SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 20:1 NIV Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!"

Observation: Mary looked at the facts and jumped to the most logical conclusion. The stone was rolled away. Someone had broken in and taken the body of Jesus. What she saw spoke so loud that she did not remember what Jesus had said about rising from the dead. What caused Mary great concern should have caused her great rejoicing! Jesus was ALIVE!

Application: Considering evidence without considering what God has said leads to wrong conclusions and often brings me unnecessary alarm and concern.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, remind me of what is written in the Bible; remind me of what the Lord has spoken to me in the past; and remind me to stop, look AND LISTEN to what you may be saying now! Amen.

August 18: Jeremiah 26, 35-36; John 20

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 19:6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."
7 The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,
9 and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.

Observation: It is interesting to note Pilate’s reaction to hearing that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. Pilate himself had declared that Jesus was a "man" after Jesus had endured the whipping. (Note: verse 5) Jesus was obviously a man’s man! He had endured victoriously! He had an inner strength that amazed Pilate. Could Jesus have been even more than a "man"? Pilate was concerned. Jesus endured even more than Pilate understood, for in carrying the load of sins the eternal relationship he shared with the Father was broken. From the cross he cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.”

Application: The one who endured such suffering rose from the dead and now lives in me! He knows what it is to hurt. He knows how to be graceful and forgiving while suffering. He knows how to comfort me in trouble and rejoice with me in victory!

Prayer: Lord, there is no one in all creation I would rather have with me than you! May my words and actions show how much I value you! Amen.

August 17: Jeremiah 23-25; John 19

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 18:25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not."
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?"
27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a cock began to crow.

Observation: Jesus had warned that Peter would deny him three times before the cock would begin to crow, but Peter would have none of that. He loved Jesus too much! Now Jesus was on trial and Peter was interested enough to want to find out what was happening, but was afraid enough to deny that he was one of Jesus disciples. In the moment of denial among strangers, Peter was not thinking that someone would be present who would recognize him. But there was!

Application: I never know who is watching. Of course, Jesus is always watching. But many times others are watching too. At home, or while driving the bus, impressionable children are always watching to see how I will respond.

Prayer: Lord, I want those watching to see you living in and through me. Amen.

August 16: 2Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked towards heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

Observation: Jesus was praying that the Father would make Jesus look good. Although we may take it as a very selfish prayer, there are two things we should consider. FIRST is that Jesus continued his prayer stating that his motive was to make the Father look good. He wanted to look good so that He could make the Father look good. SECOND is the way he would be glorified. He would be hung to die on a Roman cross to pay for sins he did not commit and to demonstrate to the world the love of God in paying for man’s sins.

What a Father! What a Father he must be that a pure sinless son would be willing to suffer and sacrifice his life in order to restore the relationship between sinful man and Father God!

Application: When I ask for God to help me succeed, I am often asking so that I may look good in my own eyes or in the eyes of someone I am trying to impress. But the motive behind Jesus prayer was that He would be able to make the Father look good. That should be my motive also.

Prayer: Lord, I want people to see what a wonderful God you are and what a privilege it is to serve you! Amen.

August 15: Jeremiah 18-20; Psalm 93; John 17

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 16:32 NIV But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

Observation: Jesus is speaking to his disciples. He understood that his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death would cause his disciples to scatter to their homes. He would be left “all alone.” He would be all alone—by himself—from a human aspect, but in reality, he would not be alone. His Father was with him.

Application: There are times when I am by myself, but I too am never alone. The Holy Spirit sent by God to be our comforter is always with me! And as the Father was with Jesus, so Jesus and the Father are with the Holy Spirit in me! —Would it hurt God if I talked about being alone or having to do something by myself? Would he say, “Hey, Leon, who am I? Don’t I count? You pray for my presence, but when it is just the two of us, you talk and act like I am not there!”

Prayer: Lord, don’t ever leave me alone! And Holy Spirit, nudge me if I ever start to complain about being alone or needing to do something by myself. Amen.

