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

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

Scripture: Genesis (NIV) 28:11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set…
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in the place, and I was not aware of it”
17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.

Observation: The place was nothing special. Jacob would have gone elsewhere, but it was getting dark so this place would do. He was not looking for any special accommodations and not expecting anything but some sleep. Yet during the night God appeared to him in a dream. God personalized to Jacob the promises given to Abraham and Isaac. Jacob named this place Bethel which means house of God. He set up an altar and made a vow to God.

Application: Today God may change a “certain place” into a “Bethel.” He may change a place of “no expectation” into a place where heaven opens up to earth. When He makes His presence known to me and speaks to my heart, I need to pause and respond. It will be a life changing moment.

Prayer: Lord, May I not be in such a hurry that I miss what you will say to me today! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: Genesis (NIV) 26:25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.

Observation: Here we see Isaac having the same priority as his father, Abraham. He pitched his tent, built his altars and dug his wells. (Note Genesis 12:8) When it comes to our earthly dwellings, people can tend to build them in a permanent fashion. However, they make their relationship to God fit in, temporary, easy to move from one church to another. When Abraham and Isaac picked up their tent, they left something behind because the altar was not "pitched" and the well could not be carried in their packs.

Application: When it comes time to move from my present home, or city, or planet, may I leave something behind that points people to God like an altar and refreshes them like a well. May generations to come enjoy the fruit of our labors.

Prayer: Lord, help me keep my priorities in order. Help me keep the temporary things temporary and the permanent things permanent. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 9: Genesis 23-24; Luke 9

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 9:51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

Observation: Jesus knew what lie ahead. It was not something that brought him joy. He would die a horrible death, for that was the reason He came. So He "resolutely" set out for Jerusalem. He was committed. He was moving forward. He would proceed to the crucifixion. He would endure the crucifixion. And He would come out of the tomb in glory! Yes there was joy that was set before Him, but it would not be complete until He had paid the price! It was His commitment to do the will of the Father that carried Him forward.

Application: To resolutely, determinedly, purposefully, decisively, definitely walk in the way of Jesus means that we take up our cross and follow him. To live a life of saying “no” to myself is not appealing, but it is necessary in order to say “yes” to Him. Is it worthwhile? Is it worth the inconvenience? Is it worth the struggle? Yes, yes, and definitely yes!

Prayer: Lord, like the song Andre Crouch wrote, if heaven was not promised to me, it has still be worthwhile having YOU in my life. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 8: Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

Scripture: Genesis (NIV) 21:16 Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there she began to sob.
17 God heard the boy crying and the angel of God called to Hagar from haven and said to her, “What is the matter Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.”

Observation: She could not watch the boy, but God could, and did! It was out of her control, but not out of God’s control. In verse 16 we see that Hagar began to cry, however in the next verse we are told that God heard the boy crying. It does not say that God heard Hagar crying, but that He heard the boy crying. The very thing that burdened Hagar had God’s attention too.

Application: My load is so much easier to carry when I remind myself that God shares my concerns. I have never had to inform him of the trouble. He is not waiting on my prayer to find out what is happening. However there are times when he waits for my prayer to allow me to be a part of the battle and the victory.

Prayer: Lord, I am glad to know you are already aware of the things that concern me. You understand the need much more than I do. I can trust you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: Genesis (NIV) 18:24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?
25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Observation: Abraham’s nephew was in the city that was about to be destroyed by God. Abraham knew the character of God and he prayed accordingly. It is "far" from the Lord to destroy the righteous with the wicked. Indeed the Judge of all the earth does right! And indeed God did do right as He removed Lot from Sodom before destroying it. Not even 10 righteous could be found in the city. God’s holiness did not stop God’s love. And God’s love did not stop God holiness.

Application: I can count on God being both holy and loving when he answers my prayers. He always remains faithful to His character.

Prayer: Lord, the better I know you, the better I am able to pray. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 6: Genesis 15-17; Luke 6

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Observation: Justice is getting what is deserved. Mercy is not getting what is deserved. Grace is getting what is not deserved.

That we are to be merciful implies that bad thing will happen to us. We will be tempted to “get even” and return the wrong we have suffered. Those who are merciful do not repay the evil they have received.

Application: In this verse I am commanded to be merciful to others just as my Heavenly Father has been merciful to me. When God forgives me, He is saying that Jesus death on the cross is sufficient to pay for my sins; when I forgive others, I am saying that Jesus death on the cross is sufficient to pay for those sins too. The mercy that reaches to me can also reach through me.

Prayer: Lord, you are a merciful God. Your loving kindness is new to me every morning! How right it is that you require me to be the same way. My your mercy reach through me to others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 5: Genesis 12-14; Luke 5

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 5:37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.
38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.
39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, “The old is good.”

Observation: Of course he says the old is better. It is better for it has aged and the taste has been refined. But it would be foolish to forget that what is now old was once new. And when it was new, people said the same thing about it that others are now saying about the new wine of today.

Application: Each generation will develop its own wineskins with which to hold the new wine of the Spirit. Church leadership structure and style of music are changes those of us who are older tend to resist. We remember how God used the old songs. But if today’s “wine” is going to be preserved, it must be put into “fresh wineskins.” The eternal changeless truths of God’s Word are finding fresh expression in the younger generation.

Prayer: Lord, use me to encourage the younger generation stay true to the changeless truth in your Word and help me be open to “new wineskins.” Help me overcome personal preferences that blind me to what you are doing. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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!

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

January 3: Genesis 6-8; Luke 3

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

Observation: These names help Bible scholars to identify the times during which the Bible events happened. They serve as calendar markers. But it is interesting to note, that the “word of God” did not come to these people, but to a humble man living in the wilderness. The most important thing that happened during these days did not happen in a palace, but in the wilderness. The “word of God” came to a man in the wilderness!

Application: The most important thing happening in my life is that God speaks to me every day! For me, there is nothing more important. He is teaching me to expect to hear from Him.

Prayer: Lord, what an amazing privilege that you speak to me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 2: Genesis 3-5; Luke 2

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 2:4 And Joseph went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be registered with Mary, His betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

Observation: Of course Rome had no interest in how the requirement to register would affect a poor pregnant woman. But they had a part in the “Big Picture.” Surely Mary would have rather stayed home than walk or ride a donkey or horse for the several days this trip would take. For Mary, the “Big Picture” was that she was about to give birth. But the “Big Picture” for Mary was not “Big Picture” for God. For God the “Big Picture” included where Jesus was to be born—in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2)

Application: Many times what I see as the “Big Picture” is really the “Little Picture.” How things affect me is often the “Big Picture” to me and I am not really concerned about how those things affect God, or others. I do not see the moment as a part of the future. I do not see how my words or deeds can be a part of someone’s life. I do not see how sitting in the doctor’s waiting room can be important for someone sitting nearby. So I complain about how long it takes instead of looking for the opportunity to share about Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, help me keep focused on you. Only you have a clear vision of the “Big Picture.” Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!