eating.

Prayer: Lord, help me to digest your Word and to get all the spiritual nutrients you have put there for me. I want your Word to stimulate growth in my life. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!