Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 10, 2026:  SOAP #5972:   1Samuel 8-10; 2Corinthians 10

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 10:1 By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you— I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away!

OBSERVATION: In this verse are two interesting and very desirable characteristics of God, especially as God interacts with man: meekness and gentleness.  Here is how I see these two characteristics being expressed in the amazing relationship between me and God. 

Meekness has to do with my approaching God.  His power is under the control of His love.  He is approachable because I do not need to fear being crushed by His awesome power and glory.  He is so big and yet He touches me without destroying me.  He is careful about my being.  He is meek; I can come close to Him without fear of being destroyed. 

Gentleness has to do with God approaching me.  Gentleness is power under control.  He knows my limitations and gently draws me to him.  He gently leads and guides me.  His conviction warns me that I am headed down the wrong path. He is patient and quick to forgive. He is careful about my feelings.  During life’s storms, He shelters me.  His Word gives comfort and strength.        

APPLICATION: If man was designing a god, surely, we would want him to be meek and gently.  But God is not meek and gentle because we made him that way, nor because man made a law that a god should be that way.  God is meek and gently because that is just the way HE is.  It is His nature in dealing with sinful men who repent and make Him their LORD…in dealing with His children! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for being approachable!   Thank you for approaching me in tenderness and kindness.  Make me more like you!  May I be meek and approachable.  And may I reach out to others in a gentle way.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  https://soapsbyleon.com

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 09, 2026:  SOAP #5971:   1Samuel 6-7; Psalm 72; 2Corinthians 9

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 9:11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

OBSERVATION: From the context, we see that Paul is writing to people who were being challenged to give to help the church in Jerusalem.  Jerusalem was going through hard economic times. 

APPLICATION: When God gives through us, it has three obvious benefits.  The first is supplying the need to which it was given. 

The second is the glory God receives when people hear how God met the need.  The monetary gift came through us, but God receives the glory. 

The third is that the people receiving the help will pray for us. And as givers we receive the blessing of knowing that we are actively participating in God’s work and God will reward us. 

PRAYER:  Lord, you are always doing things to help me and make me look good.  May I do things that make you look good!  May I use the money, you generously provide me, to bring you pleasure.  And may you receive praise from those who benefit from my generosity.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  https://soapsbyleon.com

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 08, 2026:  SOAP #5970:   1Samuel 3-5; Psalm 77; 2Corinthians 8

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 8:3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.  Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.  5 And they went beyond our expectations; having given themselves first of all to the Lord, they gave themselves by the will of God also to us. 

OBSERVATION: The Corinthians believers were not just making a donation.  They gave according to their ability.  They gave beyond their ability.  They gave willingly.  They considered it a privilege to give.  They exceeded Paul’s expectations.  The Corinthians believers were givers.  Where did such sacrificial giving begin?  It began by giving “themselves first of all to the Lord.” 

APPLICATION:  Sharon and I have given ourselves to the Lord, and since we claim Jesus as our Lord, all that we have belongs to Him.  So, giving is not a matter of making a donation; it is much more.  Giving is willing and joyfully disbursing His money as He directs.    

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, May you have joy in increasing our finances because you have joy in seeing how we manage what you have already given.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  https://soapsbyleon.com

I want to take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation for everyone who has participated in the SOAP ministry by giving.  When I started writing SOAPs I never expected such growth and fruitfulness.  When Pastor Andrew told me that he had a vision to help them spread across Africa, I told him that he had a bigger vision than I did.  But now I see that his vision was from the Lord.  It has been a blessing to me to see much of the financial support for the SOAP ministry come from Africa.  It is also a special blessing for God to allow many non-Africans to be a part of He is doing in Africa, and especially Muslim-Africa.  There is a powerful prayer ministry targeting Africa; God is a prayer-answering God!   And God has, through His people, provided finances to keep the SOAP ministry moving ahead!    May God’s blessings be easily recognized in each one who participates.  😊

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 06, 2026:  SOAP #5968:   Ruth 3-4; Psalm 64, 65; 2Corinthians 6

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 6:16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” [Ezekiel 27:37] 
17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” [from Isaiah 52:11] 
18 “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” [Jeremiah 32:9]

OBSERVATION: Not “we were.”  Not “we will be.” But “WE ARE” the temple of the living God.  That is what we are right now!  

The various temples in my lifetime display what worshippers believe their god can do.  Appropriately, they are lifeless exhibits of lifeless gods.  Worshippers faithfully carry on hoping to appease the god’s anger or to gain some reward. 

Not so with The Lord God Almighty.  He is a living God and requires a living temple!  His worshippers, in whom He dwells, are His temple!  He does not relate to us as stones and mortar, but as a Father with His children.   

APPLICATION: My life is a temple of THE Living God!  My life should display God in a favorable way.  My worship and service should make God attractive.  My worship is not a lifeless ceremony from the past, but a living out of a current relationship with the King of kings and the Lord of lords!  We are friends!  He is my Father!   

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I know that you are working for my good, even when you are correcting me.  Lord, I want to live my life for your good.  I want my life to be a place you love to live. I want to be your child that brings joy to your heart. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  https://soapsbyleon.com

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 05, 2026:  SOAP #5967:   Ruth 1-2; Psalm 53, 61; 2Corinthians 5

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

OBSERVATION: Christ died for us and in response to His love, we have died to ourselves.  He is now alive with power over death and the grave.  His resurrected life now lives within those who believe!  They now have a higher purpose than to live for themselves; they now live for Him! 

APPLICATION: When a hero loses his life in the act of saving another, the one saved has been known to dedicate their life to the memory of the one who saved them.  When the hero is Jesus, and the one saved is Leon, the least I can do is to dedicate my life to living for Jesus! 

That makes sense, but that is not what I hear God saying to me.  He does not want me to live my life for Him, or in honor of HIM.  He wants much more.  He has a much bigger plan for me than I could ever accomplish for Him.  Even though I would do the best I can to honor Him, it would not rise to a level of which He is worthy.  He wants more than to join me in my life. What He wants is for me to surrender my life, to die to my own best intentions.  He wants to live His Life through me.  His plan is to live His resurrected life in and through me! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, show me how to crown Jesus as the One and Only King of my life.  To the he Resurrected Jesus I now surrender the full position and authority of Lord in the life of Leon.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  https://soapsbyleon.com

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 04, 2026:  SOAP #5966:   Judges 19-21; 2Corinthians 4

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

OBSERVATION:  Now that we have been born again and have God’s Spirit living inside we discover a new purpose for our mortal bodies. They are to reveal His life.  As we die to our desires, we become alive to His ‘desires and our body becomes an avenue to express His life rather than ours. 

What an honor to carry the Presence of God in our life and to live as an expression of Him!  His love, joy, and peace become evident in our life. 

APPLICATION: People will notice the differences in our lives now that Jesus is Lord.  We may talk differently—not using some words or phrases—not being negative.  We may respond differently—with kindness instead of gruffness—with patience.  We may dress more modestly—being careful of of the printed messages on our clothing. 

Many times, it is the difficult things we are experiencing that get the attention of others.  They too experience difficulties and they take note of how we respond.  When we face the same troubles yet respond differently, they become aware that we have a different source of life.

PRAYER:   Lord, I want you to be seen in me.  In my choices, my actions, and especially my reactions, may people see you living in me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  https://soapsbyleon.com