SOAP 12/31/2011; Revelation 21:6-7

Today's reading: Revelation 19,20,21,22

S)" ⁶ Then He said to me, 'It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. ⁷ He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.'"

Revelation 21:6:7 (NASB)

O) What really stood out to me, was series of words accross the two verses. It's important to remember, when reading the Bible, that the chapter breaks, verses, even puctuation, was added later as a means to more accurately communicate. I wonder sometimes, though, about whether or not things look separate to us here, in the 21st century, that wouldn't have seemed so separate in the original text. The phrase "life without cost." being right next to "He who overcomes" is a striking pair. It seems to me that the one who drinks from the spring of water and receives life without cost, then overcomes... I don't think we can overcome without having first drunk from that life-giving spring. Furthermore, I think the two are co-relative. If we are drinking from that spring, we will also be overcoming.

A) In the song, Temptation from the #MANUP album, this quote has consistantly stood out to me,

"Manning up is our ability to lay down all of our effort and all of our trying and all of our strength and say I trust in Jesus. I trust in His perfection. I trust in His power. I trust in His resurrection, because He's the only one that can get me through this. And He's the only one that can make me free!"

See, I can try all I want. I can push and practice and give all my effort. I may even succeed - even succeed often - but that effort is still in vain. If I am not first drinking from God's spring of life, from His Spirit, then my efforts are still my efforts! Instead of putting an emphasis on maintaining holiness, I need to put an emphasis on starting each day in God, and continuing in God. The holiness is important, but it's a byproduct of time spent with the Lord on a daily basis, from the start through the finish.

P) Father, forgive me of my pride in thinking I could clench my fist, white-knuckled around righteousness. Forgive me of my sins, Lord, and help me rely on Your perfection to see me through my temptations, lusts, failings, and sin. Holy Spirit, speak to me from the immediate start of every day. Remind me to commit each day to the LORD and to start by praising Your name, Lord. Let each day begin by reinforcing my relationship with You, as opposed to reinforcing my efforts to live a godly life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/30/2011; Revelation 17:14

Today's reading: Revelation 15,16,17,18

S)" ¹⁴ These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

Revelation 17:14 (NASB)

O) I love the song, "We've Already Won" by Red Umbrella. So what if they are Canadian? My wife has heritage from the Great White North, too! Anyway, in that song they echo the wonderful point made in this verse. The battle is already over, we've already won! In the end, His chosen and faithful are with Him when He is victorious.

A) Nothing will establish and protect faith like an eternal perspective and placing our minds on His salvation. In the end, everything else passes away. Do I still have rent to pay? Yes. Do I still need to put food on the table? Yes. Will God always provide for those things along the way, while I seek His eternal, spiritual direction for my life? YES! satan will try to overwhelm me with doubt, linking all sorts of problems together to make it look like a hopeless situation. The quickest way to counter that destructive thinking is starting at the end. God will win and I will be with Him when He does, as I have been chosen and will remain faithful.

P) Father, thank You first of all for the grace that You chose me in the beginning. The truth is that You choose everyone, if they will only respond in kind. In the divine way that only You can, You have chosen me as Your favorite, just as all of Your children are favorites. Holy Spirit, continue to discipline me, shape me, mold me to be the man I am destined to be. Help me remain faithful in everything, according to the will of the Father. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/29/2011; Revelation 14:13

Today's reading: Revelation 10,11,12,13,14

S)"¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, 'Write, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!"' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.'"

Revelation 14:13 (NASB)

O) So, there is a principle here, mentioned at the end of the verse, that our deeds can follow us after we die. There is a ripple effect in our world, for better or for worse. At the very least, there are the children - as we raise children, they will raise their children, and so on to the generations that follow, and as it trickles down our family trees, the way we raised our children will impact, on some level, our posterity for generations to come. Again, this is for better or for worse. Beyond our own families, though, this effect is felt everywhere we minister, or fail to minister. Everywhere we speak words of healing, or words of harm. Everywhere we build up, or tear down, we are affecting the people in our world and beyond. Our deeds will follow us.

