Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 23, 2022: SOAP #4707: Job 13-14; Acts 17-18

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 17:2  [In Thessalonica] As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Acts (NIV) 18:4 [In Corinth] Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Luke (NIV) 4:16 He (Jesus) went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.
Hebrews (NIV) 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is … 

OBSERVATION:  Paul had a practice that was very much like Jesus.  They both had the same custom.  They regularly went to the place where God was honored. Among other things, their ministry was a ministry of presence.  Their presence said gathering together was important.  Their presence was an encouragement to others. 

APPLICATION: I accepted Christ as my Savior; He now lives inside me and has made me a part of His body, the church.  If those following the Old Testament scriptures were to meet regularly, how much more should the church regularly come together.  As I want my physical body to interact and work together, how much more does Christ want His body to do the same.  The writer of Hebrews mentions people with a different custom-that of NOT meeting together.  How unlike Jesus that custom is.

When I join with others, I recognize that my presence can be an encouragement to others.  My participation in worship can encourage the worship leader.  My actively listening to the preacher can encourage them to put their heart into the sermon.  By being present and interested, I can inspire someone sitting nearby to have faith that God will speak to them. 

Just a thought:  If I want to be present with the body in glory, I should make it a practice to be present with the body here on earth!

PRAYER:   Lord, may my presence in Your body (the church) be an expression of appreciation for Your Presence in my life!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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