Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 18, 2025: SOAP #5525:  Genesis 44-46; Luke 18

SCRIPTURE:   Luke (NIV) 18:1   Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

OBSERVATION:   In Jesus days on earth, He was a man of prayer.  His disciples were so impressed by Jesus’ praying that they asked Him to teach them to pray; and Jesus gave them a model prayer—what we call today “The Lord’s Prayer.”  The above verse is the introduction to a parable encouraging his disciples to pray.  I hear Jesus saying, “Do not quit praying; as long as you pray, you have hope!” 

APPLICATION:   The parable that follows teaches persistence.  Jesus continues on in this chapter to mention that we need an attitude of humility in prayer, and that we must come like a little child.  Then in verse 27 He presents a universal truth—he says, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”  That is the reason we “should always pray and not give up.”  Nothing we face today is bigger than our God and His ability to work it out for good!  In our prayer, we need to be careful not to pray like our problem is bigger than God, but like our God is bigger than our problem.  He is, you know!

PRAYER:   Lord, I want to live and pray like I believe that you are both able and willing to work everything out for your glory and for my good.  Amen.          

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Personal note: yesterday I was affected by an upper respiratory affliction.  I did not drive my afternoon bus route but stayed home in bed.  I am sorry for sending out the SOAP so late!  Today I stayed home from the bus driving and rested this morning.  Praise the Lord, I am starting to feel better, so will send this out a little earlier than usual. 

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 17, 2025: SOAP #5524:  Genesis 42-43; Psalm 5; Luke 17

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 17:3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”      

OBSERVATION:   Is Jesus saying that the person who does the offence should repent?  Yes, but that is not the primary message in this passage.  Jesus is not speaking to the one offending, but to the one offended.  Notice, Jesus did not say “watch them,” but “…watch yourselves.”  The emphasis is not on what the offender should do, but on what the offended should do.   The offended is not to evaluate the sincerity of the apology.  (How could someone be sincere if they have to repent seven times!)  If the offender can return seven times, obviously the offended party did not cut off any contact.  The Great Forgiver is telling me to forgive!  

APPLICATION:  We might think that it is too difficult to follow Jesus , but we must remember that He is with us to help us.   He has forgiven us and He will help us forgive others.  We should forgive others in the same way we want Jesus to forgive us.

PRAYER:  Lord, if there is anyone in the universe who knows about forgiveness, it is You!  You told us to request forgiveness from you in the same way we forgive others.   Let my forgiveness of others show how much I need your forgiveness.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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