Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 27, 2022: SOAP #4438:  Exodus 17-20; Acts 3

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 3:4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

OBSERVATION: For the past 12 years of writing SOAPs, I have read this passage twice each year.  God often causes me to pause and consider these verses for my own life.  There are 11 SOAP devotions attached to this passage (Acts 3:1-11). 

APPLICATION:  Surely God wants Leon to value what God has given him.  What I have to give to others is much better than silver or gold.  God has given me a good practical understanding of His word.  He has given me His Holy Spirit to speak to my heart as I read the word.  He reveals the passages He wants me to focus on.  He gives me fresh revelation.  He makes the word new every day!  He gives me a simple thought from the scriptures to share each day. 

There are many important subjects in the Bible.  I cannot say I excel in any one of them.  But I love to sing, “Lord, there’s just one thing; one thing I ask of Thee; Cause me to excel; Excel in loving Thee.  There’s nothing in this world; That I would rather be; Than by Thy grace just one; Who excels in loving Thee.”

PRAYER:  Lord, I have just started my 13^th year of writing the SOAPs; tomorrow I start my 74th year of life.  Walk with me; talk with me.  I want to know you; I want to make you known. May this year bring you pleasure.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 26, 2022: SOAP #4437:  Exodus 14-16; Acts 2

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus (NIV) 16:35 The Israelites ate manna for forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.

OBSERVATION: God had led the Israelites out of Egypt into the wilderness to be crossed on their way to the Promised Land.  God delivered them from Egypt, God was leading them to the Promised Land, and God would provide their food and water. 

The manna that God provided came with a few specific instructions:  First, only take what your family needs for that day.  Those who felt they could not trust God to keep His word, gathered extra that they put aside for the next day.  But the extra in the morning smelled and had maggots!  Second:  on the sixth day, they were to take enough for two days because there would be no manna on the sabbath day.  Sure enough, some people who had learned their lesson about taking too much on the first day, went out looking for manna on day seven!  There was none.  The real lesson was not about how much manna to take but learning to be obedient!  

For forty years God was faithful!  When the Israelites were faithful, God faithfully provided manna.  When the Israelites were unfaithful, God faithfully provided manna.  God’s faithfulness is based on God’s character and on His promises. 

APPLICATION:  The promise of provision was not made to them individually, but to them as a nation.  There was no promise of provision to those who left on their own to make their own way to the Promised Land, or to return to Egypt!  God’s faithfulness provides for me in the place God has assigned me. 

When my faithfulness aligns under God’s faithfulness, I find blessing and provision.  I must be obedient to go where God leads me, AND I must be content to stay where God has placed me. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, your faithfulness to me is great.  I rejoice in your faithfulness to me.  It is my pleasure to follow you.  May I give you reason to rejoice in my faithfulness to you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 25, 2022: SOAP #4436:  Exodus 12-13; Psalm 21; Acts 1

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 1:21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23 So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so, he was added to the eleven apostles.

OBSERVATION: The disciples were waiting in Jerusalem as Jesus had commanded them to do.   With Judas suicide, there were only eleven.  So, it was suggested that they choose someone to takes Judas’ place.  They “proposed” two men who had been with Jesus from the time He was baptized by John until the time Jesus ascended into heaven.  They “cast lots.”  It was a way of making a decision in which they would have no conscience choice.  They could not knowingly affect the outcome.  God would control the final decision. 

APPLICATION:  This passage applies to Leon in the times I need to make a decision with key parts totally out of my control.  It is like the vote of a congregation for me to serve as their pastor.  It can be like prayerfully applying for a position for which the final decision will be made by some committee. 

In times when things are out of my control, I do the best I can then leave the results in His hands.  I have made Jesus the Lord of my life; I can trust Him to work out the details that are beyond my control.  I am learning to rest in His will.  I do not need to “twist arms” to get other people to go along with my will.  It is for God to get them to go along with His will!  

PRAYER:  Lord, I trust you to lead and guide me.  I trust you to take care of the issues that are out of my control. I know you can work them out for my good and your glory.   The best wisdom for me is to trust you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 24, 2022: SOAP #4435:  Exodus 9-11; Luke 24

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus (NIV) 9:13 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me, 14 or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no-one like me in all the earth.
15 For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. 16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

OBSERVATION: God was working to get the Israelites released from Egypt without any effort on their part.  Later, on their way to the Promised Land and then inside the Promised Land, Israel would fight.  But their deliverance from Egypt was God’s work. 

Bringing Israel out of Egypt was God’s primary goal, but not the only goal.  God was leaving a testimony for the Israelites to remember later.  God was demonstrating His power to Pharoah, and to Egypt.  And God wanted His name “proclaimed in all the earth.”

Our salvation is God’s work.  Jesus paid the price for our deliverance from sin.  We accept His forgiveness by faith.  But once we are securely in His Kingdom, we will have opportunity to bring glory to God by participating with Him.  Salvation is His work (John 3:16).  The emphasis is on what we get.  Being filled with the Holy Spirit is to make us His witnesses (Acts 1:8). The emphasis is on what He gets!

APPLICATION:  Too often I have been only selfishly concerned about how things affected me.  I did not take time to consider how those around me could be influenced.  I did not take time to consider things from God’s point of view. 

PRAYER:  Lord, forgive me for thinking that this world centers around me. May my response to my troubles, and my response to your intervention on my behalf bring you much glory.  May people see you at work in my life and may they hear my testimony. Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 23, 2022: SOAP #4434:  Exodus 6-8; Luke 23

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 23:50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no-one had yet been laid.

OBSERVATION: Even though Jesus had told them several times that He would be killed, yet no had thought to prepare a place for His body. 

Even though it seemed evil was winning the day, God was still in control.  God had Simon available to carry the cross.  He had Joseph’s tomb ready for the burial. 

God’s perfect will was being accomplished; God had all the details covered. 

APPLICATION:  When I have a lack in what I am doing, I should take my needs to the Lord.  He has so many ways to provide what is needed! 

If He does not provide, I should prayerfully determine if I am really doing His will, or my will?  Once I am sure I am doing His will, I need to move ahead with what I have.  I may not have all the finances to do what I would like to do, but I must start with what is available.  When God sees my faithful obedience, He will increase resources to do more.  He may be pleased with the little I am doing and bless it to be even more fruitful.

I must be careful not to put pressure on people to provide what God has promised.  God is not depending on my power of persuasion to fund His ministries.  Many times God will use His people to provide, but it is much better when the pressure comes from God and not me!

Should God not increase my resources; the important thing is for me to be faithful.  As I remember singing, “Little is much if God is in it!”

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I pray you find me faithful.  I know I can trust you to provide what I need to do your will.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 22, 2022: SOAP #4433:  Exodus 3-5; Luke 22

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus (NIV) 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

OBSERVATION: Before the days of mechanical warnings, the phrase, “Stop. Look. Listen.” was a slogan used to help people who knew little English to stay alert while crossing railroad tracks.

How many times did Moses look at this bush before he realized that this was not a mirage?  How long was it burning before Moses went to see?  It was not until Moses went out of his way to see that he heard God speaking.

APPLICATION:  In the world in which I live, I can get so busy that I do not have time to stop and look at a burning bush.  I can drive by so fast that I do not even give it a second glance. I can miss a blessing God has for me or I can miss passing along a blessing from the Lord to someone else. 

There are verses in the Bible that can be like the burning bush.  I need to take a second look.  I need to Stop, Look, and Listen.  I need to stop my activities, look again at the Word, and listen to what God is saying to Leon.

PRAYER:  Lord, slow me down.  Draw me away from the business of life.  As I stop to look into your Word, I want to hear what you are saying to me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 20, 2022: SOAP #4431:  Exodus 1-2; Psalm 88; Luke 21

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 21:37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
Luke (NIV) 19:47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.

OBSERVATION: As I was reading Luke 21 today, I recalled that I had recently written a SOAP on a verse very similar to verse 37.  (Note above.)  This truth is noted twice in these important days just before His crucifixion.  Repetition is a way of noting importance.  It was important that Jesus taught.  It was important that people hear. 

The fact that He was faithful to teach at the temple shows that it was easy for people to find Him.  He was not hiding.  Jesus was available; He was findable. 

APPLICATION:  Jesus is still available; He is still findable.  I have found that Jesus still has a daily ministry.  I must allow the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus through His word.  God wants His word to be a daily part of my life.  The same Jesus that taught at the temple meets with me in the pages/verses of the Bible.  The Holy Spirit guides my thoughts as I meditate on the scriptures. 

PRAYER:  Lord, you still have a daily ministry to me.  Holy Spirit, you daily open the scriptures to me to reveal Jesus and His will for my life.  I am blessed!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 20, 2022: SOAP #4431:  Genesis 49-50; Psalm 8; Luke 20

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 8:1 A psalm of David. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. … 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

OBSERVATION: In the heavens we see the glory of God.  We can see His majesty, His vastness, His omnipresence, His justice, His greatness, His artistry, His exactness, His command of using fire and water and matter and space.  His variety in using the elements.  He is amazing!  

BUT where do we see God’s love, His mercy, His grace.  God is just as Loving as He is Holy.  Love is just as important to God as Holiness.  The heavens are full of expressions of God’s holiness.  Where do we see God’s love? 

And that is why God is so mindful of man.  In God’s dealing with man, we see the full expression of God’s love!  God’s love expressed in holy forgiveness.  Being loving did not mean that He would stop being holy.  A perfectly holy sacrifice would need to be made that would cover the offence of man’s sin.  So, God Himself makes the sacrifice!!! 

APPLICATION:  How grateful I am that what God did for man, He did for me!  How could I resist His loving offer of forgiveness?  Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is the payment for my sin.  His loving and holy presence is living in me.  He is working to develop His character in me.  As people can see the expressions of God’s greatness and holiness in the heavens, I want people to be able to see expressions of God’s love in me.

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, having experienced your loving forgiveness, I make you the LORD of my life.  May your life in me be seen by those around me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 19, 2022: SOAP #4430:  Genesis 47-48; Psalm 10; Luke 19

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 19:47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.

OBSERVATION: It was just a few days before Jesus was to be crucified.  But Jesus was not out taking it easy and preparing himself for the days ahead.  “Every day he was teaching … ”   I believe it was the way of Jesus preparing His disciples for the hard days ahead.  The day of the crucifixion would be hard on the disciples.  While He would be away, He left them with His words, with His teachings.  He did not take a day off from teaching. 

If it was important for Jesus to do this “every day” then it is important for His followers to be listening to Him “every day.”

APPLICATION:  When I am facing hard days, I need to spend time sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words.  However, I often do not know when I will be facing hard times, so I need to spend time hearing His words every day! 

Twelve years ago when I started writing SOAPs, I foolishly wondered if God would give me something every day!  I have discovered that the question is not, will God speak to me every day?  The question is, will I listen every day?” 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I like to sing “And He walks with me, and He talks with me; and He tells me I am His own.”  I remember when you told me that you like to sing that song also.  You sing it about me.  You love it when I walk with You and talk with You and tell You “You are my one and only God!”  What an honor, that You speak to me!   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 18, 2022: SOAP #4429:  Genesis 44-46; Luke 18

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 45:4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be ploughing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God…

OBSERVATION: Joseph’s brothers saw Joseph as the one they sold into slavery.  They remembered Joseph as the victim of their evil intentions.  Joseph did not see himself as a victim.  Joseph saw himself from God’s perspective.  God had sent him to Egypt!  He was in Egypt on a mission.  There was a reason.  He was there on purpose! 

Joseph’s family would need a place of provision; the people of Egypt would need a plan for provision.  Joseph was God’s instrument in meeting these needs. 

APPLICATION:  I am God’s child.  He has me where He wants me.  He has used good things and the bad things to move me to the locations where I can best serve Him.  (Romans 8:28)

I serve my family best as God’s servant; I serve the people around me best as God’s servant.  (…including the SOAP readers.)

Note:  We serve our families best as God’s servant; we serve the people around us best as God’s servant.   

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I am yours.  You have used the good and bad in my life to position me for usefulness.  It is my joy to serve you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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