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

December 7: Colossians 1-4

Scripture: Colossians (NIV) 4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Colossians (KJV) 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Observation: Paul is instructing his readers to use wisdom in how they interact with unbelievers. They are to take advantage of every opportunity to influence people for the Kingdom of God.

Application: I am “redeeming the time” with my words and my actions. (Colossians 3:17) If I am faithful in “redeeming the time” I have with people who have not yet committed their lives to Jesus, there is the possibility that in eternity we both may rejoice that this time on earth was well spent.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I am trusting you to help me redeem today. Give me wisdom. Help me to recognize and take advantage of every opportunity to influence others for the Kingdom. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 6: Philippians 1-4

Scripture: Philippians (NIV) 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Observation: Paul realized that there was a reason for God to confront him on the road to Damascus and knock him to the ground. God had a plan for Saul, as he was then known. As Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians, he tells them he is still pressing on to fulfill the plan God had for him.

Application: Whether a preacher or a bus driver, my goal is to let Jesus be seen in my life. God created me as a vessel in which He would live and through which He would be seen. I am still pressing on to think more like Jesus, to talk more like Jesus, to have compassion like Jesus, to boldly speak truth like Jesus…

Prayer: Lord, may I fulfill the purposes for which you created and chose me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 5: Ephesians 5-6; Psalm 119:1-80

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 119:17 Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word.
(KJV) 119:17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

Observation: What caught my attention was not that the psalmist wanted God’s help, but the reason he wanted God’s help. It was not so that life would be easier for him or that he would be able to do what pleased himself. He needed God’s help SO THAT he could obey God’s word. He desired that his life be a demonstration of how to please God. He wanted people to see the benefit of obeying God’s Word.

Application: What does God get out of my prayers? If He answered each request, would He be helping me to continue living a selfish, non-committed life? That would not benefit Him, or me. When He helps me, does He have a grateful servant with a greater commitment to do His will?

Prayer: Lord, may I be quick to express my thanks for Your help. May I always be ready to tell others what You have done for me. And in appreciation, may I be quick to obey Your Word. I want to live my life so that it is easy for You to answer my prayers. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 4: Ephesians 1-4

Scripture: Ephesians (NIV) 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Observation: In this we see the personhood of the Holy Spirit—He feels the pain of disappointment. There are two ways in which the Holy Spirit can be grieved. First, He can be grieved when we do those things that he has forbidden. Second, He can be grieved when we do not do those things he desires.

Application: I believe I have more often grieved the Holy Spirit by not doing what he wanted me to do. I found some excuse for not following those thoughts in my mind. I did not recognize the thoughts as being from Him. I ignore them and push them aside. I have discovered a good question: “If I do not do this will I feel like I have missed God?” If the answer is “yes,” then I set myself to obey.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I do not want to grieve you. I want to please you. I know that doing what you say is always best. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 3: Romans 13-16

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failing of the weak and not to please ourselves.
2 Each of us should please our neighbor for their good, to build them up.
3 For even Christ did not please himself…

Observation: The blessing God first gave to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) resulted with Abraham being a blessing to “all the families of the earth.” The strengths God has given are intended to make us more useful.

Application: It is tempting to consider my strengths as blessings to benefit me. However if I am going to be like Jesus, I must use my strengths to benefit others, for their good, to build them up. God has blest me to be a blessing to others.

Prayer: Lord, today I want you to find me faithful using the strengths you have placed in my life to bless someone nearby. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 2: Romans 9-12

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Observation: Doing evil to repay evil may be getting even, but it can never overcome evil; only doing good can do that. With Jesus as our example we are to be victorious in doing good. Evil is defeated in that it cannot get a foothold within our lives and force us into its mold! Praise the Lord!

Application: God does not want me to get even; He wants me to overcome! I cannot overcome by doing nothing; I must do something good. It is overcoming a hurtful comment with a compliment. It is giving forgiveness when what I received hate.

Prayer: Lord, may I never be satisfied with getting even when you want me to be a winner. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 1: Romans 5-8

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation: What a difference! No longer slaves to sin, we have become slaves to God! Serving sin reaped results, and so does serving God; but what a difference. Serving sin results in death. Serving God leads us in a life of holiness and results in eternal life! Note the comparisons: slaves to sin vs. slaves to God; no benefit vs. great benefit; death vs. life! What a difference!

Application: I am a servant of God. I choose to be a servant of God. I choose to serve him because he loves me. I choose to serve him because he has chosen me for a place in His kingdom. I choose to serve him because He gives His servants eternal life. I choose to serve Him because in my estimation, He is obviously worthy of my service. But mostly I choose to serve Him because I love Him.

Prayer: Lord, You are worthy of my life and devotion. What a difference you make in my life! Serving you is not a burden, it is my pleasure. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Self-Portrait

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

November 30: Rom 1-4

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Observation: It could be said that nature is God’s self-portrait. In it God has revealed his invisible qualities such as His power and Godliness. What tremendous power is locked up in earth’s tornados, volcanoes, and hurricanes! What power is held in the moon to pull the oceans tides from one side of the ocean to the other! What tremendous power is released in the firestorms on the sun’s surface that explode out hundreds and thousands of miles affecting the radio signals on earth 93 million miles away! What power is released from the heat of the sun that can warm a sidewalk hot enough to fry an egg! Who, in the study of nature can rationally deny His divine nature, His Godliness? Obviously, whoever put this universe together is higher than man in knowledge and wisdom and design and planning. One has only to look! Man is without excuse for not believing God!

Application: No wonder I like to sing, “How Great Thou Art” as I drive the school bus through the country to pick up children for school. What beauty can be seen in creation! What diversity! What order! I see the variety of life: plants, animals, people. I see death as what we on the bus call a “stinky-sprayer” has been lying dead in the road for several weeks. I see the clouds which cover the earth as my blankets cover me at night. I see the hand of God everywhere! Indeed nature is God’s self-portrait.

Prayer: Lord, you have made yourself known through your works. You are amazing! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 29: 1Thes 4-5; 2Thes 1-3

Scripture: 1Thessalonians (NIV) 5:16 Rejoice always
17 Pray continually,
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Observation: One of the things Paul writes as he closes this letter is to pray continually. If we really believe that God is always with us, then we should talk with him continually. When someone comes to visit we politely carry on a conversation with them. Speaking with them is the best way to acknowledge their presence. Praying is the best way to acknowledge His Presence. Continual prayer reminds us of His Presence.

Application: I almost always close my prayers with the word "Amen." Often is say, “In Jesus name, Amen.” Amen means "so be it" or "may it be." It is a formal way of ending my prayers. It is almost like saying "goodbye." But if God is really with me continually, I never need to say "goodbye!" God is always present. He is always a part of my life. He is always a part of my conversation. I should pray without ceasing.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your continual presence. I like to sing the old song to you: “You walk with me and You talk with me, and you tell me I am your own…” Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 28: Matthew 28; 1Thessalonians 1-3

Scripture: 1Thessalonias (NIV) 1:2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.

Observation: I see two ways of looking at the thought contained in this verse. The first would be from the heart of the writer. Paul is expressing his gratitude to God for these who received his message and responded to it. These were ones that made his hard work and suffering worthwhile. In this expression of "thanksgiving to God," Paul would be encouraging his readers. He would be letting them know that he sees the good in their lives. They are loved and considered valuable by Paul. They were a common topic in Paul’s conversations with God.

Application: Now to consider this verse from the reader’s perspective. It warms my heart to think that someone else sees something in me that is worth mentioning to God in prayer. I want to live my life in such a way that it will be easy for people to give thanks to God for me.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the people you have placed in my life. Each one is special. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!