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

May 13: 2Samuel 24; 1Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; 1Thessalonians 2

Scripture: 1Thessalonians (NIV) 2:4b We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

Observation: Paul here states that his work among those living in Thessalonica was not done to please them, but to please God. Two things come to my mind as I think about pleasing God. First is that pleasing God is easy—He knows my heart. Second pleasing God is hard—He knows my heart.

Application: God does not test my efforts by how successful I am, but by how faithful I am. People may judge me as a failure, but God knows my heart. He knows my thoughts. He knows what I was trying to do. On the other side, it takes more than success to please God. Just because something appears successful does not mean I have passed God’s test. He is looking at my heart. He sees my motives. He sees why I did it.

Prayer: Lord, I want to be diligent in serving you. I want my heart to be a place you enjoy living. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!