Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 12, 2026: SOAP #6187: Job 37, 38; 1Corinthians 12

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

OBSERVATION:  In this chapter Paul emphasizes two truths about the church, the body of Christ.  ONE: The life of Jesus is the life of the body and when we were born again, that life took up residence in each one of us.  We are all a part of that ONE body!  TWO: We are all different.  We have different gifts and talents. 

That these different parts are present in the body is obvious, but how they got there must be deduced from an outside source.  Here the Bible says that the parts of the body were designed and placed by God, just as He wanted them to be.   They are present at His pleasure and His design! God made each part unique!

APPLICATION:  There is no part of my body that is before my eyes more than my hands. (What an excellent place to have a reminder of the vows I made to my wife.)   The similarities of my hands cause them to work together well, but their differences enhance their usefulness. 

God designed me so like those around me, yet so different.  The similarities help me interact with them.  The differences make me valuable and useful in my family, my workplace, and my church. 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for both similarities and differences.  May you be blest as I fulfill your calling on my life to be a part of the body of Christ. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 11, 2026: SOAP #6186: Psalm 122; 1Corinthians 9-11

SCRIPTURE: 1Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize
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 for ever.

OBSERVATION: Paul had just made note of some of the sacrifices he had made in preaching the gospel. He compared them to the runners preparing for a race. The runners considered it worth the pain of enduring the strict training as they look forward to the prize of winning the race. Yet their prize was only a garland of leaves that would soon fade. Paul was running for an eternal reward!

APPLICATION: The prize is worth the suffering! Paul thought so; Jesus thought so; and so, should I. I remember singing: “It will be worth it all; when we see Jesus. Life’s trials will seem so small; when we see Christ. One glimpse of His dear face; all sorrow will erase; so bravely run the race; till we see Christ!”

PRAYER: Lord, the course set out for me to run may be different than the course for others, but may I faithfully run the race set out before me in a way that will make it easy for you to reward me. I want to run my race in a way that shows others how wonderful you are. May they see the joy you give those committed to you. May seeing my life make them want to serve you too. Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 06, 2026: SOAP #6181: Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3,4

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 3:11 Clearly no-one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” [Habakkuk 2:4]
12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”

OBSERVATION:  If people could be justified, having their sin so removed that it was as if they had never sinned, then Jesus would not have been sent to die for our sins.  But it is impossible for one who has already broken the law to so perfectly keep the law that their past sins are covered.  And all have sinned, there is no one righteous, not even one!  [Romans 3:10]

It is faith in Jesus.  Faith that His death on the cross is the payment for my sins.  I became a believer that Jesus came to die for my sins; I began thinking and living in appreciation for His sacrifice. 

APPLICATION:  I am ONLY made righteous by faith, and I must continue to live by faith.  Having a loving relationship by faith with God’s Son who died for my sins results in my wanting to please Him.  The way I live should demonstrate my love for God and my faith in what He has done.  Big and small decisions should demonstrate my love for Jesus.  My actions should reveal that Jesus is now living inside me as my Lord. 

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, I have sinned and am unable to cleanse myself from the results of my sins. Thank you for dying for me. I receive your death as the payment for my sins.  I receive You in my heart to live your life through me.  May my faith and love for you be easily seen in my words and actions. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 05, 2026: SOAP #6180: Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

OBSERVATION:  With Christ, I share history.  My computer may be only 2 years old, but the program within may be 7 or 8 years old.  The program may have updates that are older than the computer.  —  The same is true of Leon.  I am only 73 years old, but in me is a life that goes all the way back to the crucifixion.  Christ, who was crucified, lives in me! 

With Christ, I share the present.  Paul was not living the life of Paul, but the life of Christ.  He considered himself dead to Paul and alive to Jesus!  The decisions about his actions were directed by Jesus.  —  The same is true of Leon.  A new life source is directing my daily thoughts, words, and actions. 

With Christ, I share the future.  In our Father’s house, Jesus is now preparing a place for me that I may be where He is!   What a day that will be! 

APPLICATION:  On my own, I had no hope of being righteous enough to be allowed into heaven.  I could never keep all the demands of the law.  I had even broken the law before I understood it!   But when by faith I accept Jesus’ death as the payment for my sins, I became joined with Him, past, present, and future!  By faith, with Jesus on the cross, I died to myself.  Now, with Jesus living within me, He is training Leon to think of Leon as dead; Christ is living within. And in joyful faith I look forward to an eternity with Him in our Father’s house.  What a life!!!  What a past!  What a present!  What a future! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, your plan to include me amazes me.  I am eternally grateful for the sacrifices of you in sending your Son, and of Jesus in coming to die for my sins.  Holy Spirit, help me live my life in honor of these sacrifices.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 03, 2026: SOAP #6178: Job 25; Mark 13-14

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 13:11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say.  Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was talking to his disciples about the end days.   He emphasized the importance of the Holy Spirit.  The people would need to have a close relationship with the Holy Spirit. 