A) There is tremendouse peace and promise in this, as long as I am doing well. It can become quite the test and danger if I am not doing well. This is all the more reason for me to think eternally, not temporally. I need to consider what kind of impact I can have on the people around me, but also how that may or may not ripple through that person's world. This is all the more reason to rely on the Holy Spirit to lead me in how I treat my wife and kids, but also how I live out my life in every facet. He has an eternal perspective I could never hope to own.

P) Father, I want my deeds that follow me to bless the people affected. Holy Spirit, lead me in all things, so that I am careful to do the will of the Father. I know You have the ultimate plan for everything, LORD, so I want to follow that plan as closely as I can. Forgive me for where I have faltered in its execution. Please give me grace in the harm I have done and might do in the future. In Jesus' name. Amen.

SOAP 12/28/2011; Revelation 5:9-10

Today's reading: Revelation 5,6,7,8,9

S)"⁹ And they *sang a new song, saying,
   'Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
 ¹⁰ 'You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.'"

Revelation 5:9-10 (NASB)
*Original Greek used present tense to convey stronger emphasis

O) I think the term "redeemed" is a little archaic and some of its implications are lost. One such aspect is the effect of purchase. God purchased us with the blood of Christ. There was an exchange that occurred. Because of this, we are made as kings and priests to our God, but it also means that we are endebted to the Lord. The truth is that no one is truly free. How many tales are there of princes and princesses, kings and queens who feel oppressed and bound by their duties, responsibilities, courts, and councils? But, there is no better creditor than God, because His motives are pure. He doesn't need us. He has no ulterior motives. He simply wants the best possible life for us, so He purchased us.

A) There are really only two ways to apply this scripture. I will remind myself that I was purchased for a reason - God has a preisthood, a throne for me. I need to minister to my family, lead them, and even minister to others. Alongside that, I need to continue to spread the gospel. Using the perspective and promise in this passage, I need to share that with others.

P) Father, I want to be lead my family justly. I want to lead by example, in holiness, through righteousness, to Your throne, God. I want to minister faithfully to them. Holy Spirit, lead me so I can lead them. Speak to me the will of the Father so that my prayers are effective. Help me wash them with the Word and foster an attitude and culture of worship in my home. Help me exert my boldness to proclaim the gospel with Your promises, and show people their destiny has been purchased for them. In Jesus' name. Amen.

SOAP 12/27/2011; Revelation 3:10

Today's reading: Revelation 1,2,3,4

S) "¹⁰ Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth."

Revelation 3:10 (NASB)

O) So, this is a huge promise that I've overlooked. God is about to spell out The Tribulation, and here He's telling the church at Philadelphia that they may, very well, escape it altogether. Like many promises from God, it's conditional. Here, protection is granted for those who have kept the work of His perseverance (or steadfastness). In otherwords, they persevered as Christ did (see John 17:6 and 2 Thessalonians 3:5). Will this faithfulness, perseverance, and obedience save us from other trials? I don't know, but Jesus said we should pray to avoid the end times, so this is a promise worth pursuing, even if it only escapes the last trials.

A) So, I should strive to persevere, first of all. Holding fast to the Word is a worthwhile, fruitful pursuit anyway, but this is a new layer of motivation. It's a hard thing, though, to be motivated by an event that still seems far off. Ultimately, though, no one knows the day or hour. So, I will continue to pursue the steadfastness of Christ, and pray that I am part of the church at Philadelphia, that I am spared from the trials of the end times.

P) Father, let me be found in perseverance according to the Word of Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, continue to lead me in all things, in all areas of my life, but especially speak to me concerning my steadfastness in the word of God. Show me where I've faltered and warn me before I slip. Strengthen me to persevere and strive to protect the righteousness within me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/26/2011; Psalm 119:116

Today's reading: Psalm 117; Psalm 119:81-176; 2 John 1; 3 John 1

S) "¹¹⁶ Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope."

Psalm 119:116 (NASB)

O) Sometimes it's easy for the enemy or the world to make us feel embarrassed of our faith in the Lord. They will make it seem silly, childish, hollow, or otherwise false. Ultimately, though, we have good reason to hope. Our hope is firmly established in the testimony of His word.

A) One of the effects I desired when I started to journal everyday, was to build up my boldness in the gospel. I want to be very transparent with my hope, so that the hopeless can see His light. Establishing myself in His word will secure my hope and remove any doubt. satan will not be able to sway me and the ridicule of this world will not hold me back. This verse will be my common prayer.

