S.O.A.P.

March 25: Joshua 21-22; Psalm 47; 1Corinthians 10

Ignorant of History

Scripture: 1Corinthians 10:1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

Observation: The church needed a history lesson. The lesson in the following verses is that the Israelites who left Egypt and saw the miracles God, died in the wilderness and did not enter the Promised Land because of sin and unbelief. (The promise was fulfilled for their sons and daughters.) Just because we had some great experiences in the past does not allow us to walk in sin and unbelief without any consequences.

Application: Ignorance is not bliss. The United States of America seems to be ignorant of our godly heritage. It contains principles we need today. Paul ended this passage in verse 12 “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” And what is true for the nation is true for the individual—for Leon. How foolish to think that God’s standards have changed.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for what you have done in my past. May I never forget. Help me not to ignore the lessons of history! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

March 24: Joshua 18-20; 1Corinthians 9

Living on purpose!

Scripture: 1Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Observation: Paul was convinced that what he was doing was very important. He was not running just to be running. He was not throwing his fists just to be throwing his fists. There was purpose—eternal purpose. And it was just as important for him as it was for others.

Application: The devil wants me to think that I am wasting my time and not accomplishing much, but what I am doing has purpose—eternal purpose. The encouraging words I speak to someone at the grocery store, the gentle touch and kind word I give to a child getting on the bus, the call or visit to a sick friend, fixing a meal for my family—it all has purpose—eternal purpose.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to take the little things too lightly, thinking they are of little value. May I stay “on purpose” even in the little things. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 23: Joshua 15-17; 1Corinthians 8

Not pretending!

Scripture: 1Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

Observation: In this verse I see that all things came from the Father and we live for His purpose and pleasure. I also see that everything was created through the work of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, through His work in creation and His work on the cross. We are now to live our lives through Him.

Application: This means that I belong to God because He created me and because He gave His Son for me. Living through Him means that I read the scripture and work to apply it to my life. I live my day knowing that He is with me. I do not ignore Him or pretend like He is not with me. I keep Him in my thoughts and talk to Him.
The world may accuse me of pretending that He is with me, but I would be pretending if I acted like He was not with me.

Prayer: Lord, I live my life through you. You are with me and I do not want to pretend otherwise. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 22: Joshua 12-14; 1Corinthians 7

Responsible

Scripture: 1Corinthians 7:24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.

Observation: A few verses earlier, slaves are told if they can gain their freedom, they should, however Christians are not to place eternal importance on their present standing in life. Whatever our position in life, we are responsible to God. It is to God we will answer.

Application: As a SOAP-writer and school bus driver I am responsible to God. As a husband I am responsible to God. As a citizen of the city of Andover I am responsible to God. For whatever I do and wherever I am, I am responsible to God.

Prayer: Lord, I am responsible and will answer to you. I need your Holy Spirit to help me live a life that pleases you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 21: Joshua 9-11; 1Corinthians 6

Respecting my body

Scripture: 1Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Observation: I just noticed that Paul jumps over some obvious reasons to keep sexually pure. He did not mention the harm done to the family and especially the spouse. He did not mention the many diseases to which one can be exposed. He simply says that your body belongs to God who lives in you. Honor God by the way you respect it.

Application: If I paid $100 for a used car and it breaks down after six months, I do not feel like I lost much. I got more than I expected. However if I paid $40,000 for a new car and it breaks down after six months, I would be quite upset.
I not only belong to God because He created man, I belong to God because I was “bought at a price”—a great price! A whole lot more than $40,000! God paid a big price for Leon; He expects and deserves the best from my life. I must respect and treat my body for what it really is—nothing less than the temple of the Holy Spirit! Wow!

Prayer: Lord, may the way I live my life demonstrate to the world that I both understand and appreciate how great the sacrifice you made for me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

Depending on God!

Scripture: Psalm 69: 13 ¶ But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.
…
16 Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.

Observation: The Psalmist was in trouble and looking for an answer from God. He was not approaching God on the basis of how he deserved God’s love, but on the basis of God’s character. He was counting on God’s goodness and love. He was counting on God to show him favor and be merciful.

Application: It is humbling to realize how holy, just and righteous God is and how unworthy I am. I have to depend on His mercy and His love for me. He made a sacrifice so awesome that it more than covers my sins. Not only do I need to depend on Him, He wants me to depend on Him. I must depend on Him when I am in trouble, when I am tempted, when I am tired, when I am disappointed, when I am happy, when things are going my way and when they are not.

Prayer: Lord, I am so thankful I can count on you. You help me maintain a life of victory and restore victory to me when I fall. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 19: Joshua 3-6; 1Corinthians 4

Servants

Scripture: 1Corinthians 4: So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (NIV)

Observation: A servant is how Paul sees himself, and how he wants others to see him. He is not about promoting himself. He is all about serving Christ and those to whom he has been sent. The secrets were given to him not so that he and God could have something special that no one else would know, but so that he could share them with others. God wanted them to be known and Paul was a servant doing God’s will.

Application: A servant is how I should see myself, and how I want others to see me. It is not about promoting me. I am all about serving Christ and those to whom I have been sent. The things God shows me in His Word (things He has shown to many, many others) are not only just so God and I can have something special, but so that I can share them with others.

Prayer: Lord, SOAP is a major avenue you provide for me to share with others the things you give me. May each reader recognize the opportunities you bring their way to share with others what you give them. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

Depending on God!

Scripture: Joshua (NIV) 2:10 We (the Canaanites) have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you (the Israelites) when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.
11 When we heard of it, our hearts sank and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

Observation: Forty years earlier the Israelites became afraid of the Canaanites when the 10 spies brought back the report that they would not be able to defeat the Canaanites, however, the Canaanites had been afraid of the Israelites before that. The plagues on Egypt and the drying up of the Red Sea were God’s way of serving notice to the Canaanites that their days were numbered. Before the twelve spies ever entered the land, God had prepared the hearts of the Canaanites for defeat. God was giving this land to the Israelites like He had promised Abraham. They would have to fight, but the outcome would not depend on their ability to fight, but on God’s ability to keep His word!

Application: Yes, there are struggles in life, but as I trust and obey God, I discover that the outcome of those struggles does not depend on my abilities, but on God’s faithfulness to keep His word!

Prayer: Lord, I am depending on you! I am depending on your faithfulness and ability to keep your word! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

March 17: Deuteronomy 32-34; 1Corinthians 2

…but God…

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"—
10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Observation: There is nothing like the two words “but God” to turn negatives into positives. No one can see it, no one can hear it, and no mind can even think it but God reveals it to us!

Application: As I look back I recall times I should have failed, times I should have been killed, times I should have lost my way, BUT GOD was with me and brought me through. As I look ahead I know that there will be times when my strength will fail, times when I will not know what to do or say, times when things will appear over, BUT GOD will be there to bring me through!

Prayer: Lord, seeing you in my past encourages me to look for you in my future! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

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

Scripture: 1Corinthians 1:30 (The Message) Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ.
31 That’s why we have the saying, "If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God."

Observation: When Christ enters a life, He makes everything new. All past sins are forgiven. He gives a new perspective—a new way of thinking. He begins a new way of living—the way of love.

Application: When I realize just how much God has done for me, I have no reason to boast. All the glory goes to Him! He gets all the credit!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, check me when I start to talk like it was all up to me. And help me to let people know that what you have done for me you will do for them. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!