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

March 23: Joshua 15-17; 1Corinthians 8

Scripture: 1Corinthians 8:9 Be careful, however that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
1Corinthians 8:12 When you sin against them in this way and would their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

Observation: Paul knew that idols were really nothing spiritual, but some people saw them as having authority and influence. Paul knew that he could eat meat that had been dedicated to the idols because the idols were really nothing more than wood or stone. But if some who were still convinced that the idols really had spiritual authority saw Paul eat meat that had been dedicated to the idol, they may become offended. Paul does not berate them for their lack of faith and maturity; he loves them; he takes the limitation on himself, not eating such meat. His love for them was stronger than his privilege of exercising his own freedom! Instead of demanding His rights, Paul saw that offending a younger believer was really sinning against Christ!

Application: In dealing with the devil, I need to know my rights and exercise them! But in dealing with my brothers and sisters in Christ, I need to be willing to limit myself. There are times when demanding my rights can actually be a sign of immaturity in me. It can be an expression of selfishness, not caring how my actions affect others.

Prayer: Lord, help me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ the way you love them. May I see them as you see them! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

A Chuckle!

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

March 22: Joshua 12-14; 1Corinthians 7

Scripture: Joshua 13:1 When Joshua had grown old, the LORD said to him, “You are now very old, and there is still very large areas of land to be taken over.”

Observation: I had to laugh when I read this verse this morning. If the LORD says you are old, you must really be old! Ha! Here is the Ancient of Days saying that Joshua is old! And the LORD just does not call Joshua “old,” but “very old!” The King James Version reads, “The LORD said unto him, ‘Thou art old and stricken in years…’” God did not say that Joshua had entered into his “senior” years, or was “elderly. Today I think He would have said, “Face it Josh, you are really old!”

Application: The Lord knows the seasons of my life! He knows my childhood, my youth, my adult life, AND my golden years, as some like to say. Joshua was old, but God still had an assignment for him. God has an assignment for me—and those who read the SOAP know what it is.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for the chuckle this morning. Help me be faithful in fulfilling my “senior” assignments. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 21: Joshua 9-11; 1Corinthians 6

Scripture: Joshua 9:18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders
19 but all the leaders answered, “We have given their our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now.

Observation: The leaders had foolishly entered into a treaty with the Gibeonites. When the Gibeonite’s deception was discovered, the leaders did not compound their sin by breaking their word. The Israelites could have made an excuse that they had been tricked, but they were not living by the standard of the Gibeonites, but by God’s standard! Years later when Saul killed some of the Gibeonites, God held Israel accountable.
What a strong warning this is for those who would come before the Lord solemnly promising to remain true "till death do us part." It is also a warning for those who enter into financial agreements. God holds us accountable for our word, even that which is given foolishly.

Application: Ed Cole taught that our word is our bond. When I give my word, people should be able to depend on me keeping my word.

Prayer: Lord, you are the perfect promise keeper ever. Make me more like you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 20: Joshua 7-8; Psalm 69; 1Corinthians 5

Scripture: Joshua 8:34 Afterward Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.

Observation: Moses was dead and Joshua had taken over the leadership of Israel. But in reality, Joshua was not the leader; God was the leader. Here Joshua does as Moses had previously commanded him; he gathered all the people of Israel and read the scriptures. A parallel today would be if the President of the United States called all the people together and read to them the Constitution with all its amendments which included the Bill of Rights.

Application: When I read the scriptures, I need to be careful not to just read what I like and to skip over the portions I do not like. I treasure God when I read His word and arrange my life to fit His plan. After all, I know what I like; He knows what I need!

Prayer: Lord, Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105) I will hide its words in my heart that I may not sin against you! (Psalm 119:11) Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 19: Joshua 3-6; 1Corinthians 4

Scripture: Joshua 5:12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

Observation: It was great when God provided the manna in the wilderness. But His intention was that they live on the manna only so long as it took them to get into the land where they could harvest and grow their own food.

New Christians are often dependent on those leading them to Christ to direct them in reading the Bible. Questions are answered by showing them the word. But a time comes when new Christians have to find some of their own answers. Answers will still be found in God’s Word, but the new Christians will have to mine them out on their own. New Christians will then find the special joy of discovery, a joy which they can experience every day for the rest of their lives!

