Tag Archives: christianity

My Honor, Privilege, and Joy

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 23, 2025: SOAP #5620:  1Samuel 27; 1Chronicles 9; Psalm 141; Matthew 10

SCRIPTURE:   Matthew (NIV) 10:40 “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”

OBSERVATION:   Jesus takes personally how others treat us!  We are His children; we identify with Him.  He is our Lord; He identifies with us. 

For several years in the US Navy, I served on a Commodore’s staff.  When sent by the Commodore to inspect a ship, the Commodore was very interested in how I was received.  When we were not welcome, we did not complain, nor did we try to prove why we should be given permission to inspect the ship.  We merely reported back to the Commodore!  He made the phone call.  He had the ship’s captain come to his office.  He spoke to the captain.  The captain returned to the ship, gave us a call and welcomed us to his ship.  The Commodore took it personally!   Jesus takes it personally!

The Commodore had invested his authority in me; but Jesus has invested His LIFE in me!   If the Commodore took people’s reaction to me personally, how much more would Jesus take personally how people treat me!!!  

APPLICATION:   The Commodore sent me to his ships, but he never accompanied me.  But what a difference with Jesus!   He not only sends me, but He accompanies me!   What people do to me, they do to HIM!  No wonder He takes it personally!  

Knowing that Jesus is with me gives me courage to step out and do what I believe He is leading me to do.  His presence helps me overcome any fear that the enemy tries to put in my heart.  It is such a privilege to represent the omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent Creator of all things. 

PRAYER:   Lord, it is an honor to know that the King of Glory uses me for His purpose.  Be it something great, or something very small, it is my joy to serve you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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The Living Jesus seen through my actions!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 20, 2025: SOAP #5617:  1Samuel 23; Psalm 31,54; Matthew 7

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.  Only those who do what my Father in heaven wants will enter.  …
24 “So then, everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man.  He builds his house on the rock. 
25 The rain comes down.  The water rises.  The winds blow and beat against that house.  But it does not fall.  It is built on the rock.   

OBSERVATION:   Jesus knew what he was talking about.  He came to do the will of the Father.  He said that the works he did were really the Father’s works and the words he spoke were also the Father’s. 

Doing the Father’s will led Him to the cross and the grave.  It also led him through the resurrection back to the glory at His Father’s side.     

APPLICATION:   The first work of being a Christian is to believe.   I must believe that the work of Jesus on the cross is the full payment for my sins.  Forgiveness is amazing grace offered to me; I receive it by faith. 

That my life belongs to Jesus can be easily seen by others as I do what He directs. 

Salvation starts in my heart but finds expressions through my actions and words.  If there is no outward expression, there is probably no inward life.  After all, faith without works is dead.

PRAYER:   Lord, not just a hearer, but a doer is what you expect from me.  May my hands and feet please you as much as my heart.  And, Lord, as we celebrate your resurrection today, may it become clear to others that You are alive and living in me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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He Already Knows

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 19, 2025: SOAP #5616:  1Samuel 22; Psalm 17,35; Matthew 6

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 6:31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

OBSERVATION:   Our Heavenly Father who created us already knows we need “these things.”  He created our bodies to need them. 

People in the world go to great effort to obtain “these things.”  Here we are instructed to put our efforts on the priorities of God’s structure of authority and doing things right.  When we do that, God will provide the “these things” we need.

APPLICATION:   God has been faithful in providing what I need.  I have no reason to believe He is going to stop. 

I want Him to have no reason to believe that I will stop seeking first His kingdom.

NOTE: To those who have taken orphans into their care, here is a verse to take to the Lord in prayer.  When you are short on food, drink, and/or clothing, go to God with your Bible open to this passage and your finger on these verses.  Then listen and obey.  There are many scriptures upon which those caring for children can stand to bolster their faith.  Seek to bring those children into becoming fruitful members of God’s kingdom. 

PRAYER:   Lord, you know what I need, and I thank you for your faithful provision!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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The Identifying Mark

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 18, 2025: SOAP #5615:  1Samuel 20-21; Psalm 34; Matthew 5

SCRIPTURE:   Matthew (NIV) 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

OBSERVATION:   Love is not only a dominate part of God’s character, He desires that His creation have love as a dominant part of their character!  It was because of love that God send His son to die in our stead for our sins.  (John 3:16)   He said that love would be a distinguishing characteristic of His disciples. (John 13:35)   It is to be the identifying mark that identifies us with Him!  It leaves no mark on our body, but everyone knows it is there! 

