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

November 27: Psalm 125; Matt 26-27

Scripture: Matthew 27:2 Jesus speaks of His crucifixion
verse 12 Jesus speaks of His burial
verse 21 Jesus speaks of His betrayal
verse 31 Jesus speaks of the disciples forsaking Him
verse 32 Jesus speaks of his resurrection!

Observation: This passage of scripture all takes place before Jesus had been arrested. He was well aware what was about to happen. It would not end with His death, but with His resurrection!

Application: The Lord is well aware of what is ahead for me. He knows the hard time that may be ahead. He knows how it will end. He knows it will end in victory!

Prayer: Lord, when it seems there is no way to deal with trouble except to take it head on and go through it, help me remember that you already know how it will end. You already know the victory ahead. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 26: Matt 23-25

Scripture: Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:45 "He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Observation: The King, who I cannot see at this time, is judging His servants. He takes personally how I treat those I can see. The King, whose presence may not seem very close, takes personally how I treat those whose presence I cannot miss. Later the Apostle Paul would write, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Colossians 3:17)

Application: What I do today will count toward eternity. Everything I do today should be done exactly as I would do it for Jesus, because that is really who I am doing it for!

Prayer: Lord, you will be riding my bus today. You will be looking at me through the eyes of the children. May my words and actions bring joy to your heart. May they be the words and actions you enjoy rewarding. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Generosity

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

November 25: Matt 20-22

Scripture: Matthew 20:13 "But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?
14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you.
15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

Observation: When the landowner is generous with his money, he can be joyful in the giving. From what I observe in the USA, when the government is generous with the landowner’s money, he becomes resentful. And so often when the needy receive from the government, they come to expect it as a right owed to them rather than a generous gift for which they are grateful. Government involvement breeds resentment and expectation. Christ teaches generosity and appreciation.

Application: The Lord wants me to be generous with what I have. I can be generous with the money God has given me. I can be generous with the gospel. I can be generous in sharing the truth God reveals to me. I have been blest to be a blessing.

Prayer: Lord, show me some way today to be generous. I want to appreciate your generosity to me by being generous to others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

It is good…

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

November 24: Matt 17-19

Scripture: Matthew 17:4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."
Matthew 17:14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.
15 "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

Observation: Peter was right; it had been good for them to be there on the mountain as Moses and Elijah returned for a visit with Jesus. Peter wanted to extend the time on the mountain. He did not want this time to end. But Jesus did not come to the earth to live on a mountain. He came to live among people and pay the price for their sins by dying on a cross! It was good for them to have been there, but it would not have been good for the boy with seizures if they had stayed.

Application: When I walk with Jesus, I walk according to His purposes, not according to what pleases me. I find that when he takes me to a “mountain-top” time he also returns with me to my daily life. It is good for me to get away; it should be good for others that I return.

Prayer: Lord, you brought Sharon and me away for this week; you have been with us; and you will return home with us tomorrow. May our lives be a blessing to others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 23: Matt 14-16

Scripture: Matthew 14:15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."
16 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
17 "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.
18 "Bring them here to me," he said. …
20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Observation: Jesus told them to feed the hungry crowd. They responded, "We have only…." –they did not reckon on the presence of Jesus!!! They had enough to feed 5000 men plus the women and children. Wow! They even had more than enough! They had enough for twelve basketsful of leftovers! WOW!! The miracle could have been done with much less! One loaf, and one fish, would have been more than sufficient! Their attention had been on what they had in their hands (which was clearly insufficient), rather than on who was among them (Who was completely sufficient)!

Application: To limit my potential to what I have in my possession is foolish. His resources are far greater than what I have and far greater than what I need. Through Him I can do whatever God tells me to do.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep reminding me that I am enabled to do what I am told to do. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Friends, We do not need a special “Thanksgiving Day” to be thankful, but celebrate we should. We can be thankful for Godly people who have preceded us and set this as a special day to give thanks to God for His Presence and Provisions. We have had 365 days to prepare, so let’s give God a special day! Leon J

My Grateful Heart

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

November 22: Matt 11-13

Scripture: Matthew 12:34 …For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Observation: In the Old Testament we read that man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. In these verses Jesus tells us that our hearts are revealed by our words to such an extent that we will be judged by our words.

Application: Since my heart can be seen through my words, I need to listen to myself. I need to hear what I am saying and how I am saying it.
NOTE: In USA, today is “Thanksgiving” Day, a special national holiday. My heart is full of thanks to God my Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. I am thankful for God’s faithfulness to speak to me every day and for family and friends with whom I can share the SOAP.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I give you permission to speak to me about my heart even before I speak from my heart. May my grateful heart be easily seen through my grateful words. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 21: Matt 8-10

Scripture: Matthew 10:19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Observation: I have watched old movie scenes of radio land lines being cut in World War I, of telegraph lines being cut in the Civil War, and of breaking the communication codes in World War II. As a hospital corpsman with a Marine unit in Viet Nam, I usually stayed by the platoon lieutenant and the radio man. I learned from personal observation the importance of good communication. Good communication is understandable and up-to-date. We trusted the one sending the messages to know the big picture of the war and how we would best serve.

Application: As I am engaged in spiritual warfare, God has provided the greatest communication system ever used. It is the presence of his Holy Spirit dwelling in me 24 hours every day! Wow!! As I learn to limit distractions and focus on hearing his voice, I find his communication to be both understandable and up-to-date. Better than that, it is up to the minute, even up to the second! God has the big picture and I can trust Him to lead me to victory for His glory!

Prayer: Lord, although I seldom understand the big picture, I trust you to speak to me in ways I can understand and obey. I trust your love for me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 20: Matt 5-7

Scripture: Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Observation: I have used many lamps and candles: handmade torches in Viet Nam, candles when electricity was out in our home, and beautiful oil lamps for Christmas Eve services. Though they were very different, their purpose was the same—to give light. Each was placed where their light would have the most benefit.

Application: I should not be surprised when people invade my space to look at my life. God has purposefully placed me where His light in me can be most easily seen by someone He loves very much.

Prayer: Lord, help me remember that it is ok when people invade my privacy. When they look at me, I want them to see you! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 19: Matt 1-4

Scripture: Matthew 2:13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

Observation: Stay there until … To many times people let trouble or circumstances set their times, but Joseph was sent to a location and told to stay "until." Instead of letting God develop their character through tough times, some people move quickly to a more pleasing location.

Application: When I have been given specific directions, I should stay "until." If I went somewhere just to check it out, then I can probably leave for the same reason. But, if the Lord sent me, I need to stay until He releases me to go elsewhere!

Prayer: Lord, help me not to forget that you are working in my life with eternity in view. May I faithfully remain until… Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 18: Ps 124, 2Cor 11-13

Scripture: Psalm 124:1 If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel say—
2 if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us,
3 when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive;
4 the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters would have swept us away.
6 ¶ Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Observation: It is good to know that I am on the Lord’s side. I am for him! AND it is so good to know that He is on my side. He is for me!

Application: I am so glad that HE is on MY side and is for me. Good things would not have happened and bad things would have been so much worse! Trouble would have lasted so much longer and I would not be able to walk in faith that it would all work out for good!

Prayer: Lord, Maker of heaven and earth, I am so glad you continue to be on my side! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!