Application: It has been my joy the past 1,201 days to look into God’s Word and find truth that applies to my own life. It is also my joy to hear that others are blest. But the greatest joy is to hear that someone has started using the same outline (SOAP) or something similar to discover what God is saying to them.

Prayer: Lord, bless the readers of these SOAPs with a desire to read the Bible daily. May the special joy of discovering that you speak to them through Your Word draw them back again and again. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 18: Joshua 1-2; Psalm 37; 1Corinthians 3

Scripture: Joshua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. THEN you will be prosperous and successful. (NIV)

Observation: Some people want God to make them prosperous and successful before they do their part. But the requirement comes before the reward!

Application: God’s Word must be a part of my daily conversation and my living. I should think about it often during the day. People who know me should know the importance of God’s Word in my life. They should know that my decisions are often determined by my understanding of God’s Word. The Bible helps me determine what is permitted and what is prohibited. Obedience to God’s Word builds my faith.

Prayer: Lord, when I am faithful to do my part, I know I can count on you to keep your word and do your part! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 17: Deuteronomy 32-34; 1Corinthians 2

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind; he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.
9 For the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance. (NIV)

Observation: These verses are from the farewell song of Moses. Each nation was allotted an area of the earth for their inheritance. And within Israel, each tribe was allotted their boundaries. But it seems to me something is missing. Where is the allotted area for the Lord, the Creator, the Deliverer, the Provider, the Sustainer? His allotment is His people!

Application: Along with each one in whom Christ dwells by His spirit, I am the Lord’s possession; I am His portion! As the nations lived within their boundaries, so our lives are the boundary of Christ’s territory. As I submit to his holy authority, I find he rules in love, peace and joy. As I share with others the truth of His Kingdom, He uses me to increase his portion.

Prayer: Lord, use me to increases your boundaries. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Observation: Here Moses was giving his farewell message to the Israelites. Soon he would be leaving and they would be moving into the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua. The words in this verse remind me of the words of David in Psalm 23: “…I will fear no evil for thou are with me.”

Application: If it is Israel going into the Promised Land, or David in Psalm 23 going through the valley of the shadow of death, or Leon and Sharon in Delaware arranging for Sharon’s mom to move into a long-term care facility, we need not fear. The one who was with the Israelites is the same one who was with David and He is the same one with us today! We can be strong and courageous, we need fear no evil FOR He is with us!

Prayer: Lord, Your presence removes any fear from my heart and puts it in the heart of my enemy! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 15: Deuteronomy 28-29; Galatians 6

Scripture: Galatians 6:15 Neither circumcision nor un-circumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. (NIV)

Observation: Paul was writing to the church in Galatia in which there were Jews who believed they had to be circumcised to be acceptable and Gentiles who had not been circumcised. In this verse Paul is saying the same thing Jesus said in John chapter three. “You must be born again.” Without being born again, one cannot even see the Kingdom of God. To the church at Corinth, Paul wrote, “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old one has gone, the new is here!”

Application: When living under the Law, the emphasis is on keeping all its requirements. I am just not able. But NOW being a new creation in Christ with Jesus living inside, the emphasis is on His Presence to make me acceptable to God and His power to enable me to live a life worthy of being God’s child. Think of that!

Prayer: Lord, not only have you provided forgiveness for my past, you have promised me a great future! But best of all, I get to enjoy your presence now as you live every day in me and through me!!! You are amazing; I am blest! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 14: Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5

Scripture: Galatians 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Observation: Removing sexual immorality, hatred, jealousy, fits of rage and other works of the flesh mentioned later in this chapter from one’s life cannot be accomplished by trying to do just that. Trying to convince myself that I really do not want to do something just does not work. Talking myself into being strong and resisting temptation is useless too. The only way to overcome the tendency of the flesh to succumb to temptation is to focus on what the Spirit is saying and doing.

Application: I must give up trying to win victory over the temptations in my own strength. It is when I walk in the Spirit that I do not gratify the desires of the flesh!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit who lives in me and walks with me and talks to me. You sure knew what I would need! I sure need His help in overcoming the temptations around me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!