APPLICATION:   The love God wants for His people is not a reaction love, but an acting love.  It is not love that returns a favor; it is love that is given when no favor is expected in return.  Simple put, it is the love that God has extended to me.                                                                                                                                                                

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, I who have been loved so much need your help to love those around me.  Let you love flow through me to someone who needs that love today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Wisdom

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 16, 2025: SOAP #5612:  1Samuel 18; 1Chronicles 6; Psalm 11; Matthew 3

SCRIPTURE:  1Samuel (KJV) 18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely…
1Samuel (KJV) 18:14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. 15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
1Samuel (KJV) 18:30 …David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.

OBSERVATION:   David was young, but wise.  He did not act foolishly.  His wisdom was appreciated by others because they could see it in his actions.  Wisdom comes more with maturity than with age. 

Wisdom is more than intelligence and knowledge.  Wisdom is understanding how to apply knowledge.  It is understanding what truth applies to a given situation.  Priorities are set by wisdom.  Wisdom gathers applicable truth and determines a course of action and sets the timeline for that action. 

APPLICATION:   Wisdom is communicated to me through daily reading the Bible and in listening to the Holy Spirit who is my constant companion.  The wisest thing I can do is to listen to Him and do as He directs. 

The Gospels show the life of Christ while he lived here on earth and since I am presently on earth, I find wisdom from learning how he lived.  Wisdom should be seen in my actions.     

Wisdom emphasizes the importance of my eternal life and where I will spend eternity.  Wisdom searches out the important choices that need to be made. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit may your presence in my life be seen by what you lead me to do.  May the wisdom of your Word be visible in my words and actions. Wisdom shows me that I need to receive forgiveness for the things I have done wrong.  Wisdom shows me that Jesus died on the cross as payment for my sins.  In wisdom, I have accepted His forgiveness.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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My Mission

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 15, 2025: SOAP #5611:  1Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”…
11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

OBSERVATION:   The Magi traveled many miles and many days to fulfill their mission.  Surely, they were thinking that any king born in Israel would be born in Jerusalem.  But in Jerusalem they were only able to state their mission and get directions to where they would be able to fulfill their mission. 

What was their mission?  They had come to worship the new-born king!   They did not worship in Jerusalem, nor when the star appeared, however they did rejoice upon seeing the star.  It was when they saw the child; it was when they were in His presence that they fulfilled their mission—they worshipped!  

APPLICATION:   I can praise God talking to you; I can give Him glory talking to you; but for worship, I must be aware of His presence.  Simply stated, worship begins with an awareness of His presence.  It is the natural response to His presence.  What we do to Him (worship) leads to what we do for Him (service).  Worship leads to deeper commitment, to service, to evangelism.

PRAYER:  Lord, you alone are worthy of my worship.  You are searching for worshippers.  May you find me to be what you desire. (John 4:23)   My mission is to honor you in all I do. Worship is at the heart of my mission.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Growing in Jesus

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 14, 2025: SOAP #5611:  1Samuel 15-16; 1Chronicles 5; Matthew 1

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:  His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.  

OBSERVATION:   Here is an extremely important portion of scripture.  For Jesus to be the acceptable sacrifice to pay for sin, His blood line had to be sinless.  In these verses we see that Mary’s pregnancy was not by Joseph, but by the Holy Spirit.  Being born of Mary, Jesus is the Son of man.  Being impregnated by the Holy Spirit, Jesus is the Son of God. 

Being the son of Mary, Jesus was fully human and could physically suffer and die.  Being the Son of God, He was sinless.  When He died on the cross, his death was not needed to cover any personal sins.  So, His sinless death is accepted as payment for the sins of those who accept Him into their lives.     