August 14: Jeremiah 16-17; Psalm 96; John 16

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Observation: What an amazing promise is given in verse seven. It is not a blank promise that anyone can claim, but one given to those who remain in close relationship with Jesus and keep his words in their heart. Verse sixteen indicates when we can expect the fulfillment of that promise. It is when our lives have become fruitful.

Application: From these two verses and their context it is easy to see that fruitfulness is of great importance to our Heavenly Father. Fruitfulness is the natural result of the life of the vine flowing into the branch. Unlike the vine and branch which has no mind and makes no choice in the matter, this passage gives me the responsibility of remaining. I must choose to remain. The lesson is from the vine and branch, but the application is that I must choose to live in constant contact and dependence on God.

Prayer: Lord, may the fruit of my life bring refreshment to others and glory to you. Amen.

August 13: Jeremiah 13-15; John 15

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Observation: Jesus tells me not to allow my heart to be troubled. But how can I keep my heart from being troubled? How can I maintain peace? Jesus is giving me a key in keeping my mind at peace. It is to trust God and also to trust Him. He then tells us where He is going, what He is going to do, and gives a promise to return and take us to share what He will have made for us.

Application: I see that the key to a peaceful, un-troubled heart is a trusting, disciplined mind. Leon has an eye (even two of them). They are very important to him, but Leon is not a pair of eyes. He can choose what at what he looks. Leon has a mind. It is very important to him, but the Bible shows that Leon is not a mind. Leon has a mind and Leon can choose his thoughts. Leon must be careful how he uses his eyes and his mind. Trusting Jesus is remembering what He said then thinking, talking, and acting like it is true.

Prayer: Lord, I trust you. Amen.

August 12: Jeremiah 10-12; John 14

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 13:20 NIV I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."

Observation: During my last year in the US Navy I served on a Commodore’s staff. He took it personally how we were received when sent to one of his ships to inspect the medical department. Several times I remember Commanding Officers serving us coffee, not because they saw us as the enlisted men we were, but because they saw us as the Commodore who had sent us. Once when refused permission to board the ship, we politely left and reported back to the Commodore. Soon we had a call from the ship’s Commanding Officer to see if we would be available to help. What a change.

Here Jesus was speaking to his disciples. Since the disciples were sent by Jesus he would consider whatever response they encountered as coming to him. And as Jesus was sent by the Father, the Father would consider whatever response Jesus encountered as personal.

Application: Knowing that I am sent from God sets three foundational principles for my life. First: My main concern is to do His will. That is the reason I am here. Second: When I do His will, I should not take the reaction of others as personal. They are responding to what He gave me to do so I leave that up to Him. Third: I can trust him to provide everything needed to carry out His assignment.

Prayer: Lord, may the joy of being useful overcome any hurt of being used. Amen.

August 11: Jeremiah 7-9; John 13

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.

Observation: They had reason to celebrate! Jesus was in the house. Jesus was their friend. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead.

Application: Jesus is always welcome in my home. It is always right to celebrate His presence! He did more for me than He had done for Lazarus. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, but He died for Leon!!! He has forgiven my sins!!! Everyday should be “celebrate JESUS day” at Leon’s house!

Prayer: Lord, how can I say thanks for all you have done for me! Amen.

August 10: Jeremiah 5-6; John 12

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 11:3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it."
5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

Observation: The sisters, Mary and Martha, recognize that Jesus loved Lazarus. Verse 5 says Jesus loved them too. Yet Jesus did not do what would be expected of someone who loved. Jesus did not just drop everything and come running. He even delayed his journey. The sisters were disappointed in Jesus timing. If only he had arrived sooner Jesus could have healed Lazarus before he died. In the end, they were clearly not disappointed as their brother was raised from the dead. What they saw as the end was not really the end!

Application: Just because Jesus does not help me when I think He should, does not mean that He does not love me. I can trust Him that He is working for my good and His glory! He can even work after my deadline! It is not over until He says it is over!

Prayer: Lord, how special to know you love me and you are not limited by my deadlines! Amen.

August 9: Jeremiah 3-4; John 11

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!