Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 27, 2024: SOAP #5228: Judges 1-3; 1Corinthians 12

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 12:27   Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

OBSERVATION: In this chapter Paul is teaching us about the body of Christ. He is using our physical bodies to teach us about HIS body. Our bodies have many members (hands, feet, ears, etc.) but we have only one body. That is the way it is with Christ. Even though there is  only one body, there are  many members/parts. Paul teaches us that our differences are very important, but we are unified in one body.

Just as each member of a physical body is uniquely different from all other members, so in the body of Christ, a person’s uniqueness makes them useful to the whole body.   None of us are the same.

APPLICATION:  What makes each of us a part of the body of Christ? It is the life of Christ. It is as simple as this: if His life is in us, we are part of His body; if we do not have His life, we are not a part of His body.

Jesus said that we must be born again.  (John 3:7)   We were given physical life from our mother; we receive spiritual life from Jesus.  Having His life within us makes a difference in how we live and see life.  If you have never been born again, or if you are not sure about it, pray with me…

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, I confess my sins to you.  I ask You, as my Savior, to forgive my sins. Come live in my heart as my Lord. I want to be born anew with Your Life living in me. Make me a part of Your Body. Amen
Lord, I pray,, give your assurance to each one who prayed in faith.  According to 1John 1:9 you forgave their sins and cleansed them from all unrighteousness.  Make your life within them noticeable and enjoyable!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 26, 2024: SOAP #5227: Joshua 23-24; Psalm 44; 1Corinthians 11

(reworked from 2018)

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

OBSERVATION: Paul’s opening remark as he starts to write about communion is full of meaning for us: “I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you.” 
Of all the things we can pass on to others…our children, our friends, our congregation…none are so valuable as what we have received from the Lord!

APPLICATION:  This is my goal as I write these SOAP devotions every evening.  I listen to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to me.  These SOAPs are fresh.  They are what the Lord is speaking to me … is drawing my attention to … is sparking an interest in my heart … is using to open a new thought in my mind.  They may not be for everyone, but they are for me.

These devotions are not the result of a scholarly study of the scriptures, but the result of open ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to Leon.  I use my knowledge of the character of God and of the Bible to judge if the thoughts agree.  Sometimes He stirs my curiosity to study a word or a passage to see what others have written.  He may remind me of a sermon I once preached or a SOAP I wrote.  He takes something from the past, like a verse from the Bible, and applies it to my life today.

If the SOAPs are a blessing to others, it is only to God’s glory.  If they contain words of wisdom, they came from God, so He gets the credit.  If they contain words of encouragement, receive them as from the Lord.

My prayer is that these SOAPs will spark and interest in your heart to write your own SOAP.  Write down what God is speaking to you.

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me faithfully pass along what you give me.  Help each parent to pass along to their children what they receive from you.    Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 25, 2024: SOAP #5226: Joshua 21-22; Psalm 47; 1Corinthians 10

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 10:12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

OBSERVATION: What an amazing three-fold promise.  First:  I have not been singled out to be tempted differently than other people.  There are people who understand because they have been through the same thing.  There will be some good examples of overcoming the temptation.  The best example is Jesus!  He shows me how to overcome! 

Second:  The One who knows me best will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I can bear.  That is His promise!   No one needed to convince Him to make that promise.  It was His decision to make that promise!  

Third:  The One who knows me best will provide a way to escape the temptation.  He knows my weaknesses. 

APPLICATION:  Knowing the above is true, when I am tempted, I need to look for God’s escape route.  I need to take it as soon as possible.  It is a mistake to think that I am strong enough to resist the temptation a little longer.  It is a mistake to think that there will be another escape route.  It is a mistake to allow the temptation to become so alluring that I ignore God’s escape route.   Staying in a place of temptation gets me to a place where I am caught, and my thoughts entertain the temptation, and my will becomes entangled in the sin.  I need to take God’s escape route as soon as possible! 

PRAYER:  Lord, you knew I would need a verse like this to guide me through times of temptation.  Thank you for your promise…and thank you for your presence!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 24, 2024: SOAP #5225: Joshua 18-20; 1Corinthians 9 (rewritten from 2011)

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.