P) Father, sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Holy Spirit, sew this word in my heart as seed, and let it bear fruit in my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/25/2011; 1 John 4:19

Today's reading: 1 John 1,2,3,4,5

S) " ¹⁹ We love, because He first loved us."

1 John 4:19 (NASB)

O) This is the BEST Christmas gift! This is especially true because I am a Gentile. I was not part of God's chosen people, the Israelites. I had no covenant, no relationship with God. But He loved me first, before I loved Him, before I loved my family, or my parents, or anyone! He loved me in the perfect definition of grace.

A) I did nothing to deserve His love. I did nothing, even, to incurr His love. It's not even like I did something, anything, that would compel Him to love me. He simply is love and I am His creation, and so He loves me. Keeping this at the forefront of my mind is crucial to erasing the false-shame associated with stumbling in sin. Keeping this in mind is vital to combating the attacks of doubt from satan. From that focus, I need to continue to love others in His name. As an extension of His love, and the manifestation of His love, I need to love others in His name, and show them mercy in His name, and grace in His name.

P) Father, thank You for this love! Words escape me because this grace is so great. Holy Spirit, remind me of this very simple, very impactful truth; remind me often. Show me opportunities, and let me take opportunities, even create them, to share Your gracious love with others. Not because they deserve it, not because they even incurr it, or inspire it, but simply because You love them, and I am Your son, so I will love them. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/24/2011; John 21:10

Today's reading: John 19,20,21

S) " ¹⁰ Jesus *said to them, 'Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.'"

John 21:10 (NASB)
*Original Greek used present tense to convey stronger emphasis

O) First thing I noticed about this verse is that Jesus valued the work the disciples had done. He saw that it was good work, and He wanted to add their results to what He had already done (because He had already begun cooking some fish). Second thing I noticed is that there is no mention of the grace involved in their catch. He didn't say, "Bring me some of the fish which I helped you catch." or "... the fish with which I blessed you." He simply left it at the fact that they caught the fish. To me, this shows that, even though God wants us to be humble, He isn't trying to diminish our efforts or the results that we produce. Instead, I think He wants us to work with Him, not simply for Him, and He will acknowledge the good work we do.

A) I need to be sure I am doing good work, first of all. God will not ask me to bring to Him my catch, if I have caught nothing. But, I also need to ensure that the catch I have is good. So, I need to be obedient to His direction when I am doing my work (any work), so that it will produce a good haul. I also need to look at a bigger picture and realize that God doesn't need my works (as Jesus already had some fish), but He does desire for me to work. I need to remain humble and remember that it's not about me, it's always about Him.

P) Father, I want to be used for Your glory. I want to work with You, God. Even this morning, as I go to church and I help lead worship, I want to be obedient to Your lead. Holy Spirit, speak the will of the Father to me and direct my every move so that my work will not be in vain, but will be effective. Help me add to the haul of the Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/23/2011; John 16:13

Today's reading: John 15,16,17,18

S) "¹³ But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."

John 16:13 (NASB)

O) The Holy Spirit is the link we have to the Father in heaven. When we hear the voice of God, we're hearing from the Holy Spirit. Understanding that relationship sheds new light on our true dependence on the Holy Spirit, in following and serving God, according to His will.

A) Learning to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit is the first step. But, just as crucial, is taking the leap to act on what I hear. I test my hearing by acting on my perceptions. The more I do this, the more accurately and surely I will know His voice. Anytime I am acting in response and obedience to the Holy Spirit, then I am assured that it's what the Father really wants.

P) Father, I want to be obedient to Your will. Holy Spirit, speak to me and help me be obedient sooner than later. I want to be faithful with Your word and I want You to continue to use me for Your will. Give me assurance that I am hearing from You and increase my discernment. Help me build my faith by action, and not just by petition or study. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/22/2011; John 13:8-10

Today's reading: John 12,13,14

S) "⁸ Peter *said to Him, 'Never shall You wash my feet!' Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.' ⁹ Simon Peter *said to Him, 'Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.' ¹⁰ Jesus *said to him, 'He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.'"

