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

April 5: Ruth 1-2; Psalm 53, 61; 2Corinthians 5

Scripture: Ruth (NIV) 2:23 So Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

Observation: Ruth, the great grandmother of King David, would become the wife of Boaz, a wealthy land owner with servants who worked his fields. My attention was drawn to her beginnings. She was a foreigner who was diligent in her work. She identified with the servants. The foreman reported to Boaz how “steadily” she worked. Boaz’s attention was drawn to Ruth’s selfless service to her mother-in-law and her attitude toward work.

Application: My “church” ministry started about age 10; I remember helping my mom clean the church. Later I remember times when I cleaned it by myself. I have learned that in God’s Kingdom, even though the job may change, we start out as servants and we continue as servants. I have learned that there are great benefits to being a servant! (Just read the short book of Ruth!) Being a servant is not something we outgrow. In their letters Paul (in Philippians and Titus), James, Peter, and Jude identified themselves as servants. Of course, it all depends on who I am serving!

Prayer: Lord, it is my privilege to be YOUR servant. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 4: Judges 19-21; 2Corinthians 4

Scripture: Judges (KJV) 3:12 …did evil in the sight of the Lord… (same phrase also in 4:1; 6:1; 10:6 and 13:1)
Judges (KJV) 17:6 …did that which was right in their own eyes… (same phrase also in the closing verse of Judges: 21:25)

Observation: As sin increased in Israel, they went from doing evil in God’s sight to doing as they pleased. It was a progression of evil. In the beginning of the book of Judges, they were aware that God was displeased, but they went ahead in sin. At the end of the book, no thought was given to what God might think about their actions.

Application: I believe we can see the same progression in America. In so many ways we have moved away from an awareness that God was displeased with the sins we were willing to tolerate. We have progressed to where the thought that something might be sinful does not even cross our mind. The freedom for an individual to do whatever pleases them is more important than thinking that God might have something to say about our choices.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, time and time again you brought judgment for sin on Israel; it would be foolish to think that you do not care about sinning America. In judging Israel you were preserving them as the future cradle nation for the birth of Jesus. Do you have future plans for our nation? Whatever your plans for our nation, I know you have plans for your people living here. Awaken our hearts, fill us with your Holy Spirit and set us on fire with a holy love for Jesus. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 3: Judges 17-18; Psalm 89; 2Corinthians 3

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 89:6 For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?
7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.
8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD and your faithfulness surrounds you.

Observation: Greater than God’s awesome creative power is his faithfulness. God’s faithfulness surrounds him. His faithfulness is noticeable from every angle. His power and might, his wisdom and knowledge are held in place by his faithfulness. His character is both loving and holy, and He is true to his character.

Application: I can trust God to be faithful in expressing his love AND his holiness. He is faithful to keep his word. He wants me to grow to be faithful in the same way.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I love to sing: “Great is Thy Faithfulness! Great is Thy Faithfulness!” May I give you reason to sing about my faithfulness. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 2: Judges 13-16; 2Corinthians 2

Scripture: 2Corinthians (MSSG) 2:10 So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don’t think I’m carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I’m joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us.
11 After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we are not oblivious to his sly ways!

Observation: Satan loves it when people do not forgive. He works to keep hurts and offences fresh in our minds. He wants us to remember things from the past like they happened yesterday. He wants us to still feel the pain. Walls are set up that keep us apart. We do not want to be close because we remember the hurt.

Application: Forgiveness does not come from forgetting, but from choosing. It is a choice to forgive. Then I must remember the offence as forgiven. Every time the devil reminds me of the offense, I remind him that Jesus has forgiven my offences against him and I have forgiven the offence against me. Before long, the devil does not want me to think about the offense because he will have to listen to what Jesus has done for me! Forgiving is a choice; forgetting is a process.

Prayer: Lord, you are The Great Forgiver! You not only want me to forgive, but you help me to do so. Thank you for your healing presence. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 1: Judges 11-12; Psalm 50; 2Corinthians 1

Scripture: 2Corinthians (NIV) 1:11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Observation: Paul was asking his readers to pray for him. He believed that their prayers would be a help in his ministry. He believed that God would hear and answer their prayers. He believed that many would give thanks for his ministry aided by their prayers.

