We Both Receive Joy!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 20, 2025: SOAP #5708: 2Chronicles 29-31; James 4

SCRIPTURE:  2Chronicles 31:21 In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.

OBSERVATION:   Hezekiah was not living a compartmentalized life.  He sought the Lord for everything he did, not just the hard things and not just the religious things. 

Three things:  He sought God, he worked wholeheartedly, and he prospered.  He did the first two and God did the third!  The first two set him in a manner in which God would want to bless him.  It was God’s joy to prosper him!

Sometimes we try to force God to bless us; we use God’s Word for the purpose of getting a blessing.  “Lord, You said ‘If I do this, you have to do that.’”  Serving God is not manipulating Him to get Him to do something for me.  When I seek the Lord and work wholeheartedly because I just want to please Him rather than for what I can get, then God can choose to bless me because I bring Him joy; in turn He brings me joy. 

The blessings that start in God’s heart because He loves me are much greater than the blessings that start in my mind because I want something. 

APPLICATION:  I want God to enjoy making me prosper as much as I enjoy prospering.    May God enjoy blessing me as much as I enjoy His blessing. 

PRAYER:   Lord, give me the wisdom to understand how much You have already done for me.  The joy in my heart from knowing You, gives me the strength to serve you wholeheartedly.  May my love for you, bring you joy.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Attractive to God

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 19, 2025:  2Kings 17; 2Chronicles 28; Psalm 46; James 3

SCRIPTURE:  James (NIV) 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom…. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

OBSERVATION:   True wisdom from God is expressed in humility.  We are called to be servants.  Any authority one may have is only a tool for serving others. 

Humility is the natural response for those who know the price Jesus paid on the cross.  Humility is the proper response for those who understand the greatness of God’s plan!  In God’s service there is no room for pride! 

APPLICATION: Many people have characteristics that make them attractive to others.  Others are drawn to the way they fix their hair, or their accent when they talk, maybe their smile or laugh.  Humility is a characteristic that makes one attractive to God! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, help me make humility a dominant characteristic in my life. Let it be like a suit of clothes that fit me well. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  soapsbyleon.wordpress.com