John 13:8-10 (NASB)
*Original Greek used present tense to convey stronger emphasis

O) Simon Peter (S.P. for short =] ) has incredible zeal! He is mentioned in all of the Gospels and Acts as the front-man of the 12, Jesus even names him the rock on whom the rest of the church will be built. One thing that is always there, and it's on full display here, is that zeal. So many Christians get saved, give their life over to God and in the middle of that dramatic turn from despair to hope, they gain this same, amazing zeal! But what happens? Almost invariably, it fades. It's noteworthy that S.P. has been with Jesus about 3 years, to this point, but his zeal hasn't ebbed at all.

A) I can remember when I first gave my life to God. I was riding the bus as a freshman in H.S. and I'd sit in the first row and with each kid that got on and off the bus, I'd tell them, "Jesus loves you!" In hindsight, I don't think this was the best application of my faith, but my zeal was uncontainable! At the time I was a little aimless, I had no one to guide me, to harness my zeal toward something effective. When I recommitted my life to God as a husband and father, I had a refreshed zeal to know the Lord with more maturity and intimacy. I was excited to see what the He had in store for me and my family. I was excited to get to work in some kind of ministry. Kristin and I started by taking over the 1st service nursery in our church (a blessing to all the staffers who were parents). Now that we've served God in a few forms of ministry, for a handful of years, we've become more like veterans in our war, fighting the enemy from a few different arenas, on a few different fronts. I wouldn't say I'm disillusioned, exactly, but it's admittedly hard to get excited to work sometimes. It's easy to overlook what, exactly, is happening when I show up on Sunday to teach, or drum, or whatever-they-need that I'm doing. I need to get excited about every interaction I have with God! If I'm drumming, I need to remember my audience of one is The One! If I'm teaching, I need to remember that I am imparting a very real, living, piece of the Almighty when I share an aspect of anything from the very living Word. The Bible says do everything as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23) and I need to get excited about every interaction just as S.P. did. I think it's much better to have God tell me to calm down, than for Him to wish for me to be more excited.

P) Father, refresh my zeal for You! I want to be excited about every exchange we have. In every way that I work for You, help me to truly realize what's happening on a spiritual level. Holy Spirit, open my eyes to the wonder that is our relationship. Help me go all-in with every aspect of my life in You, God. Help me be aware of when or how You want me to scale it back, but let me error on the side of super-excited and over-the-top for Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/21/2011; John 10:10,29

Today's reading: John 9,10,11

S) "¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand."

John 10:10, 29 (NASB)

O) So, I'll be brief about a couple early points. First, you can't negotiate with satan. he only comes to steal and kill and destroy, so there is no mitigating, appeasing, or negotiating with him. Second, Jesus didn't just come to protect us, He didn't just come to give us life (i.e., heaven), He came so that we have it (present tense) and ABUNDANTLY. But, these first two points are only to set up the third point.
Thrid, no one takes anything from Dad. This brings up an interesting strategy, in terms of how I "defend myself" from the enemy. I put that in quotes because it's not really me doing the protecting. See, anything I keep for myself is subject to raids by satan. Anything I turn over to the Father is protected.
If my money is my own, he'll try to steal it. If my money is God's, it's protected.
If my health is my own, he'll try to destroy it. If my health is God's, it's protected.
If my life is my own, he'll try to kill me. If my life is God's, it's protected.

A) Only in complete humility and submission to the Father, is my life secure. I need to continually fight the consumer culture around me. I need to continually fight the entitled world around me. I need to continually trust in Him for provision, trust in Him for healing, trust in Him for my very life. It's not always easy, but it's definitely simple.

P) Father, help me trust You at all times with all things. Give me wisdom to know Your will and courage to follow Your plans for my life and for my family. Holy Spirit, keep my heart soft and continue give me the discipline of Christ. Please provide for my family financially. Bless us so that we can continue to bless others. Help me never doubt Your provision. Please heal me and my family of any lingering sicknesses or diseases that are trying to take hold. Please guard our very lives. Protect us from any attacks by our enemy; all according to Your will, not ours. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/20/2011; John 8:31-32

Today's reading: John 7,8

S) "³¹ So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'"

John 8:31-32 (NASB)

O) I think a lot of people know verse 32, but not a lot of people realize that it was conditional. Our freedom depends on knowing the truth and knowing the truth depends on being His disciple and being His disciple depends on continuing in His word. We cannot follow a discipline without first knowing the discipline, knowing the lesson. I cannot say that I follow the disciplines of judo if I know nothing of judo. Neither can I reap the benefits of judo if I am not disciplined in judo. The same is true for being a Christian, which is in fact, following the discipline of Christ.