APPLICATION:   Jesus most often referred to Himself as the “Son of Man.”  Jesus laid aside His deity to live on earth as a man full of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is proof that the Holy Spirit can live in a human body.  As the Son of Man full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is my example.   I too must live my life full of the Holy Spirit, being led to live my life like Jesus!  To be like Jesus, I must live my life full of the Holy Spirit!   I must learn to let Him take the lead.  The Holy Spirit helps me understand how to apply the scriptures to my life.   

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, live in me the life you lived in Jesus as He walked this earth.  May the character and nature of Jesus be seen in me. May I grow in love and grace.  Help me see things as Jesus sees them.  In Jesus Name I pray, Amen

Pastor Leon
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My weakness; HIS STRENGTH!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 13, 2025: SOAP #5610:  1Samuel 14; 1Chronicles 4; 2Corinthians 13

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 13:4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you….

OBSERVATION:   Here we see even Jesus weakened Himself to the place people could crucify him!  Then He was resurrected by the power of God and He now lives by God’s power. 

Why did Jesus become so weak to be killed?  I was for our sake.  He died for our sins and He arose with the power to give salvation to all who will receive!!    

The pre-crucifixion Jesus is no longer alive!  When we invite Jesus to come into our lives and become our Lord, He is not moving in as the one we read about in the gospels, but as the one in Revelation 1.  The crucifixion is over!  He is not preparing to suffer!  He is coming again to rule and reign.  He comes into our hearts as the reigning king and Lord!     

APPLICATION:   The power Jesus has in His resurrected life was not for His benefit, but for my benefit!!!  (That is an amazing thought!)  And now as I live in weakness, God’s power shines through me.  It is not power to be used for my benefit, but for serving others!  

PRAYER:   Lord, teach me how to step back from using my limited power to allow Your unlimited power to flow through me.  Help me remember that when I am weak, then I am strong in you.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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He takes advantage of my weaknesses!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 12, 2025: SOAP #5609:  1Samuel 13; 1Chronicles 2-3; 2Corinthians 12

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

OBSERVATION:   God’s power is best seen in a person’s life in areas where they have little or no power of their own.   Credit cannot go to them, for everyone knows they have no talent, or wisdom, or strength to accomplish what is needed.  All the credit and glory must go to the Lord.  And they are delighted when God gets the glory!  

APPLICATION:   I should be delighted, but at times I am troubled when God calls me to do something out of my comfort zone.  Only after God has proved Himself faithful in accomplishing through me what I could not accomplish myself do I relax and rejoice in His Presence. 

In driving a school bus for 15 years, I had become comfortable, enjoying the interactions with the students.  But last week, the Lord had me working in the front office of an automotive muffler shop.  At times I saw that my weaknesses became His strengths.  I could not talk much about automotive mechanics and exhaust systems, but the Lord helped me turn the conversation to spiritual things. 

PRAYER:   Lord, I know you will never call me to do what you are not willing to do through me.  More and more, help me to relax and enjoy the journey.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Faithfully Prepared

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 11, 2025: SOAP #5608:  1Samuel 11-12; 1Chronicales 1; 2Corinthians 11

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians 11:7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?
2Corinthians 13:10 — the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.  Note: 2Corinthians 10:8

OBSERVATION:   The Lord wants us to be elevators.  May we raise people with strength and confidence.  May we lift them to a higher floor.  If we have to take people down, may we do it in gentleness and carefulness, bringing them down easily and not crashing to the bottom.   The priority however is to build them up and lift them to a higher point of view.  

A word of encouragement, a compliment, a friendly greeting can lift the countenance of a person feeling discouraged, defeated, and/or all alone. 

APPLICATION:   Almost everywhere I look, I can find people who need a lift.  I need only to look at the faces of those around me.  When people are down, it can be seen on their face.  And better than that, we have the Holy Spirit to encourage us to speak to someone; and He will mix thoughts or words in our thinking to speak to them. 

Today, the Lord wants to use me to bring a word of hope and/or encouragement.  I must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. 

Here is a simple and practical suggestion: if you do not know what to say, start with the main thought from your most recent devotion, the one from this morning or last night.  It is very likely that God knew who you would happen to meet today, and He has prepared you. 

PRAYER:   Lord, show me today someone who needs a lift.  Use me to help lift their burdens.  I believe you are preparing me now to share your love with them.    Amen.

Pastor Leon
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