Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 17, 2023: SOAP #4793: Genesis 42-43; Psalm 5; Luke 17

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 5:4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell. 5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong. 6 You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors. 7 But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down towards your holy temple.

OBSERVATION:  What a holy God!  He is perfectly holy.  There is no place in His presence for wickedness.  So how is it that in verse 7, the Psalmist comes into the presence of the Holy God?  He enters on the basis of God’s mercy.  Not just His mercy, but His GREAT MERCY!  
     In David’s time, God’s mercy was extended based on animal sacrifices made at the temple for the sins of people.  Those animal sacrifices in themselves could not provide forgiveness for man, but they were statements of faith that God would provide the perfect sacrifice that would have value enough to cover man’s sin.  And that is what Jesus did on the cross.  He provided the sinless sacrifice that has more value than all the sins of man. 
     If the blood of bulls and goats would be accepted in the courts of heaven to cover sin, how much more will the sinless blood of Jesus cover our sin when we confess our sins and receive His forgiveness by faith!     

APPLICATION: Knowing the great sin-covering sacrifice Jesus made allowing me to enter the presence of the Most Holy God, how do I express my appreciation?  I do it by inviting the Holy Spirit to convict me when I sin.  I do it by quickly repenting and asking forgiveness when I sin.  I do it by asking the Holy Spirit to empower me to resist the temptation to sin.  I do it by reading the Bible to learn what pleases God.  I do it in my praise and worship.  I do it in witnessing to those around me. 
     Simply said, my whole life, every word and every deed, are an expression of appreciation to the Lord! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me live each moment of my life to honor Jesus and His sacrifice. May my life be a testimony to others of Jesus love and sacrifice.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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