A) So, foremost, I need to know the disciplines; I need to know His word. Studying something of God's word on a daily basis has become an integral part of my lifestyle over the last several months and I need to keep it up over the next - forever - years. Beyond simply knowing the discipline, though, I need to be disciplined by the principles. I need to be applying the words I read and not simply write about them. When I am living according to what I read, and implementing what I write, then I will find continued freedom, just as I have found freedom already.

P) Father, continue to refine me, Lord. You are a consuming fire, according to Scripture, and You will burn out impurities in me, in my heart. I want Your word to do just that. As I read Your words each day, wash me with them, cleanse my heart to be humbled before You and to seek Your will over my own in every way. Help me to take captive every desire of my flesh, to examine it and ensure that I am not a slave to it. Holy Spirit, reveal to me the will of the Father in everything, so I can follow the disciplines of the Son, being a true disciple, and I can walk in freedom. I don't want to be a slave to my flesh, which is perishing. Help me to walk in subjection to The King, being a bondslave to Christ, who never perishes. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/19/2011; John 5:19-20

Today's reading: John 5,6

S) "¹⁹ Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.'"

John 5:19-20 (NASB)

O) In this passage, Jesus is speaking to His own divinity and His descension from Heaven to Earth, but there's a lost principle in this. There is a misleading and misguided saying that goes, "Do as I say, not as I do." I think this is a terrible thing that I've seen in parenting. Now, there's something to be said about a parent making a mistake and talking to the child and admitting the mistake and advising against repeating, but this phrase is all-to-often used as a cop-out. Going all the way back into the Old Testiment, God wanted parents, and specifically fathers, to lead by example. We fathers must show our children how to live, not simply tell them how to live. Now, I imagine there are a lot of fathers who do a good job as examples to their kids, while the kids are around (awake, home, etc.), but notice what the beginning of verse 20 says, "and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing;" More than being a good example when your son can see and hear you, are you a good example behind closed doors? As fathers, we should be able to take any aspect of our lives, any moments, and use them as examples for our children. We should desire that our kids would be able to witness our behavior at any given time.

A) Obviously, there are some exceptions to this based on emotional and/or physical maturity, but I need to ask myself constantly, "Would I want my kids to know about this? Would I want my kids to emulate this? Do I want my kids to aspire to this?" As I live out my life in everything from my work, to how I treat my wife, to my prayer life, to my Bible study, to my internet use, to my language - even to where my thoughts dwell and how I spend my free time - Do I want my kids to do as I do? Or just do as I say? This is the conviction, the standard, the aspiration for myself. This is what it means to pursue holiness and protect righteousness.

P) Father, forgive me for my sins. Help me live a repentant, devoted, charitable, kind, compassionate, forgiving, sacrificing, faithful, righteous life. Holy Spirit, remind me constantly that I am the standard in my family. Help me set the culture in my home. Help me initiate worship and lead in prayer and read Scripture together. Help my children see godly behavior in me and create in them a desire to emulate that life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/18/2011; John 4:42

Today's reading: John 2,3,4

S) "⁴² and they were saying to the woman, 'It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.'"

John 4:42 (NASB)

O) I identify with John chapter 4. These Samaritans were always on the outside. Not quite Jews, but they wanted to serve God. They had some of the story, but not the whole thing. I feel like a lot of Americans that call themselves Christians must be a little like the Samaritans of this time. They'd heard of the promises of God and they believe, even if their life doesn't quite line up with Scripture. Here, we see that the witnessing of this Samaritan woman would only go so far. It was effective for some, but the real fruit for them, the real impact came, when she lead them to Jesus, in a much more literal way.

