Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 02, 2025: SOAP #5509:  Genesis 6-8; Luke 3

(reworked from 2012)

SCRIPTURE:  Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2  Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

OBSERVATION:   I like to read about God speaking to specific people at specific times.  I like to read about historical people that were present in the world at the specific time God spoke.  God is not separate from history but wraps himself within the context of human existence. 

The Bible is not about people and places no one has ever seen or known.  In the Bible we read of God being involved in the daily lives of real historical people. 

A day or two ago I heard a speech given by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he spoke about Moses as a real person whose words meant something still today.  The present is wrapped in the reality of history.  It is good for us to know history.  It is good for us to know what God has said and done in the past.

APPLICATION:   I can tell my son and granddaughter of the specific times and places God has spoken to me.   My history is a story of God being involved in my daily life, speaking to me, providing for me.  God is wrapped in my history.    

Others can learn from my history.  They can see that God is very concerned and active in our lives today.         

PRAYER:  Lord, as this day moves into history may I look back and see that you have wrapped yourself in all the events of today! I saw you today in the lives of my family.  I saw you today in a pastor leading a funeral.  I saw you today in the lives of those in the car in which I was riding.  You were everywhere!  Amen.  

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 02, 2025: SOAP #5509:  Genesis 3-5; Luke 2

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world…. 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son…

OBSERVATION:   It was the Word of the Lord through the prophet Micah (5:2) 750 years before that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. 

Note: Mary’s pledge to marry Joseph was before the Angel’s visit which informed her of Emmanuel entering the stream of humanity through her womb.  She did not know to choose a man from Bethlehem.  Nor did Caesar Augustus know of Micah’s prophecy and design his edict for everyone to go register in the home of their family.  As far as I know Caesar had no knowledge the coming Messiah. 

Everyone was just doing what they thought best, not knowing that they were a part of the fulfillment of prophecy.   God’s will was being perfectly worked out through their lives.   Mary gets no credit for Jesus birth in Bethlehem.  Caesar gets no credit…ONLY GOD gets the credit!!! 

APPLICATION:   God is faithful to keep His word.  He works through natural, political, spiritual, relationships, etc. to fulfill His word.  When God makes a promise to us, we need not worry if it will happen.  We need not manipulate our circumstances to make it happen. 

Through His promises He give us opportunity to trust Him.  We do not work to make them happen, but our work is an expression of faith that they will happen.  When the promises are fulfilled, ONLY HE gets the credit! 

PRAYER:  Lord, I trust you!  So many times You have proven that You are faithful and capable of keeping your word.  Holy Spirit, help me to be faithful and keep my word also.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon