Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 31, 2024: SOAP #5354: Isaiah 63-64; Psalm 107; John 2

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 2:2 …and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

OBSERVATION: A short comment that really goes without being said.  Jesus was there, so obviously he had been invited.  The question that comes to my mind: who made out the invitation list?  Was it the bride’s mother, or the groom’s mother?  Was it someone from the bride’s family…or the groom’s family?  Was it a neighbor? 

Whoever it was who made out the guest list, they thought to include Jesus and his disciples.  They were working behind the scenes, doing something that needed to be done, but having no idea how important their part would be.  Not knowing what would happen at the banquet…not knowing what an important part Jesus would have…it came to their mind to invite Jesus. 

APPLICATION:  Surely the Holy Spirit was at work long before the day of this wedding.  He was making sure Jesus got invited.  He put the thought in their mind, “Be sure to invite Jesus.”  I think He even caused the wedding planners to underestimate and under order the wine that would be needed.  The situation was set up for Jesus to perform His first miracle.  Jesus was not the first one to arrive on the scene; the Holy Spirit had been there preparing the circumstances!   –just like in our ministries! 

God has not called me to do the SOAP ministry without working ahead of time to make the needed preparations.  I had no idea of what God was doing when He gave Pastor Dayton the idea of asking me to write SOAPs.  Now I can see how the Holy Spirit had been preparing me to do this.  And several times recently when surprised by a financial need, I discovered the Holy Spirit had already put it in someone’s heart to put a check in the mail to arrive just when needed—or a call to do some work for which I would be paid! 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, when my steps are ordered by you, I can be sure that what surprises me does not surprise you.  You have already made the preparations for what will be needed.  For my family, my work, my ministry, you are working behind the scenes so that when I obey you, you will be glorified.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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