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

June 6: Ecclesiastes 1-3; Psalm 45: Ephesians 2

Scripture: Ephesians (NIV) 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Observation: God’s purpose in working with fallen man is to demonstrate His love. This omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God needed a way to demonstrate how much He could love. He chose to do it by forgiving and raising a fallen mankind! He created something He loved. His creation broke His heart and set itself outside the boundaries of His holiness. Yet this God, with great wisdom, reached out in love by becoming a man, living free from sin, and paying the perfect price for sin. Then with this great incomparable grace he restored sinful man to a place of guiltlessness and favor. No comparable love can be found in all creation! It is amazing love being expressed in amazing grace!

Application: God uses my sins to demonstrate His loving forgiveness. God uses my weaknesses to demonstrate His strength. God uses my imperfections to demonstrate His completeness. So, should I continue to sin so that God can continue to forgive me? Absolutely not! Part of the proof that God is really living in me is that my character is changing to one of hating sin and loving righteousness.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, your great love is seen by lifting me up and seating me in heavenly places. You are continuing to change my heart to love holiness and hate sin as you do. What great changes! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!