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

March 6: Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 13:13 …but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. “

Observation: I see two measurements for faith. First we can measure faith by what it accomplishes. We would say that it takes great faith to move mountains. Second, and maybe more importantly, faith can be measured by how long it lasts. Will it outlast the problem or the trial? It is bad when our faith is not strong enough, but it is worse when our faith is not long enough.

Application: When the trial is over, will I still have my faith? Hebrews 11 speaks of people who were still living by faith when they died. I do not want my faith to die before I do!

Prayer: Lord, use your Word that I read every day to feed my faith, making it strong enough to face every problem and long enough to outlast every trial. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 5: Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 12:29: “The most important one,” Jesus answered, “is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
31 The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

Observation: These two commandments were Jesus’ answer to the question as to which of the Ten Commandments was the greatest. In keeping these two commandments, one would be keeping the essence of all ten. My attention is drawn to the second one in verse 31.

Application: If I love my neighbor as myself, I will serve him the way I want to be served. I will not misuse him to get ahead and I will not put him down to make me look better. I will overlook his mistakes because I believe his intentions were good. I will correct him as I want others to correct me with gentleness and in private. I will not talk bad about him to others. In these ways and others I will love him as I love myself.

Prayer: Lord, guide my eyes to see the needs of my neighbor and then guide my hands to serve him. Help me love him as I love myself. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 4: Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

Scripture: Numbers (NIV) 35:34 Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.

Observation: People who claim to be Christians should treat their property with respect. First, because it was created by God. He made it and gives it to us to take care of it. We honor the Creator by treating what He created with respect. Second, because it is the home of God’s children. People who have been redeemed live there! Third, because God Himself lives there with His people.

Application: The way I care for my property can be a testimony to others of how God cares for me. It can also be a testimony to others that I do not see this property and these possessions as mine, but as His. I care for them in a way that makes Him proud.

Prayer: Lord, teach me and help me be a good steward of the property and possessions you have provided for my family. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 3: Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 10:32b Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.
33 “…They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,
34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him…
37 “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

Observation: Several times Jesus specifically told his disciples that he would be killed and three days later rise from the dead. However when the time came, they did not remember what he had said. I am thinking that they were more interested in what they wanted to say to him than listening to what He wanted to say to them.

Application: Many times I am more interested in what I want to tell the Lord than in listening to what He wants to tell me. Later I have trouble remembering what He said. I must learn the priority of listening to Him.

Prayer: Lord, to hear your voice, to carefully listen to your words, to value what I hear you say, and then in times of trouble to remember what you said. Holy Spirit help me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 2: Numbers 30-31; Mark 9

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 9:21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered.
22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Observation: The dad was desperate. His son needed more help than he was able to give. But he had heard about Jesus. Maybe Jesus could help his boy. Jesus challenged his faith.

Application: Jesus challenges my faith too. My faith is present, but sometimes I find that unbelief is also present. And sometimes when I look back on my day, I find times I made decisions based on my faith and times when I did not allow my faith to affect my decisions. Faith in God and His Word MUST be a major part of EVERY decision.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for responding to my faith. Help me overcome my unbelief. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 1: Numbers 28-29; Mark 8

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 8:27 Jesus and his disciples when on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

Observation: When I walk through my day, it is not enough to know what others think about Jesus. Most important is what I think.

Application: My faith to face the issues of my day is determined by my thoughts about Jesus. I must believe that he is with ME. I must believe that he is able to overcome MY challenges. I must believe that he is willing to help ME.

Prayer: Lord, The more I know you, the more I believe that you are both able and willing to help me. Help me keep my eyes focused on you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 28: Numbers 24-27; 1Corinthians 13

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Observation: I enjoy a good ham and cheese omelet for breakfast. If I get the ham diced and fried just right, but do not have any egg, I do not have an omelet. And if I put in the right kind and amount of cheese, but I still have no egg, I do not have an omelet. It is the egg that is the basis of an omelet.

Application: If Leon has great ability as in the verse one; and if Leon excels in spiritual gifts as in verse two; and if Leon has many good deeds as in verse three; but Leon does not have love, Leon has nothing and gains nothing. I cannot claim to have God living in me and have no love. An eggless omelet is the same as a loveless Christian.

Prayer: Lord, I am amazed at your great love. I want your love to override my love. I want your love flow through me to those nearby. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 27: Numbers 21-23; Mark 6-7

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they [the disciples and Jesus] did not even have a chance to eat, he [Jesus] said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Observation: When God created man, He set the seventh day as a day of rest. Jesus later said that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27) In other words the Sabbath was given as a blessing to man and meant to minister to man. The Creator knew His creation would need rest. Here Jesus recognized the need of His disciples. These were His words and His plan. NOTE: The time in the boat was the quiet, restful time they spent just with Him. People were waiting for Him when they arrived on the other shore.

Application: The first and most important thing to recognize about vacations is that they are not meant to be time away from God. Jesus said, “Come WITH ME.” Every week I can look forward to such a time as I gather with other believers. Second, He said to come “by yourselves.” We are not to take the stress causing people/things with us. This is just time WITH HIM. Third, He is taking us to a “quiet place.” His voice will not be drowned out by other noise. Forth, He wants us to “rest.” This is not a working vacation. NOTE: For Sharon and me, our travel time is often the quiet, restful time we have just with Him. So it is good not to be in a hurry. We enjoy the drive.

Prayer: Lord, I am so thankful that you know my limitations and faithfully provide for them. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 26: Numbers 19-20; Psalm 28; Mark 5

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 28:1 To you, LORD, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place
….
6 Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Observation: This psalm begins with a desperate call for help and ends with praise because the Lord heard that call. God’s help brings inner joy and outward expressions of praise.

Application: When I recognize how God has helped me in times when I desperately needed help, my heart runs out my mouth. It is impossible to lock the appreciation inside.

Prayer: Lord, may those who hear the words of my mouth know that I have a heart full of joyful praise! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!