SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.

15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.

16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Observation: Like the operating system for my computer, wisdom is the operating system for my life. People who understand computers can easily recognize which operating system is running on a computer. So people who understand the above verses can easily recognize which “wisdom”/operating system is running in my life.

Application: My “operating system” (the knowledge and thinking portion of my life) is being upgraded this morning as I read the Bible” and ask the Holy Spirit to give me understanding. He is upgrading the submissive,” “full of mercy,” and “impartial,” portions of my “operating system.” These “upgrades” should be noticeable as I go through this day.

Prayer: Lord, continue to work in my life. Upgrade my thinking until I see all things as you see them and respond as you would respond. Amen.

July 19: 2Kings 18-19; 2Chronicles 28; Psalm 46; James 3

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: James 2:12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Observation: What a powerful statement: Mercy triumphs over judgment! How grateful we should be that this is true, and that the Holy God is also a loving God. In His great wisdom, the Holy God found a way to be merciful. He did not overlook the sin, but sent His sinless Son to die as payment for the sins of man! Judgment stands against those who have broken the law; however mercy has the power to make the effect of that judgment just as if they had never broken the law. Wow! The guilty who receive Jesus as Savior and Lord are declared innocent yet the cost of their sin has been totally paid!

Application: Having received such mercy, and having the Merciful One living within me, I must be merciful. If I cannot be merciful then I cannot expect mercy. Obviously I continue to need mercy, so I must be merciful.

Prayer: Lord, how grateful I am for your great mercy. May you be blest as you see your mercy flowing to others through me. Amen.

July 18: Isaiah 32-35; James 2

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: James 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
James 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

Observation: Angry speech does not make others want to do better; it often makes them respond in anger wanting to prove they are in the right. Religion that does not control the tongue is worthless.

Application: I need to join those around me in listening to how I speak. My relationship to God will be seen through my words. I should not always say the first thing that comes to mind, nor should I say everything that comes to mind. Before I let words fly out of my mouth, I need to filter them through my knowledge of God and what He has said. I need the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts before I speak.

Prayer: Lord, may your presence in my life be recognized by the words I say today. Amen.

July 17: Isaiah 29-31; James 1

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 13: 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Observation: It is good when we can back up our words by God’s words. What I say should be based on what He has said. When it is, I can speak boldly with confidence.

Application: Two important things I need to know about speaking: when to speak and what to say. The better I listen to the Holy Spirit, the better I will know when to speak. And the better I know God’s word, the better I will know what to say.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, as I read the Bible, impress truth upon my heart. And as I talk with those around me, prompt me to speak that truth boldly. Amen.

July 16: Isaiah 25-28; Hebrews 13

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 12:10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Observation: On the cross Jesus died for our sins and justified us, making us just as if we had never sinned. But having our past sins forgiven is not the same as presently living sinless. God wants holiness in both our past and our present. We can do nothing about the past, so God offers us full forgiveness based on the sacrifice of Jesus. Now God wants the holiness that is provided us by the sacrifice on the cross to become a way of life. To accomplish that, God places His Holy Spirit within us to teach us, to empower us, and as the above verses tell us, to discipline us when needed.

Application: Holiness, righteousness, and peace—that is the life the Lord desires for Leon. He knows my weaknesses and fully understands that I am incapable of living that way. He has forgiven my past. And he has given me his Holy Spirit to teach me, to empower me, AND to discipline me. There are two reasons why I should joyfully accept the discipline of God: First, I know that it is an expression of his love. Second, I know it is for my good.

Prayer: Lord, your love goes far beyond cleaning me up when I become dirty; your love helps me to live clean! Amen.

July 15: Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Observation: The most important aspect of faith is its foundation. Upon what is faith set. Weak faith on a strong foundation is much better than strong faith on a weak foundation. Strong faith placed on a weak foundation will lead to ruin. But even weak faith on a strong foundation can grow into strong faith. Strong faith on a strong foundation—what a combination!!!

Application: Finding a worthy foundation for faith is one of the great challenges of life. I have found in Jesus a strong foundation for my faith. The longer I know Him and the more I know His Word, the better I understand and trust Him as the foundation for my life. There is not a better foundation!

Prayer: Lord, like yesterday I continue to sing, “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.” (K.E.Ward) Amen.

July 14: Isaiah 19-21; Hebrews 11

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
37 For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay.
38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."

Observation: The Hebrews had been going through some hard times. They are commended for staying true and encouraged to remain true. They will be rewarded. They will receive what they were promised. Jesus will return. So now they must live (present tense) by faith. They started by faith and now they must continue to live by faith. They are to finish strong.

Application: The life I started by faith many years ago I must continue living by faith. I have different circumstances now. I have different challenges now. But my Savior has not changed. His promises have not changed. And my faith has not changed! It has only grown stronger. My physical body may weaken, but I want my faith to finish strong.

Prayer: Lord, I sing, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name!” (K.E.Ward) Amen.

July 13: Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 9: 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.
…
24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.

Observation: The portable temple Moses constructed in the wilderness was made after the pattern Moses saw when he had climbed the mountain. (Exodus 25:9,40) The temple that was built in Jerusalem was a more permanent building with the same design. In those man-made temples animal sacrifices were made. When Jesus died for our sins, He did not go into the man-made temples, but into the original temple in heaven.

Application: Jesus is present in heaven on my behalf. On earth the Son of God lived and walked as the Son of Man. Jesus was presenting our Heavenly Father to us. Now in heaven, the sinless, sacrificed, resurrected Son of God and Man presents me to my Heavenly Father. He is there right now for us. He is there FOR ME!

Prayer: Lord, the more I learn about what you have done FOR ME, the more amazed I am. Just saying, “Thank you” can never be enough. To live for you is all I can do. Amen.

July 12: Isaiah 11-14; Hebrews 9

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 8:10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
11 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

Observation: The first covenant centered around laws written on tablets of stone. We call them the Ten Commandments. Motivation was very self-centered—the reward promised if it was kept or the punishment if it was broken. Jesus’ forgiveness removes the fear of punishment and His Presence is better than the rewards. The more we know Him the more we love Him. Our motivation changes from fear and hope to love! Once we were being forced into a mold by an outside influence; but now we live to please Him because we love Him.

One may stretch an un-inflated balloon to better see the picture printed on the outside, but it is always deformed. Only when the balloon is inflated can we clearly see the design. And only with the fullness of the Holy Spirit inside can we show a clear picture of Jesus.

Application: How can I not love the One Who loved me so much that He took my penalty. If doing what is right pleases Him, then I will do what is right. It is my desire to please him—to bring a smile to His face.

Prayer: Lord, It’s my desire to please you today. Not just in the easy things, but in everything I want to please you. I want you to be glad that I am your child. Amen.

July 11: Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 7:23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office;
24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Observation: An obvious limitation of the Old Testament priest is that they would die. This is true of anyone who is considered a priest of whatever religion. Jesus ministry of making the final sacrifice ever needed for sin is complete. No other sacrifice is needed. However Jesus ministry is not complete. His ministry of intercession for those who come to God through Him continues to this very day.

Application: The payment to cover all the sins of my past is complete! Jesus paid the debt that I could not pay. And now, even as I write this SOAP, Jesus is representing me before the Father! This ministry will continue as long as He lives! Wow!!!

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for making the sacrifice to pay for my past sins. Thank you for continuing to love me, think about me, intercede for me, and be with me to help me. Amen.

July 10: Micah 5-7; Hebrews 7

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!