SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

Observation: Jesus knew where He was from (heaven) and where He was (on earth). He knew why He was here (He had been sent.) He knew who had sent him (his Father). He knew what He was to do (the Father’s will).

Application: My Heavenly Father is sending me today into my world not to do my will but to do His will.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, my purpose today is to do Your will. Amen.

August 4: 2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34; John 6

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 5:20. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.
21. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
22. Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,
23. that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

Observation: The Father entrusting the giving of life and judging to the Son is so that the Son will receive the same honor as the Father. It is the Father’s desire that we give honor to Jesus, the Son! As earthly fathers love to see their sons honored, so our Heavenly Father loves to see His Son honored. In fact the Heavenly Father is offended when we do not honor His Son, as are many earthly fathers.

Application: Today I honor my Heavenly Father by honoring His Son, Jesus, my Lord. Today I honor Jesus by listening to Him and obeying Him. A child once described a friend as “a person whose name is safe in my mouth.” So I speak His name and speak of Him with respect. If I am going to call Him “Lord,” then I should live like it is true.

Prayer: Lord, today help me to hear your voice in my spirit, understand what you are saying, and do it! Your name is safe in my mouth. Amen.

August 3: Nahum 1-3; John 5

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 4:7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?”
8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

Observation: In this passage, and in chapter three, we have Jesus revealing wonderful truths, not in a message to thousands of people (like the Sermon on the Mount), but each to a single person. In chapter three “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son…” is spoken to Nicodemus who came at night. And in this chapter, “I who speak to you am he (the Messiah)” is revealed to this Samaritan woman at the well. Everyone needs to hear these important messages so it is proper to include them in messages to crowds, but every “one” needs to hear them personally so they must be shared “one to one.”

Application: For me, ministry to a group of people usually involves presenting comments prayerfully prepared ahead of time. Ministry to individuals more often centers on answering questions (as in John chapters 3 and 4). Answering questions is more personalized and focuses on what the Holy Spirit is emphasizing in their lives. I may not be able to answer their questions very well, but if God brought us together, he knows of something in my life that will be good for them.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, today help me to say what is beneficial to your plans. Amen.

August 2: 2Kings 21; 2Chronicles 33; John 4

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 3:28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’
29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
30 He must become greater; I must become less.

Observation: The mission of John the Baptist was closing down. He had accomplished his assignment of preparing the way for Jesus. He had introduced Jesus. The crowds that once came to hear John preach were now going to hear Jesus. John was not jealous because this was the very reason for his ministry. He understood his purpose—his assignment. John was now moving to the background. Jesus was getting the attention. John’s joy was complete.

Application: As I grow older, I see my generation laying the foundation for the next generation. As we decrease and we want our children and grandchildren to increase. As to the world’s economy and political leanings, there is great trouble ahead. It is so important that we introduce the next generation to Jesus. It is so important that they grow to love and trust Him so much that when we are moved out of the picture, their faith continues and becomes stronger than our faith ever was.

Prayer: Lord, may your influence become greater and stronger in my heart and mind every day. And may I pass that on to others. Amen.

August 1: Isaiah 65-66; Psalm 62; John 3

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 2:11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. (NOTE: verses 1-11)

Observation: This first miracle was the turning of water into wine at a wedding when they ran out of wine. But someone in the planning phase for this banquet had made a wise decision to invite Mary and her son Jesus. (I remember when we were first married; Sharon invited someone to dinner because she knew they could make the gravy.) So, the master of the banquet received the wine, and Jesus received the glory. He is still receiving the glory for this miracle! (And Sharon has been making good gravy for years!)

Application: Notes to myself:
#1. Make sure Jesus is a part of everything I plan.
#2. When something goes wrong, go to Jesus first.
#3. Do exactly what he says.
#4. Make sure Jesus gets the glory!

Prayer: Lord, help me make plans that will please you because I want you to enjoy being a part of the things I plan. Amen.

July 31: Isaiah 63-64; John 2

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Observation: As someone is chosen to introduce the main speaker at a conference, or the players in a sports contest, so John was given the privilege of introducing Jesus to the world. The day before John had told the people that one greater would soon appear. And now that one was present! Israel would never be the same. The world would never be the same.

Application: And to me is given the privilege of introducing Jesus to people whose lives will never be the same.

Prayer: Lord, What a special privilege is mine to introduce you to those nearby. Amen.

July 30: Isaiah 60-62; John 1

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: 2Peter 3:1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

Observation: In the first chapter Peter was writing to his dear friends to “refresh their memory” and to make sure they would not forget. Here we find he wants them to recall/remember what God has said. Remembering God’s Word will stir up good thoughts and right thinking! Peter was not writing to entertain his readers, but to influence their thinking.

Application: The more I interact with the world around me, the more I have a tendency to think like the world. Reading and meditating on God’s Word redirects my thoughts and brings them in line with God’s Word. I have peace as I think and act according to God’s Word.

Prayer: Lord, as Peter’s writings “stimulate” me to wholesome thinking, use my writings to “stimulate” others. Then, Lord, use their writings to “stimulate” their family and friends. Amen.

July 29: Isaiah 57-59; Psalm 103; 2Peter 3

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: 2Peter 2: 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7 ¶ and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men …
9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.

Observation: The Lord knows the difference between the good and the evil. And while bringing judgment on the unrighteous, God protected Noah and rescued Lot.

Application: As I see evil rising all around me, I can rest assured that God is well able to rescue me from trouble. I do not walk in fear, but in faith. When I see trouble ahead, instead of allowing fearful thoughts to fill my mind, I can remind myself of God’s promises and look for His hand of deliverance.

Prayer: Lord, I trust you to protect and rescue me. Use me to build faith in others. Amen.

July 28: Isaiah 53-56; 2Peter 2

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: 2Peter 1:13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,
14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

Observation: Peter had two objectives. First, he wanted to remind them of some important things God had said. Second, he wanted to make sure they would remember them after he died. So what did he do? He wrote them in a letter! They could read it now and it would be around to be read again after Peter was gone. Everyone needs to write down important things down for the same reasons.

Application: I use words in so much of my daily life. Most words are quickly forgotten; hey, even I forget some of the things I might say during the course of a day. Not a lot of thought went into them when spoken and they are soon forgotten. However there are some things that are important. I need to thoughtfully arrange words in ways that are easy to understand. I need to write them down. They can be a blessing to readers now, and after I am gone they will still be around to bless people.

Prayer: Lord, guide my words as I write them down. As you bless me with these thoughts, make them be a blessing to others also. Amen.

July 27: Isaiah 50-52; 2Peter 1

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: 1Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Observation: There are many places in the world where I can take my anxieties. Some of them are very capable of helping, but none as capable as the Lord. However this scripture does not tell me to cast my anxieties on him because he is capable, but because He cares.

Application: He cares FOR ME! Wow! What I do for Him may be very beneficial to Him, but what He likes best about it is that it was from me. What I give Him may be very useful, but what He likes best is that it comes from me! He loves ME! He cares for ME! This makes me want to give Him my best and do my best for Him!

Prayer: Lord, thinking about this verse has caused my heart to overflow with love for you! And yet I know that my love for you is far surpassed by your love for me! May I please you with all I say and do. And I cast my cares upon you! Amen.

July 26: Isaiah 46-49; 1Peter

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!