Repetition

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

October 10: Nehemiah 3-4; Luke 23

Scripture: Nehemiah (NIV) 4:12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

Observation: People have not changed much since Nehemiah’s day. There are still people today who feel like the more they repeat something the more it will be believed as true. It can be a trap that older people fall into. And when people do not have a very rational position they sometimes rely on repetition. There are politicians who run advertisements that say the same thing over and over. They are hoping that the more people hear it the more they will believe it. I have also noted that many statements that are continually repeated are statements of doubt and fear rather than faith. If I am going to repeat something, I want it to be a statement of faith!

Application: I need be careful not to say the same thing over and over. I need to expand my knowledge and explanation of things I feel are important. I need to grow in my understanding of what God’s word says about those matters.

Also I need to be careful that I place proper importance on things I hear repeated. I should not just ignore them because I have heard them all before. On the other hand I need to remember that just because one person repeats it does not mean that everyone is saying it.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, how I need your help in correctly understanding what happens around me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!