Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 04, 2024: SOAP #5419:  Esther 1-2; Psalm 150; Luke 17

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 17:20 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”

OBSERVATION:   Jesus said there would be a day when the King comes to earth in a very dramatic way.  It will be like lightning flashing from one part of heaven and streaking across to another part!  Everyone will see it!  (Verse 24)   But until that day, people will not be able to observe expected characteristics of God’s Kingdom being established on earth.  With fallen man leading governments, we will observe what fallen man does. 

It is not that the Kingdom of God is not present, for indeed it is!   It is not that the Kingdom of God does not make and changes, for indeed it does!   But its presence is in the hearts of people!   The changes brought by the Kingdom are in the hearts of people!    

APPLICATION:  When I accept Jesus as my savior and place my faith in His death as the payment for my sins, I become a part of His body.  But as I make Jesus the Lord of my life, I begin to live the Kingdom life.  King Jesus becomes the LORD of my life and lives His life through me.  He can bless the plans I make, or he can cancel those plans, or he can replace them with His plans.  It is perfectly OK because He is LORD!   

I have lived long enough to know that when Jesus changes my plans, it is well worth any effort to do as He leads.   He changed the way I did my daily devotions to this SOAP format!  I did not want to make the change, but I am so glad I did!   

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, more than just calling you LORD, I want to live my life like you really are my LORD.   You loved me enough to die for me, so obviously I can trust my life in your hands.  Your ways are always better than my ways.  The SOAPs sure are proof of that.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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