A) I can present a pretty good argument for things. I'm also blessed as a pretty effective teacher. If some one has questions, I'm pretty good at answering them. With God, though, words will only go so far. If I really want people to have change in their lives, if I really want people to serve God, chase holiness, and have blessings, then I need to be leading them to Jesus in the most literal way possible. I can't simply present facts to people, I need to show them the love, power, and reality of Jesus Christ. Through worship, God's presence manifests (again, earlier in John 4). Through God's presence, people will see miracles and see the manifest power of the Almighty God. THAT is how they will see who Jesus is. Like the Samaritan woman, they will see that God is, in fact, fully aware of their past and mistakes, but His love is not diminished. In fact, it is the power of His abundant love that overcomes their sins, and the greatness of our sins (all of us) only proves the surpassing greatness of His love.

P) Father, I want to walk in Your presence continually because I want people to see Your goodness through me. I want to be a living billboard, a walking advertisement to Your grace, favor, goodness, victory and love. Holy Spirit, lead me so that I can lead them and they can see the Son, in all His glory. Open their eyes to see and their ears to hear, so they do not miss Him. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/17/2011; 2 Peter 1:5-11

Today's reading: 2 Peter 1,2,3; John 1

S) "⁵ Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, ⁶ and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, ⁷ and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; ¹¹ for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you."

2 Peter 1:5-11 (NASB)

O) The "reason" mentioned in verse 5 is what is detailed in vv.1-4, which basically says that it's by faith and through grace that we are made righteous through Jesus Christ and that righteousness allows us to be partakers of God's divine nature, which is holiness. So, moving on from there we get a breakdown of spiritual growth and the fruitfulness that will come through that. Reaching verse 10 we see that this is the character of a person suitable for ministry and through that character, through the growth and fruit that comes through that, entry to Heaven goes without saying. It's important to note, however, that just because a person is working in a ministry does not mean they're automatically living a holy lifestyle and, therefore, automatically going to make it into heaven. It's a matter of the character they've built and the fruit they've grown - that's the indication of spiritual health and the indication that they will go to heaven.

A) First, Heaven is the number one priority. In light of eternal consequences, I think this may be the one area where God is okay with selfishness. I cannot let any person, desire, or thing get in the way of me making it to Heaven. Having said that, there's a lot more that I'd like to do than simply making it in to the eternal kingdom. I want to minister to my family, first of all, and I want to minister to others. I want to bring as many people with me into Heaven as I can. In order to do that, I need to be sure that I'm building the type of character that can minister effectively. I need to be taking steps to grow in the areas listed. Some of that is a natural byproduct of reading the Word daily (like virtue or knowledge), some of it comes through accountability partnering, mentoring, counseling, which is an area I admittedly need to address (like self-control or perseverance or godliness), some of it comes simply by practice of doing (like brotherly kindness or love). The main point, though, is that I should be making efforts to grow in these things. Being aware of that need is the first step. Ultimately, ideally, I may eventually make some kind of a short term- long term goal. I imagine that as I look into furthering my education next fall a lot of this will accelerate in a manner I've never quite experienced; however, I certainly don't want to wait or tarry until then.

P) Father, help me grow in these areas, Lord. I genuinely want to be a tool in Your hand, used for Your plan, God. Holy Spirit, continue to shape me into the man I'm called to be. Like an athlete, help me train myself in discipline to grow and become stronger in all of these traits, Lord. Help me address them all, neglecting none of them, and guide me as I even make goals and a plan to develop my character into that of a faithful, useful minister. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/16/2011; 1 Peter 3:7

Today's reading: 1 Peter 1,2,3,4,5

S) "⁷ You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered."

1 Peter 3:7 (NASB)

Disclaimer: Okay, so I was debating whether or not to choose this verse because this is such a public medium. Even though my blog will probably never be anywhere near as popular as my favorite blog, http://www.stuffchristianslike.net/, this can still be a volatile topic. But, the fact that this concept is so misunderstood is the very reason I decided to write about it.