Application: I see two applications. The first is for me to be appreciative for the people who pray for me and my ministries. The second is for me to be faithful in praying for other people and their ministries. What I sow in praying for other families and ministries, I can expect to reap as others pray for my family and ministry.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for those who pray for me. Bless them. Holy Spirit lead me in praying for others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 31: Judges 9-10; Psalm 49; 1Corinthians 16

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love.

Observation: As Paul closes his letter to the church in Corinth, he gives several short comments to encourage his readers to live lives that please the Lord. This verse is a general comment that covers the motive for all that we do.

Application: I might not consider love as a motive for some of the things I do, but I should. As God can be seen in his handiwork, out of love for him, I want him to be seen in my work. Salary, responsibility, recognition, compliments are all secondary motives. My life and work should be done in a way that demonstrates my love and honor for God.

Prayer: Lord, I want my love for you to be seen in all I do. I want other to see my love, but most of all I want you to see it. I want to bring joy to your heart. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 30: Judges 8; Psalm 42; 1Corinthians 15

Scripture: Judges (Message) 8:1 Then the Ephraimites said to Gideon, “Why did you leave us out of this, not calling us when you went to fight Midian?” They were indignant and let him know it.
2 But Gideon replied, “What have I done compared to you? Why, even the gleanings of Ephraim are superior to the vintage of Abiezer.
3 God gave you Midian’s commanders, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I done compared with you?” When they heard this, they calmed down and cooled off.

Observation: How wise was Gideon to deflect their anger by humbly playing down his accomplishments and playing up theirs.

Application: Humility and wisdom are so useful in dealing with high energy situations when emotions run high.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that the wisdom of your Holy Spirit will flow through me today. Help me to humbly walk in the way you lead. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 29: Judges 6-7; Psalm 52; 1Corinthians 14

Scripture: Judges (NIV) 7: 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!”
21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.

Observation: At the direction of the LORD, Gideon’s army was reduced in size from 32,000 down to 300. God was making sure that only He would receive the glory for the coming victory. Instead of being armed with weapon, God commanded them to carry a pitcher with a burning torch inside and a trumpet. They would not need swords; out of fear the enemy would use their own swords to kill each other. After the battle was over, there would be more swords than Gideon’s 300 men could carry.

Application: I am best prepared for battle when I listen to God and obey. He knows the battle plan and what I will need to do my part. And when the battle is over, the victory will be mine and the glory will be His!

Prayer: Lord, to hear you, to trust you, and to obey. May my hearing improve every day. May my trust increase. I set myself to obey you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 28: Judges 4-5; Psalm 39, 41; 1Corinthians 13

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 13:8 Love never fails.

Observation: What a simple statement, yet it contains within its thought all the verses preceding and following. In its simplicity, it can be seen in animals caring for their young. In its extravagance, it can be seen in the Creator dying for the sins of the man he created for fellowship.

Application: It amazes me to think that I am the focus of a love that never fails. It is unearned, undeserved, and too often unappreciated. Every day may I grow in valuing God’s love.

Prayer: Lord, oh, how you love me. I am amazed! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 27: Judges 1-3; 1Corinthians 12

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 12:11 All these [the gifts mentioned in verses 8-10] are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. …
18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

Observation: Verse 12: " … just as He determines." That God is sovereign there can be no question. Not only did He create the world according to his divine plan, he has created the church according to His divine plan. And that plan included placing the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the individual members. He who makes no mistakes has equipped each of us for success as we rely upon His provision to accomplish His will.

Observation: Verse 18: “…just as he wanted them to be.” That these parts are present in the body is obvious, but how they got there must be deduced from an outside source. Here the Bible says that the parts of the body were designed and placed by God, just as He wanted them to be. They are present at His design and pleasure!

Application: God has placed me in His body and given me gifts for His glory and for the good of the church. To let petty preferences hinder me from being useful and using the gifts God has placed in me robs God of the glory He deserves and robs the church of God’s gifts.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be useful, using the gifts you have placed in me to benefit others and glorify you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!