Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 14, 2023: SOAP #4790: Genesis 34-36; Luke 14

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 14:12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus had been watching the guests at a banquet and made two comments.  First to the guests: instead of taking a place of honor, they should choose for themselves a humble seat, because it is better to be blessed by being escorted to a place of more honor than to be asked to move to a place of less honor.  Second to those hosting the banquet:  Invite people who cannot repay you, because there is One watching who can repay and you will be repaid when it really counts.

APPLICATION: Proverbs 19:17 reads: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.” When God sees me doing a kindness for someone from whom I expect no repayment, he takes it personally.  He looks at it as though I did it for him!    He takes the responsibility for the repayment, if not in this life, then certainly in the one to come.

I do not need to be rich to invest in the Kingdom of God.  I can invest time and talents in a child, a young person, an elderly grandparent, or neighbor.  The opportunities to invest in the kingdom are numberless!

When I do something for those who cannot repay me, it is noticed by the ONE who will certainly repay me.  Repayment I receive in this life will be a blessing now.  But the repayment I will receive in heaven, will last for all eternity!

PRAYER:   Lord, you have done more for me than I can ever repay.  Today give me the joy of serving you by giving to someone who has no means to repay me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon