Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 26: Joshua 23-24; Psalm 44; 1Corinthians 11

Scripture: Joshua 24:15 But if serving the LORD seem undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD

Observation: It is so important to God that we choose to serve Him. His love can never be satisfied by a love that has no choice. Our choices prove our love for God. Through our choices, those around us can see what we think of God. How important He is, how great He is, how worthy He is, how wonderful He is—all this and more can be seen in how we choose to talk and act—in how we choose to live our lives. There are so many things in life over which I have no choice, but I always have a choice in how I respond.

Application: I want my choices in lifestyle, how I speak and how I act to clearly show those around me that I believe that Jesus loves me and gave His life for me. The result of His death was the forgiveness of my sins, but He did not die for my sins, He died for me!

Prayer: Lord, how can I say thanks for the things you have done for me, things so undeserved, yet you gave to prove your love to me. (Andrae Crouch) May my choices today show my love and high esteem for you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 25: Joshua 21-22; Psalm 47; 1Corinthians 10

Scripture: 1Corinthians 10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warning for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

Observation: These things happened TO THEM…as a warning FOR US. In the previous verses, four examples are given: idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, and grumbling. Each was punished by God and recorded so that others would learn.

Application: It is good for me to learn from the mistakes of others. Although not the only place, surely one of the best places to learn such lessons is in the Bible. The Bible does not hide the sins and mistakes of leaders. How I limit my understanding of God’s ways when I neglect reading His Word!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Bible! Thank you for not covering up the faults of the leaders. I do not have to be perfect to be used by You. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 24: Joshua 18-20; 1Corinthians 9

Scripture: 1Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

Observation: Paul boasts of his freedom, yet he uses his freedom to choose to be a servant. He sees himself as a slave; he lives as a slave.

Application: God has set me free and given me the power of choice. When I use my freedom to choose to be a servant, I bring great joy to the One Who Used His freedom to choose to serve me by dying for my sins!!!

Prayer: Lord, I am your servant, not because I have no other choice, but because I choose to be your servant in response to your great love for me and the many ways you have served me. Nothing else makes any sense! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 23: Joshua 15-17; 1Corinthians 8

Scripture: 1Corinthians 8:9 Be careful, however that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
1Corinthians 8:12 When you sin against them in this way and would their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

Observation: Paul knew that idols were really nothing spiritual, but some people saw them as having authority and influence. Paul knew that he could eat meat that had been dedicated to the idols because the idols were really nothing more than wood or stone. But if some who were still convinced that the idols really had spiritual authority saw Paul eat meat that had been dedicated to the idol, they may become offended. Paul does not berate them for their lack of faith and maturity; he loves them; he takes the limitation on himself, not eating such meat. His love for them was stronger than his privilege of exercising his own freedom! Instead of demanding His rights, Paul saw that offending a younger believer was really sinning against Christ!

Application: In dealing with the devil, I need to know my rights and exercise them! But in dealing with my brothers and sisters in Christ, I need to be willing to limit myself. There are times when demanding my rights can actually be a sign of immaturity in me. It can be an expression of selfishness, not caring how my actions affect others.

Prayer: Lord, help me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ the way you love them. May I see them as you see them! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

A Chuckle!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 22: Joshua 12-14; 1Corinthians 7

Scripture: Joshua 13:1 When Joshua had grown old, the LORD said to him, “You are now very old, and there is still very large areas of land to be taken over.”

Observation: I had to laugh when I read this verse this morning. If the LORD says you are old, you must really be old! Ha! Here is the Ancient of Days saying that Joshua is old! And the LORD just does not call Joshua “old,” but “very old!” The King James Version reads, “The LORD said unto him, ‘Thou art old and stricken in years…’” God did not say that Joshua had entered into his “senior” years, or was “elderly. Today I think He would have said, “Face it Josh, you are really old!”

Application: The Lord knows the seasons of my life! He knows my childhood, my youth, my adult life, AND my golden years, as some like to say. Joshua was old, but God still had an assignment for him. God has an assignment for me—and those who read the SOAP know what it is.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for the chuckle this morning. Help me be faithful in fulfilling my “senior” assignments. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 21: Joshua 9-11; 1Corinthians 6

Scripture: Joshua 9:18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders
19 but all the leaders answered, “We have given their our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now.

Observation: The leaders had foolishly entered into a treaty with the Gibeonites. When the Gibeonite’s deception was discovered, the leaders did not compound their sin by breaking their word. The Israelites could have made an excuse that they had been tricked, but they were not living by the standard of the Gibeonites, but by God’s standard! Years later when Saul killed some of the Gibeonites, God held Israel accountable.
What a strong warning this is for those who would come before the Lord solemnly promising to remain true "till death do us part." It is also a warning for those who enter into financial agreements. God holds us accountable for our word, even that which is given foolishly.

Application: Ed Cole taught that our word is our bond. When I give my word, people should be able to depend on me keeping my word.

Prayer: Lord, you are the perfect promise keeper ever. Make me more like you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 20: Joshua 7-8; Psalm 69; 1Corinthians 5

Scripture: Joshua 8:34 Afterward Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.

Observation: Moses was dead and Joshua had taken over the leadership of Israel. But in reality, Joshua was not the leader; God was the leader. Here Joshua does as Moses had previously commanded him; he gathered all the people of Israel and read the scriptures. A parallel today would be if the President of the United States called all the people together and read to them the Constitution with all its amendments which included the Bill of Rights.

Application: When I read the scriptures, I need to be careful not to just read what I like and to skip over the portions I do not like. I treasure God when I read His word and arrange my life to fit His plan. After all, I know what I like; He knows what I need!

Prayer: Lord, Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105) I will hide its words in my heart that I may not sin against you! (Psalm 119:11) Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 19: Joshua 3-6; 1Corinthians 4

Scripture: Joshua 5:12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

Observation: It was great when God provided the manna in the wilderness. But His intention was that they live on the manna only so long as it took them to get into the land where they could harvest and grow their own food.

New Christians are often dependent on those leading them to Christ to direct them in reading the Bible. Questions are answered by showing them the word. But a time comes when new Christians have to find some of their own answers. Answers will still be found in God’s Word, but the new Christians will have to mine them out on their own. New Christians will then find the special joy of discovery, a joy which they can experience every day for the rest of their lives!

Application: It has been my joy the past 1,201 days to look into God’s Word and find truth that applies to my own life. It is also my joy to hear that others are blest. But the greatest joy is to hear that someone has started using the same outline (SOAP) or something similar to discover what God is saying to them.

Prayer: Lord, bless the readers of these SOAPs with a desire to read the Bible daily. May the special joy of discovering that you speak to them through Your Word draw them back again and again. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 18: Joshua 1-2; Psalm 37; 1Corinthians 3

Scripture: Joshua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. THEN you will be prosperous and successful. (NIV)

Observation: Some people want God to make them prosperous and successful before they do their part. But the requirement comes before the reward!

Application: God’s Word must be a part of my daily conversation and my living. I should think about it often during the day. People who know me should know the importance of God’s Word in my life. They should know that my decisions are often determined by my understanding of God’s Word. The Bible helps me determine what is permitted and what is prohibited. Obedience to God’s Word builds my faith.

Prayer: Lord, when I am faithful to do my part, I know I can count on you to keep your word and do your part! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

March 17: Deuteronomy 32-34; 1Corinthians 2

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind; he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.
9 For the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance. (NIV)

Observation: These verses are from the farewell song of Moses. Each nation was allotted an area of the earth for their inheritance. And within Israel, each tribe was allotted their boundaries. But it seems to me something is missing. Where is the allotted area for the Lord, the Creator, the Deliverer, the Provider, the Sustainer? His allotment is His people!

Application: Along with each one in whom Christ dwells by His spirit, I am the Lord’s possession; I am His portion! As the nations lived within their boundaries, so our lives are the boundary of Christ’s territory. As I submit to his holy authority, I find he rules in love, peace and joy. As I share with others the truth of His Kingdom, He uses me to increase his portion.

Prayer: Lord, use me to increases your boundaries. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!