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

March 13: Deuteronomy 22-24; Galatians 4

Scripture: Galatians 4:19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

Observation: Paul, had previously spoken of the people in Galatia as sons; he now speaks of them as children, his children. He claims to have even gone through birthing pains for them. And now he is again experiencing the same pains. I believe women can especially understand Paul’s dilemma as their grown children make choices that hurt the hearts of loving mothers. The Galatians are turning away from the good news of freedom in loving and serving God to a belief that they have to keep the law in order to be accepted by God. Paul did not want them to have a relationship with the law, but with God as Christ who was living in them becomes visible in their speech and actions. Note Paul’s goal: Christ being formed in them.

Application: God’s goal for me is that the life of Jesus be easily and readily seen in my words and actions. And God does not want me to live like Jesus because I must, but because I want to.

Prayer: Lord, may it be obvious to you and to everyone around me that being like you is not my duty, it is my joy. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 12: Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

Scripture: Galatians 3:24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith (NIV)

Observation: The very purpose of the Law was to lead us to Christ. It set parameters that would keep us from being destroyed by sin. It provided the clues, that when followed would bring the seeker to Christ. The purpose of God was always to justify us, to bring us into right relationship with Him on the basis of faith. We are not justified by faith in our works, but by faith in His “work” on Calvary!

Application: I am thankful for my parents who served as the law in setting protective parameters which did not keep me from sin, but kept me from getting into major trouble. I am thankful for my parents who did things that directed my steps toward the Lord. But I am most thankful for my Savior who paid the price for my sins by His death on the cross!! I am thankful for His Presence in my life, empowering me to live a life pleasing to Him!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, what a wonderful and amazing plan you had. First you convinced us of our need for forgiveness and then you sent your Son to pay for the sins of all who put their trust in Him! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

Observation: This verse stirs two very strong thoughts: the weakness of the law and the power of the cross. It also leads me to consider how important my righteousness is to God. It is so important that He sent His Son to die! Amazing! If we could have done enough works in keeping the law to be righteous, then the suffering and death of Jesus would have been unnecessary.

The battle was won on the cross! It was there, on the cross, that the price was paid. It was there that Jesus won over the temptation of trying an easier way. It was there that the power of Satan’s temptation to move outside the will of the Father was defeated! Jesus would not give in to the devil’s temptation to move other than in His Father’s will!

Jesus entered death as The Triumphant One. He entered the grave as The Victorious One! He came out as More than a Conqueror! The three days in the grave was the victory lap taken after the race had been won!

Application: Jesus is a Conqueror because He defeated sin on the cross and death in His resurrection. He is More than a Conqueror for now His victorious life lives in me!

Prayer: Lord, I serve you not because I am earning my salvation, but because I greatly appreciate what you have done for me! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 10: Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

Scripture: Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Observation: If I call Jesus Lord, then I am also claiming that I am his servant. And if I am his servant, then my goal is to please Him!

Application: Ira Stanphill’s song says, “I don’t know about tomorrow…” I am finding that many times I do not even know about today! But one thing remains constant; I want to please my Lord. If the day is boring, or full of surprises; if everything goes as planned, or nothing works as planned, I want to please Him!

Prayer: Lord, the end of the song says “I know who holds tomorrow.” I am glad I know You hold today! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 9: Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

Scripture: Mark 16:6 “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.
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” (NIV)

Observation: The ladies came looking for a dead body in a sealed tomb. They found an open tomb with a living messenger telling them that Jesus was alive! They came prepared to anoint a dead body, but they were sent away with a message! They were sent to remind Peter that Jesus would do just as Jesus had told Peter. (Mark 14:28)

Application: How important it is for me to remember what Jesus has told me. Sometimes I need Jesus to send people my way to remind me of what He has said to me.

Prayer: Lord, you know how quickly I can forget what you have said to me. Thank you for the scriptures; thank you for the Holy Spirit; and thank you for people you use to remind me of what You have said! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 8: Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15

Scripture: Deuteronomy 7:17 You may say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?
18 But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. (NIV)

Observation: Moses would not be going with them so he was giving final instructions to the Israelites as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land. They would doubt their ability to win the battles that were coming. But if they remembered what God had done they would not doubt HIS ability!

Application: When I doubt my ability, I must remind myself that it is not my ability that I am depending on! I am depending on HIS ability! His ability is more than sufficient for everything coming my way! I must “remember well!” By remembering and rejoicing I refresh my memory! The older I get, the more I have to remember, and the more I have to re-joice. I can “remember well” and walk in faith!

Prayer: Lord, from remembering what I read in the Bible, and remembering my past experiences, I know you are more than capable to handle the challenges coming my way! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: Mark 14:16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. (NIV)

Observation: The disciples had been sent by Jesus to make preparations for the Passover celebration. They were told to look for a specific person—a man carrying a water jar. They obeyed and found things just as Jesus had said.

Application: When I have stepped out in faith to obey what Jesus has told me, I too have discovered that things are just as Jesus has told me. When my priority is obeying Him, His priority is taking care of my circumstances. My obedience is the proof of my trust.

Prayer: Lord, proof of my trust is not just in saying it, but in obeying what you tell me to do. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:37 Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength,
38 to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today.

Observation: The Israelites did not escape Egypt; they were “brought out” by the Presence and the strength of God! God’s plan was to give them a land with people more in numbers and stronger than they were! By relying on their wisdom and strength, there was no way they could get out of Egypt and there was no way they could get into the Promised land. The only one getting the glory for their escape and new home land was God!

Application: God purposefully gives me assignments that require more wisdom and/or strength than I possess. If I rely on myself, I will fail. But when I rely on Him, He succeeds! He does this so that people will not be able to praise me, but Him!

Prayer: Lord, when I rely on you and carefully follow your directions, I get to enjoy the victory and you get to enjoy the glory! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 5: Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

Scripture: Mark 12:14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? (NIV)

Observation: After making such a high commendation of Jesus, how could they ignore His teaching? They condemn themselves by their own confession.

Application: If I believe and say that Jesus really is a "Teacher," and "a man of integrity," who is not "swayed by men" but "teaches the way of God" and does it "in accordance with the truth," then I must listen to what He says. I must do more than listen, I must obey and do! How foolish to give such high commendations, then not follow through in obedience!

Prayer: Lord, I want my life to show that I really do believe what I say about you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 4: Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

Scripture: Mark 11:22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.
23 “truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. (NIV)

Observation: From what I read in these four verses there must be agreement with what I believe in my heart and the words that come out of my mouth. Faith without works is dead, and the first work of faith will commonly be speaking. The emphasis is not on my faith supporting my words, but my words expressing my faith. It is a heart matter, not a mouth matter.

Application: My words are an expression of the faith I have in my heart. The more I get to know the Lord and the more my heart and mind align with Him, the more faith will be heard in my words.

Prayer: Lord, may my confidence in you be easily recognized in my conversation! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!