SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 12:10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Observation: On the cross Jesus died for our sins and justified us, making us just as if we had never sinned. But having our past sins forgiven is not the same as presently living sinless. God wants holiness in both our past and our present. We can do nothing about the past, so God offers us full forgiveness based on the sacrifice of Jesus. Now God wants the holiness that is provided us by the sacrifice on the cross to become a way of life. To accomplish that, God places His Holy Spirit within us to teach us, to empower us, and as the above verses tell us, to discipline us when needed.

Application: Holiness, righteousness, and peace—that is the life the Lord desires for Leon. He knows my weaknesses and fully understands that I am incapable of living that way. He has forgiven my past. And he has given me his Holy Spirit to teach me, to empower me, AND to discipline me. There are two reasons why I should joyfully accept the discipline of God: First, I know that it is an expression of his love. Second, I know it is for my good.

Prayer: Lord, your love goes far beyond cleaning me up when I become dirty; your love helps me to live clean! Amen.

July 15: Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Observation: The most important aspect of faith is its foundation. Upon what is faith set. Weak faith on a strong foundation is much better than strong faith on a weak foundation. Strong faith placed on a weak foundation will lead to ruin. But even weak faith on a strong foundation can grow into strong faith. Strong faith on a strong foundation—what a combination!!!

Application: Finding a worthy foundation for faith is one of the great challenges of life. I have found in Jesus a strong foundation for my faith. The longer I know Him and the more I know His Word, the better I understand and trust Him as the foundation for my life. There is not a better foundation!

Prayer: Lord, like yesterday I continue to sing, “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.” (K.E.Ward) Amen.

July 14: Isaiah 19-21; Hebrews 11

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
37 For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay.
38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."

Observation: The Hebrews had been going through some hard times. They are commended for staying true and encouraged to remain true. They will be rewarded. They will receive what they were promised. Jesus will return. So now they must live (present tense) by faith. They started by faith and now they must continue to live by faith. They are to finish strong.

Application: The life I started by faith many years ago I must continue living by faith. I have different circumstances now. I have different challenges now. But my Savior has not changed. His promises have not changed. And my faith has not changed! It has only grown stronger. My physical body may weaken, but I want my faith to finish strong.

Prayer: Lord, I sing, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name!” (K.E.Ward) Amen.

July 13: Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 9: 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.
…
24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.

Observation: The portable temple Moses constructed in the wilderness was made after the pattern Moses saw when he had climbed the mountain. (Exodus 25:9,40) The temple that was built in Jerusalem was a more permanent building with the same design. In those man-made temples animal sacrifices were made. When Jesus died for our sins, He did not go into the man-made temples, but into the original temple in heaven.

Application: Jesus is present in heaven on my behalf. On earth the Son of God lived and walked as the Son of Man. Jesus was presenting our Heavenly Father to us. Now in heaven, the sinless, sacrificed, resurrected Son of God and Man presents me to my Heavenly Father. He is there right now for us. He is there FOR ME!

Prayer: Lord, the more I learn about what you have done FOR ME, the more amazed I am. Just saying, “Thank you” can never be enough. To live for you is all I can do. Amen.

July 12: Isaiah 11-14; Hebrews 9

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 8:10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
11 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

Observation: The first covenant centered around laws written on tablets of stone. We call them the Ten Commandments. Motivation was very self-centered—the reward promised if it was kept or the punishment if it was broken. Jesus’ forgiveness removes the fear of punishment and His Presence is better than the rewards. The more we know Him the more we love Him. Our motivation changes from fear and hope to love! Once we were being forced into a mold by an outside influence; but now we live to please Him because we love Him.

One may stretch an un-inflated balloon to better see the picture printed on the outside, but it is always deformed. Only when the balloon is inflated can we clearly see the design. And only with the fullness of the Holy Spirit inside can we show a clear picture of Jesus.