As Jesus walked every day in relationship with the Holy Spirit, so should I walk every day being aware of the Spirit’s presence and tuning my heart and mind to hear His voice.  My past response to what I sensed was the Holy Spirit’s direction assures Him that I will faithfully do what He shows me today.  And my response today will give Him assurance that I will respond and obey tomorrow. 

APPLICATION:  I believe that the days about which Jesus was talking are beginning now or soon to come.   So, I must sharpen my ability to recognize His voice and be quick to do as He directs.  I need to go through my day thoughtfully doing my best as I understand it.  However, when I hear/sense/feel the tugging of the Holy Spirit to change, I should not push those thoughts away as though they are just some crazy thoughts.  If there is nothing morally wrong with them, I should consider that the Holy Spirit may be directing me to change my words or actions. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I consider it a great privilege that you would speak to me and use me for good.  Obviously, You know what is best for me to say and do.  The smartest thing I can do is to follow your directions.  I count on You to give me directions; I also count on you to empower me to do as you direct. I believe that what you give me to do will be coordinated with what you are doing in others. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 31, 2026: SOAP #6175: Job 22; Mark 7-8

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 8:14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat….
17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. 20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

OBSERVATION:  They had watched Jesus feed 5000 people with 5 loaves.  They had watched Jesus feed 4000 people with 7 loaves.  Now their concern was they had only one loaf to feed themselves.  They thought Jesus might have been mentioning their lack of foresight.  If 5 loaves fed 5000 and 7 loaves fed 4000, then 1 loaf should be enough for 13! (Twelve disciples and Jesus.)

APPLICATION:  What God has done in the past should affect how I deal with the present!   What God has done in the past should affect how much I worry about present needs.  If I soften my heart, if I open my eyes, if I open my ears…then considering what God has done for me in the past changes my perspective of what He can and will do for my present situation! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, continue reminding me of what you have done as recorded in scripture.  And continue to remind me of what you have done for me in my lifetime.  Father, you are more than willing and capable of meeting all of my needs!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 30, 2026: SOAP #6174: Job 21; Mark 5-6

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 6:31  Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So, he began teaching them many things.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus knew his disciples.  He knew they were tired.  He invited them to come WITH HIM in a boat to a place where they could get some rest. 

But when they arrived at their destination, a crowd was already gathered, and Jesus began ministering to them.  Later in the day, these tired disciples helped Jesus feed 5,000 men plus the women and children!  

Where did they get the strength to minister to the crowd?  They got it from being WITH HIM!  

APPLICATION:  At times I too experience the weariness of being busy serving the Lord.  But God provides renewed strength and joy to sustain me in my weariness. 

It is found in HIS Presence!  It is found in the knowledge that I can be useful to HIM!  It is found in being in the boat with HIM on the way and then ministering with HIM when He and I arrive. 

The key is not to run ahead, nor to lag behind, but to go WITH HIM! 

PRAYER:  Lord, it is in Your Presence that my strength is renewed, and I am refreshed to continue when I am weary.  Thank you.   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 29, 2026: SOAP #6173: Job 20; Mark 3-4

SCRIPTURE:  Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve—designating them apostles— that they might be (1^st) with him and that he might (2^nd) send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

OBSERVATION:  The pattern is clear.  Those who would do great things for the Lord must first spend time with Him. 

A business owner who has spent years building a successful business probably will not take an extended vacation and leave his business in the hands of a novice.  Before turning it over to someone, he would want to make sure they understand his ways and priorities. 

So it was with Jesus.  He did not send the disciples out on their own until they had spent time with Him. 

APPLICATION:  If I want the Lord to use me to do things for Him I must first spend time with Him. 

It is in spending time with Him that I learn His ways and priorities.  I learn His heart.  I learn not only what He does, but more importantly, why He does what He does. 

And when He does send me out to work for Him, I discover that He is not sending me alone!  He goes with me.  His Holy Spirit is living in me.  I discover that ministry is allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through me, touch through me, and write SOAPs through me. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I have often sang, “To be used of God, to sing, to speak, to pray; to be used of God to show someone the way…”  Perhaps I should rather be singing, “To spend time with God until I know His ways; to spend time with God until I know His heart…”  And Lord, when I move out in ministry, it is not my ministry, but your ministry.  SOAP is not our ministry for which we are seeking your help; SOAP is your ministry in which you are using us.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 
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