Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 15, 2022: SOAP #4607: Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12 

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews (NIV) 12:9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!  10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.  11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

OBSERVATION:  One expression of a father’s love is discipline. Discipline is not pleasant. It is not meant to be a joyful time of enjoying a father’s presence. It is designed to make a lasting impression. It is meant to be remembered when tempted to repeat the action that brought the discipline.

But there is a reason for discipline.  Verse 10 above says, “that we may share in His holiness!”  God wants us to be like Him! 

APPLICATION: I sing, “To be like Jesus,” or “Oh, to be like Thee,” or “Make me more like you, Jesus.”  God forgave my sins and took up residence inside me.  Maybe He sings, “Make Leon more like me!”  God knows that Leon would enjoy life so much more if he approached things like Jesus.  So, the Father sent the Holy Spirit to work on my inside.  He teaches me, and trains me, and convicts me of bad attitudes.  He even works on the smallest things in my life—things that I think are unimportant.  He is working on me so that I will share in HIS holiness! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, don’t ever stop, don’t ever stop, don’t ever stop working on me.  Make me more like Jesus.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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