Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 23, 2022: SOAP #4615: 2Kings 20; Isaiah 38-39; Psalm 75; 1Peter 2

SCRIPTURE: 1Peter (NIV) 2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

OBSERVATION:  Peter was writing to a church made up of slaves and free men.  They knew the difference between being a servant and being a free man.  Yet, in Christ Jesus there is no difference.  They are all “free men.”  They are all free to live as “servants.”

We can only please God if we serve him freely.  He is not honored by people who have no choice.  He did not create us to be robots.  He is honored when the people who worship Him are convinced in their hearts that He is worthy of their worship!  The more difficult the circumstances we are in when we worship the more honor He receives.  We may be in tough times, but HE IS STILL WORTHY! 

APPLICATION: I am not a slave who cannot wait until I can be free (or an employee waiting until my work shift is over).  I am a freeman choosing to serve.  I am doing my job as a servant of God.  I may get a paycheck, or a word of praise from the people I am serving, but that does not mean near as much to me as knowing that I have pleased my Heavenly Father!  Choosing to be a servant of God is my way to let the world know that I deem Him worthy of my life.  Choosing to be a servant of man is my way to let God know that I respect Him and His creation.

PRAYER:  Father, you have created me to be a worshipper.  You have placed me in these circumstances that you will receive the unique worship that can only come from me. I want to give you the full benefit of how you created me and where you placed me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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