Application: How can I not love the One Who loved me so much that He took my penalty. If doing what is right pleases Him, then I will do what is right. It is my desire to please him—to bring a smile to His face.

Prayer: Lord, It’s my desire to please you today. Not just in the easy things, but in everything I want to please you. I want you to be glad that I am your child. Amen.

July 11: Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 7:23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office;
24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Observation: An obvious limitation of the Old Testament priest is that they would die. This is true of anyone who is considered a priest of whatever religion. Jesus ministry of making the final sacrifice ever needed for sin is complete. No other sacrifice is needed. However Jesus ministry is not complete. His ministry of intercession for those who come to God through Him continues to this very day.

Application: The payment to cover all the sins of my past is complete! Jesus paid the debt that I could not pay. And now, even as I write this SOAP, Jesus is representing me before the Father! This ministry will continue as long as He lives! Wow!!!

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for making the sacrifice to pay for my past sins. Thank you for continuing to love me, think about me, intercede for me, and be with me to help me. Amen.

July 10: Micah 5-7; Hebrews 7

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Greatly Encouraged!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 6:18 NIV God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.

Observation: God’s plan to have redeemed people in His family has never changed. God’s Word cannot change because it is based on His character. So when we who are holding onto the hope He holds out to us can be GREATLY ENCOURAGED!

Application: How can I not be encouraged when I consider who God is and what He has promised me! I am not just encouraged, I am GREATLY encouraged! The more I learn about God and His great love for me, the more I am encouraged!

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for who you are and for your promises to me! As Psalm 25:5 says, “My hope is in you all day long!” Amen.

July 9: Micah 1-4; Hebrews

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

I used to…

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 5:12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Observation: As in infancy our physical life depended on “milk,” so our early spiritual life depended on the “elementary truths of God’s word.” As our physical life matured to be able to eat “solid food” so our spiritual life is to mature to know and understand the “teaching about righteousness.”

Physical maturity comes gradually; spiritual maturity also comes gradually. (Our granddaughter Taelyn grows every day but we do not recognize it until her clothes do not fit or we take time to draw a line on the wall at the top of her head and compare it to the previous line.)

Faithfully taking in the “solid food” of the scriptures matures us to “distinguish good from evil.” We can then do the good and abstain from the evil. (Measuring lines for spiritual growth can be: “I used to think that way.” Or “I used to do that.”)

Application: As I read the Bible faithfully, I grow in understanding your plan for my life. I grow in understanding right from wrong. As I grow, I leave behind the worldly things and embrace the spiritual things.

Prayer: Lord, may my spiritual growth not be stunted. Amen.

July 8: Hosea 13-14; Psalm 100, 102; Hebrews 5

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

My Past; My Present

Scripture: Hebrews 4: 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Observation: Because of Jesus death to pay for my sins, God’s throne of judgment has been changed into a throne of grace. My approach with fear of punishment has been changed into an approach with a sure expectation that I will find mercy and grace!

Application: At God’s throne I find mercy that forgives my past sins! And as amazing as that is, I also find something even greater. I find grace to help me win in my present struggle.

Prayer: Lord, you do not forgive me to be free to repeat yesterday’s sins, but, knowing my weaknesses, your grace helps me overcome today’s struggle. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Amen.

July 7: Hosea 10-12; Psalm 73; Hebrews 4

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Encouragement

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 3:13 NIV But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

Observation: One of the main goals I see in this chapter is that we finish with a faith as strong was when we first started to believe. What is considered “little sins” can be accepted into our lives and deceive us into believing that “little sins” will not hurt us. We then, little by little, become hardened to the things of God. The things of the world are not quite as dangerous as we once thought and the things of God are not quite as important. Encouragement helps keep us on course.

Application: I need to be encouraged daily by the input of others into my life. Daily I need to encourage those around me. I am encouraged to be faithful as I remember the saying on my parent’s wall: “Only one life, will soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last!”

Prayer: Lord, help me to be open to the encouragement from others and make me an encourager. Amen.

July 6: Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!