Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 28, 2022: SOAP #4712: Job 19; Mark 1-2

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 2:15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

OBSERVATION:  They were just “tax collectors and sinners” to the Pharisees.  In eating with them, Jesus was wasting his time.  Those people were not able to add anything to the lives of “the teachers of the law” and “Pharisees.” 

But they were so much more to Jesus.  He would die for these people.  They were important to him!   They were valuable.  They were the reason He came!  They might not be able to add anything to Jesus’ life, but He would certainly add something to their lives!  

APPLICATION: I need to be careful not to treat people going through hard times as though they have no value.  They need Jesus and Jesus came for them.   I need to love them like Jesus loves them.  It may appear that they have nothing I need, but I definitely have something they need!  And I need the opportunity to witness for Jesus. 

PRAYER:   Lord, people going through hard times need You.  Love them through me.  Help me to see them as you see them.  Help me to reach out to them and not push them away. May they see you in me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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