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

November 6: Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3,4

Scripture: Galatians 3:24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.
25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

Observation: God gave the law to teach us the evilness of sin and provide sacrifices that would be accepted as token payments. They were acceptable because they looked forward, in faith, to the death of Jesus on the cross. His death, and only His death, has the value to cover the price of sin.

Application: The more I understand the Bible, the more I appreciate God’s plan in dealing with man through history. I believe God created man to have a unique opportunity to express the depths of his love. His love even reaches to cover man’s sin by giving His only begotten Son as a sacrifice. His love reaches me!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are amazing! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 5: Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

Scripture: Galatians 2:1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.

Observation: Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem was after three years (note: Galatians 1:18), and now fourteen years later he makes a second visit. Unless we take time to notice the specifics, we might get the idea that Paul was converted in one chapter and then just a short time later was preaching in Antioch and then moving into his missionary journeys. Here we read of 14 years between events.

Application: God often takes His time. He is not in a hurry. It is important for me to have both faith and patience. I need faith that God does indeed have a plan that is worth waiting for. And I need patience to wait for His timing. If I let Him do His work in me I will be ready when His timing is perfect.

Prayer: Lord, I trust your plan and timing. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 4: Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

Scripture: Mark 15:39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Observation: People watched how Jesus lived, how he taught, how he performed miracles, and finally, how he died. The centurion had probably watched many men die, but this one was different.

Application: Today people are watching how Jesus lives in me. May what they see convince them that Jesus is indeed the Son of God!

Prayer: Lord, when people see how you live in me, may they be convinced that you are God and more than worthy of any sacrifice I may make. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 3: Job 25; Mark 13-14

Scripture: Mark 14:70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."
71 He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don’t know this man you’re talking about."

Observation: It was probably his accent and/or clothing that indicated that Peter was from Galilee and someone who knew Jesus. When they would not accept his word that he did not know Jesus, Peter began to curse and swear. He was hoping his words would break any identity with Jesus.

Application: My words can identify me as a follower of Jesus or not a follower of Jesus. I need to be careful how I speak. My words can carry the patience of Jesus or the impatience of Leon.

Prayer: Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Psalm 141:3) Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 2: Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

Scripture: Mark 12:41 ¶ Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.
42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Observation: Jesus not only paid attention to who was giving, but also to how much they gave! Jesus did not say that the rich were giving little, but that they were giving from their wealth. However the widow out-gave them all, for from her poverty she gave everything she had!

Application: My giving is important to God. He watches what I do with the money He has entrusted to me. How I use my money is one way I demonstrate my love for Him!

Prayer: Lord, I know you watch me give; may it bring joy to your heart! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 1: Psalm 121; Mark 9-10

Scripture: Mark 9:37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Observation: I can look at ministry to children as though I must be bringing Jesus to them. I think that when they accept me, they are accepting Jesus. But that is not what this verse says. It is not when they welcome me, they welcome Jesus. It is when I welcome them, I welcome Jesus!

Application: I need to encourage people who minister to children to begin to expect Jesus to reveal Himself to them in special ways. They need to expect to see and hear Jesus talking to them through the children they have welcomed into their lives. What I do to children, Jesus takes personally. And what I do to Jesus, the Father takes personally! Sometimes I act as though my ministry to children is a blessing to the children. It is really a blessing to me!!!

Prayer: Lord, help me not to forget this truth. I expect to find you working in my life in special ways because I minister to children. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 31: Job 22; Mark 7-8

Scripture: Mark 8:31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Observation: Peter heard the struggle but not the victory. Jesus did not deserve such treatment. Peter loved Jesus and did not want to see anything bad happening to him. Jesus recognized Satan’s influence in stirring Peter’s emotions. I would have expected Jesus to say, “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of Satan.” But He said, “the things of man.” Satan was getting Peter to think man-centered thoughts rather than God-centered thoughts.

Application: Satan loves to get me to focus on the struggle rather than the victory. He tries to get me to think man-centered thoughts especially when the God-centered thoughts may include going through hard times. I need to pay attention to everything Jesus says. Words are important especially when they are HIS words!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to carefully listen and to give attention to your every word. Help my thoughts to be God-centered rather than man-centered. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 30: Job 21; Mark 5-6

Scripture: Mark 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place
33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Observation: Jesus knew his disciples. He knew they were tired. He invited them to come WITH HIM in a boat. When they arrived at their destination, a crowd was already gathered and Jesus began ministering to them. Later in the day, these tired disciples helped Jesus feed 5,000 men plus the women and children! Where did they get the strength? They got it from being WITH HIM!

Application: At times I too experience the weariness of being busy serving the Lord. But God provides renewed strength and joy to sustain me in my weariness. It is found in HIS Presence! It is found in the knowledge that I can be useful to HIM! It is found in being in the boat with HIM on the way and then ministering with HIM when He and I arrive. The key is not to run ahead, nor to lag behind, but to go WITH HIM!

Prayer: Lord, it is in Your Presence that my strength is renewed and I am refreshed to continue when I am weary. Thank you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 29: Job 20; Mark 3-4

Scripture: Mark 4: 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?"
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Observation: When in a boat in a storm, it is good to have the “Storm Calmer” in the boat. Suddenly the disciples became aware that One with them in the boat had power over the wind and waves!

Application: This same Jesus has forgiven my sins and lives in me. He is not just in my boat, He is in my life!!! The “Wind and Wave Calmer” lives in me!

Prayer: Lord, I am blest to have you living in me. It is my joy to share this life with you! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 28: Job 19; Mark 1-2

Scripture: Mark 2:27 Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

Observation: God did not create man so there would be someone to honor the Sabbath. He made the Sabbath so man would have a weekly day of rest. It is so important that Jesus is specifically set as the Lord of the Sabbath!

Application: I have a tendency to push against rules and regulations. I do not like someone telling me what to do. I often forget that God’s laws were designed for my good. God gave me the 10 commandments to serve me, not to control me. God wants me to be free to serve him out of love. It is when I ignore his laws that I come under bondage. I am thinking that I cannot truly honor Jesus as Lord without setting a proper time to rest this body he created.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for re-emphasizing the importance of rest to me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!