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

July 18: Isaiah 32-35; James 2

Scripture: James (NIV) 2:1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

Observation: We have many ways to value people—their wealth, their education, their speech, their clothes, their color, their social status, their health, their physical capabilities, their appearance, etc. But to God, their worth is set by only one thing—the death of Jesus on the cross. He loves them intensely! To treat any person in a way that degrades their value is a sin.

Application: Every single person I will meet today is so valuable to God that he was willing to send His Son to die for them. I am to treat them with great respect! Even those I do not know are valuable to me because they are valuable to Him! If I do not treat them with respect, I do not have a problem with them; I have a problem with God!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, please check my heart and mind when I speak disrespectfully of someone or to someone today. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!