OBSERVATION: Paul had just made note of some of the sacrifices he had made in preaching the gospel.  He compared them to the runners preparing for a race.  The runners considered it worth the pain of enduring the strict training as they look forward to the prize of winning the race.   Yet their prize was only a garland of leaves that would soon fade.  Paul was running for an eternal reward, “a crown that will last forever.”

APPLICATION:  The prize is worth enduring discouraging situations, disappointments, and any suffering!   Paul thought so; Jesus thought so; my dad thought so, and so do I.   I remember my dad singing: “It will be worth it all; when we see Jesus.  Life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ.  One glimpse of His dear face; all sorrow will erase; so bravely run the race; till we see Christ!”

PRAYER:  Lord, the course set out for me to run has been different from the course for others.  May I faithfully run the race set out before me in a way that will continue to bless others still running when my race is over.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 23, 2024: SOAP #5224: Joshua 15-17; 1Corinthians 8

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 8:9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling-block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

OBSERVATION: The issue in the above passage is eating meet offered to idols.  I have freedom to eat that meat because I am convinced that the idol is only wood or stone.  But in exercising my freedom I may offend a brother who has not reached that level of understanding and still believes the idol has some power. 

God says that offending them is sinning against Christ.  I must remember that the price paid for me is the very same price paid for every other believer.  They have the same value as I have.  God loves them as much as he loves me!

APPLICATION:  The issue is greater than eating meat offered to idols…the issue is unnecessarily offending a brother or sister.  When I offend them, I am “sinning against Christ” He is the head of the body that includes me AND those I have offended!  

I could list numerous things that might be considered offensive to someone…but the key is being led by the Holy Spirit.  As I walk in close relationship with the Holy Spirit, He will put a check, or a hesitancy, or a block in my spirit not to do or say something.  Only He knows what is offensive to the other in whom He also lives.  If my relationship with the Holy Spirit is active, and he says nothing, I can move ahead in my freedom.  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, stay present and active in my life.  May your presence be a key part of my life because I daily need your input.  I trust you to keep me living a life that does not unnecessarily offend others, a life that honors Jesus. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 22, 2024: SOAP #5223: Joshua 12-14; 1Corinthians 7

SCRIPTURE:  Joshua (NIV) 14:7. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people sink. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9, So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children for ever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.’…
14, So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

OBSERVATION: Caleb had previously been in the promised land as one of the 12 spies sent in by Moses.  Ten of the spies brought back a message that caused fear in the hearts of the Israelites.  Joshua and Caleb spoke of God’s promises.  Moses made a promise to Caleb that he would inherit the land where the spies had traveled.  Now, after 40 years of wondering in the wilderness until that generation died, God had brought them in and had given them victory.  The land was being divided; Caleb takes the promise and his testimony to Joshua.

APPLICATION:  Testimonies abound of people who were trapped in terrible sin and now set free by the power of God.  Their testimonies are thrilling, even exciting.  As a young person, I remember thinking; my testimony is not very interesting.  I am thankful I discovered Caleb and his testimony.  Faithfulness is one of God’s most dominant characteristics.  And He loves to see it in us.  He greatly rewards faithfulness. 

PRAYER:  Lord, is it worthwhile to serve you with a whole life?  Caleb and I can both say, “YES!”  The major decisions in my life have been determined by Your will.  You have been faithful to forgive me the many times I have sinned.  More than once You forgave me and restored me.  Lord, use this SOAP to encourage a young person.  Strengthen their resolve to follow you with their whole life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 21, 2024: SOAP #5222: Joshua 9-11; 1Corinthians 6

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 10:5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;
1Corinthians (NIV) 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

OBSERVATION: When it was time for God’s sacrifice for sin, He sent His only begotten Son as a man.  He walked in flesh and blood.  He was just as much human as was, and is, everyone for whom He died. 

He who became human still walks and works among people as a human.  By His Spirit, He clothes Himself in people.  He takes up residence in people.  He flows through people.  

APPLICATION:  I am the temple in which He lives.   I am His permanent residence!   He is always present!  I do not need to pray for Him to enter a hospital room, or a troubled household.  If I am there, He is there!  

He is always available to tell me how to react, or what I should do.  He is always available to give me warning when there is trouble ahead.  He empowers me and brings the Word to my memory.

