Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 10, 2023: SOAP #4997: Jeremiah 5-6; John 12

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 12: 37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence; they still would not believe in him…
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

OBSERVATION:  The inner turmoil that must have been in the lives of these people.  1.  They believed in Jesus; they saw the miracles and knew He spoke truth. 2.  They were afraid to express their faith.  3.  They feared losing their place in the synagogue.  4.  They loved the praise of men.  They suffered from peer pressure. 

Peer pressure is a big motivating influence in our lives, especially in teen-agers.  It is when we do something because we want to feel accepted and valued by our friends.  Maturing should help us grow into identifying truth and making our own decisions. 

APPLICATION:  It is important to identify truth.  Truth is the only worthy foundation upon which I can build a life that will stand the storms of time. 

Any study of life will bring me to Jesus, Who claimed to be “the way, THE TRUTH and the life.”  (John 14:6) 

Building my life on Jesus, is so much better than building it on peer pressure.  

PRAYER:  Lord, you are omniscient!  You know all things.  You know truth.  You know what is real.  You are the one true source of reality.  I depend on your leading to walk through this world.  Guide me into truth; your word is truth.  (John 17:17)  Alert me when I start relying on peer pressure.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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