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

March 16: Deuteronomy 30-31; Psalm 40; 1Corinthians 1

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, and out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.

Observation: It is good when people can see the grace of God at work in our lives. They can see how great He is and may put their trust in him too. But this passage begins with the psalmist “waiting patiently” for the LORD. He did not run ahead, he waited. He did not give up and quit on the LORD. He waited, but how he waited was important: He waited patiently. He was already in the crisis and needed help, but his patience demonstrated that his trust was in God.

Application: Sometimes it is difficult to wait on the LORD. I want answers now. I do not see how God is developing the big picture. I need to refocus my vision on Him! I need to remember what He has done for me in the past. Waiting patiently demonstrates to others that I think my God is worth waiting for. It demonstrates that I am confident that God will give me the answer and that God’s answer will be well worth the wait!

Prayer: Lord, it is always worthwhile to wait patiently for you. Sometimes You take care of my crisis while I am waiting; sometimes you show me what to do; but You always put a song of praise in my mouth. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 15: Deuteronomy 28-29; Galatians 6

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 6:5 …each one should carry their own load.
6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

Observation: Paul encourages everyone to take care of their own needs. Employers who pay Christian employees should know that they are receiving great value for the salary they are paying. People who hire the services of a self-employed Christian should be happy to settle their bill because they recognize the good work that was performed. But it is Paul’s readers who are responsible to pay their spiritual teachers. Paul is placing the emphasis on those being taught to take care of the needs of the teacher. It is not the teacher’s responsibility to make this his business. Teachers need to be careful not to make too much of the money they receive or they will teach greed. Teachers need to be careful not to make too little of the money they receive or they will teach that laboring in the Word is not worth much!

Application: To the teacher is given the responsibility to teach about money. To the people is given the responsibility to make sure the needs of their teachers are met.

Prayer: Lord, give our church leaders both boldness and wisdom to teach about money. And may they teach by example. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 14: Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 5:11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

Observation: If Paul preached reliance on keeping the law, he would not be persecuted. But in preaching reliance on the cross of Christ, Paul is being persecuted. The cross is offensive, especially to the Jews. Offensive: because no one can take pride is how well they keep the law. Offensive: because they have to rely on someone who died like a criminal. Offensive: because it places no value on all their good works. Offensive: because it does away with 1500 years of tradition. Yes, it is offensive, but it is so glorious! It is God’s answer to a great dilemma! It answers how I, who have broken God’s holy law, could ever be accepted in His family. It answers how a holy God could ever be re-united with His sinful creation, who have all broken the laws, which are the expressions of His holy character, yet He loves them so dearly. What penalty would ever be sufficient to cover such an offence? Only what Jesus did on the cross!

Application: Like Paul says in Galatians 6:14, may my boasting, my glorying, never be in what I can do, but only in what Christ has done for me on the cross.

Prayer: Lord, may people easily recognize that I am not living in my own strength and depending on my own wisdom. I am depending on the work of Jesus on the cross and His Spirit that lives inside me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 13: Deuteronomy 22-24; Galatians 4

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Observation: What a wonderful thing Jesus did for us. His death paid our debt and his indwelling resurrected life brings us into his family as his children. It is more than a legal relationship; it is a loving relationship!

Application: Today I serve God, not as his slave, but as his son! Like the prodigal son in Luke 15, I said, “Make me like one of your hired servants.” My Heavenly Father said, “Bring the robe, the ring and the shoes. Dress him like my son!”

Prayer: Lord, Today I want to serve you as your son. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 12: Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Observation: Many scriptures speak of Christ coming to live inside me. However this verse emphasizes that I am to live inside Christ! I am to dress myself with Christ. Clothing is for the outside. It is what others can see. As I see Christ changing me on the inside, others can see Christ changing me on the outside.

Application: I often think of Pastor Sua singing: “Jesus on the inside, working on the outside; oh, what a change in my life!” Today people will be hearing and seeing my portrayal of Jesus. I want to be able to tell people, “This is what Jesus would say,” and show them, “This is how Jesus would do it.”

Prayer: Lord, help me become comfortable in your clothes. And may I wear them in a way that brings joy to your heart. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 11: Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 2:1 Then after fourteen years, I went again to Jerusalem…
2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.

Observation: I believe it is a sign of a true believer who can submit to the body of Christ believing that the Holy Spirit can speak through others in regards to their life and ministry. The flesh wants to believe that God will only reveal to me that which pertains to me. But God often uses others to bring light to ourselves, even to the most spiritual among us.

Application: Pride keeps me from listening to others. I must realize that I am only one part of the body of Christ and not the whole body. My connection to others is important in my connection to Christ. If I cannot hear God speak to me through others, I probably cannot hear God speak to me one-on-one. After all, the hand is connected to the head through the arm and shoulder. Hmmm.

Prayer: Lord, to know that you speak to me adds value to my life. It is a privilege to have you speak to me in any way you choose. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 10: Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 1:15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.

Observation: Paul is writing to the churches in the Roman province of Galatia. The verses above are a part of Paul’s testimony. Paul understood that God’s purpose in revealing the truth about Jesus to him was to enable him to carry that message to other places and peoples. God revealed truth TO Paul so that it would get THROUGH Paul to others.

Application: When God teaches/tells/shows me something in His word I should expect that there will soon be opportunity to share it with someone else. First God gets his truth to me; then He gets his truth through me. To miss the opportunity to pass along what God gives me is to miss out on blessings God has for me. God’s plan is for me to be useful.

Prayer: Lord, I want to please you today by passing on to others what you have given to me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 9: Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus body…
5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man…
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”

Observation: The ladies entered “death’s door” into the tomb. They expected to find a dead body; instead they heard the voice of an angel saying, “He’s alive!” Expecting death, they found life!

Application: When it comes to Jesus, I often find myself under-expecting. He far surpasses my expectations! And I am thinking that when I enter death’s door into heaven, I will be entering the most alive place I could ever imagine. I believe it will far surpass my expectations!!!

Prayer: Lord, I am learning to expect the unexpected from you. You commonly surpass my expectations. You often work outside of my possibilities. You are amazing! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 8: Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15

Scripture: Deuteronomy (NIV) 7:12 If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your ancestors.
13 He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers…
14 You will be blessed more than any other people…

Observation: What wonderful promises God gave to Israel—promises that went far beyond their abilities—promises that He was well able to keep. But many of His promises swing on a hinge. They swing “yes” or “no” based on the word “if.”

Application: I must be careful to claim God’s promises appropriately. If I have met the condition, then the promise of God is sure. I can then rest in confidence that he will do as He promised. If I do not meet the condition, the promise of God is just as sure, but just as sure NOT to be done.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to carefully read God’s Word and understand His promises. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 7: Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

Scripture: Deuteronomy (NIV) 5:3 It was not with our ancestors that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today.
4 The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

Observation: Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Moses in his farewell address reminds the people of Israel that they had personally seen and heard God. Every generation needs their own encounter with God. How right it is that new worship songs are continually being written by people experiencing their own encounters with God.

Application: I will always enjoy what God has done in my past. The songs of the past will continue to stir my heart. But I desire to continue rejoicing with the younger generation as we together experience God and lift our voices in praise with new expressions of worship.

Prayer: Lord, Continue to remind me of what you have said to me and done for me in the past. Use me to remind others of your personal involvement in our lives. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!