PRAYER:  Lord, with your death on the cross, you bought me to be yours.  Your Holy Spirit now dwells in me as your temple.  He leads me and guides me to be a continuation of your life and ministry.  May my life bring you glory as I follow the Holy Spirit’s lead.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 20, 2024: SOAP #5221: Joshua 7-8; Psalm 69; 1Corinthians 5

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm 69:13  But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.
…
16  Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.

OBSERVATION:  The Psalmist was in trouble and looking for an answer from God.  He was not approaching God based on how he deserved God’s love, but on the basis of God’s character.  He was counting on God’s goodness and love.  He was counting on God to show him favor and be merciful.  

APPLICATION:  It is humbling to realize how holy, just, and righteous God is and how unworthy I am.  I must depend on His mercy and His love for me.  He made a sacrifice so awesome that it more than covers my sins.  Not only do I need to depend on Him, He wants me to depend on Him.  I must depend on Him when I am in trouble, when I am tempted, when I am tired, when I am disappointed, when I am happy, when things are going my way and when they are not. 

God could say, “Leon, I have done enough for you already.  It is time for you to depend on yourself!”  But He says, “Depending on me for your salvation got you started and depending on me will keep you going!” 

My depending on Him gives Him opportunity to demonstrate His power, His provision, His wisdom, etc.  It also gives me an opportunity to make sure  people know who is responsible for how things worked together for my good and His glory. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I am so thankful I can count on you. You help me maintain a life of victory and restore victory to me when I fall.  To you belongs all the glory.  May others see what you have done in my life; may they give you glory; and may they have faith that you will do the same for them.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 19, 2024: SOAP #5220: Joshua 3-6; 1Corinthians 4

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 4:7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

OBSERVATION: These are good questions for people who think they are better than others.  For people who think they have arrived at their status in life by their own skills.

Who made each of us different from everyone else?  No one other than God. What do we have that we did not receive?  Nothing.  Either we received it as a gift, or we received the skills to gain what we have. So, what reason do we have for boasting?  None.

APPLICATION:  They are good questions for me!  I have every reason to walk humbly.  Humility and thanksgiving should be hallmarks of my life.  Serving others with the gifts I have received from God gives purpose to my days.  And I should make myself available to the gifts God has given to others. 

Humility is important for passing along what God has given me AND for receiving from others what God has given them.  Humility is the grace that greases the exchange.  When I am humble, people more readily receive what I have.  When I am humble, I more readily receive what they have. 

Thanksgiving is a way of honoring God for His gifts.  It honors Him as the source of the gifts.  It moves any focus from me to the ONE who deserves all honor and praise. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, it is for me to walk humbly before you and humbly within the body of Christ.  Help me dispense your gifts in a way that is easy for people to receive.  Bless others with the gifts you have placed in me.  Bless me with the gifts you have placed in others. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 18, 2024: SOAP #5219: Joshua 1-2; Psalm 37; 1Corinthians 3

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.  …  23 If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; 24 though he stumbles, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

OBSERVATION: Verse 4 presents it as our responsibility to “delight” ourselves in the Lord.  Thinking of Him brings joy to our heart and a smile to our face. 

It may take effort at times to reign in our thoughts from wherever they may wander, but it is worth the effort.  When we begin to take pleasure in God, we find that He delights in us! (verse 23 & 24)   It is His joy to meet our needs.  He smiles on us as we delight ourselves in Him, just as an earthly parent rejoices when their children take pleasure in them.

APPLICATION:  When we delight ourselves in something, or someone, it becomes noticeable by those around us.  We can see a young man noticing a young girl.  His delight in her can take many expressions.  How special it is when the young girl begins to delight in that young man!  And yet that is not nearly as special as me delighting in God and discovering that He delights in me! 

As I read the scriptures, I take note of verses that tell me how I can delight in God and how God delights in me.

PRAYER:  Lord, You and I have a good thing going, at least it is from my point of view.  I am blessed by your presence and your promises.  You keep your word and I trust you.  But, Lord, I want you to be blessed by my presence and my word.  May my presence bring you joy.  May my word be trustworthy as your word is. In Your Name I pray, Amen

Pastor Leon
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