O) Please hear me out! As a Christian, we have to believe in order. We have to believe in hierarchy, too. God wants structure and, in order for any ministry or effort to function properly and succeed, some one has to be in charge. If everyone is embracing their place/role with honor, integrity, righteousness, humility, and honesty, everything runs smoothly. A family is no different. Physically and spiritually speaking, men are built to be stronger than women. Are there exceptions? Of course; however, across the board, this is by design.
In the exceptions, you find women who have worked hard to reach their maximum potential and you have men who have done literally nothing to strengthen themselves. This is true physically and spiritually. With equal effort, men come out stronger and there is a purpose behind that (more in a bit).
Now, the balance here, the safety plan to keep things in check, is the warning that ends this verse. "Show her honor as a fellow heir" means that a wife is, by no means, a second-class citizen. She is not a lesser person, for her comparative weakness. In fact, if any man treats his wife as if she is less of a citizen in the Kingdom of God, or essentially, less of a person, then he should, by no means, expect his prayers to be answered! In other words, God will not accept that kind of behavior!
Now, these two concepts work together for the purpose of this passage. God wants us to realize that wives need our strength spiritually every bit as much as they ever might need it physically.
In today's world, I think this need is missed. The first reason is that I'm not physically fighting to protect my wife and family. The most that my wife needs my physical strength is for opening jars and driving on long road trips. So it's easy to take the difference for granted. The second reason this point is missed is that the feminist movement swung so far, that it became taboo to admit any differences between men and women. Stronger does not mean better, but it's still true. Men are stronger than women, but not better, and it's okay to admit that even if it's not popular with certain, very vocal, groups of people. There are other factors that make it easy to forget that men are stronger physically, but the effect is that we forget we are stronger spiritually. Along that same line, we forget that, while our physically strength is not as needed in today's world, our spiritual strength has never been so important.

A) So, the key is relating to my wife. The easiest way for me to do this, I think, is to relate to how I feel with the people who have authority over me. So, how would I like my pastors to lead me, to deal with me, to protect me, etc. This is the equivalent of understanding my wife's position. I need to remind myself that she's relying on me and that's exactly how God designed us both. I need to find comfort in that design and remember that fulfilling that purpose will bring peace, prosperity, protection, life, joy, and every other blessing to me personally, to my marriage, and to my family. And obviously, I need to heed the warning in this verse. Thankfully, though, that hasn't been difficult.

P) Father, help me honor my wife. I want my marriage to glorify You and fulfill the purpose and design You authored in us. Holy Spirit, reveal to me where I have fallen short in this task. Strengthen me and give me courage and boldness to take the lead in my home. Remind me that my wife and kids are depending on me to be strong. Help me to exercise spiritually, so that, when my strength is needed it is proven to be more than sufficient. Any abilities, strengths, or skills are only by Your grace, God, so help me take what You've given me and help me build on that, with You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/15/2011; James 2:22

Today's reading: James 1,2,3,4,5

S) "²² You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;"

James 2:22 (NASB)

O) So, there are tons and tons of things that stood out to me, reading the entire book of James. It's chalked full of challenging Scripture, encouragement, wisdom, etc. So, I decided to go with this one, running along the theme of faith that has been in the last 2 days of journaling. This verse is the embodiment and reasoning behind the more famously quoted, "faith without works is dead" from v.17. The reason, is because faith only really becomes faith (instead of just belief), when it is tested, applied, and proven. When our beliefs go beyond our heart's voice, even beyond our voice's confession, then it's proven to be faith. If we're not acting on our beliefs, then it's not truly faith, and it's subject to change according to circumstance and it's not credited to us as righteousness (as shown through Hebrews, as noted on 12/13/2011 and 12/14/2011).

A) So, this isn't exactly new, as it was covered the last couple days, but it bears repeating. This verse really serves as further conviction and solidifying my desire to stretch my faith on purpose, by design, and deliberately. So, the application comes this way, I'll pray and ask God to lead me into a specifc testing, proving, of my faith. And, more specifically, I will commit now to obedience.

P) Father, I want to be Yours completely. I commit to obedience and ask that You would help me grow my faith. Holy Spirit, lead me to excercise my faith and reveal the will of the Father to me in this. Guide me as I make a focused effort in this, Lord. Embolden me to overcome any fear, and let me learn to trust Your voice. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/14/2011; Hebrews 12:1

Today's reading: Hebrews 12,13; Jude

S) "¹ Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us"

Hebrews 12:1 (NASB)

O) This is a very inspiring verse! We, having attained righteousness through faith (as discussed in Hebrews 11), are now in some pretty amazing company. It was indeed a great cloud of witnesses when this was written, and that list of amazing men and women of God has only grown larger in the last 2000 years. Since we are in such good company, we need to honor that position and the righteousness that has been gifted to us, by pressing on in our good works and protecting this righteousness by avoiding sin as we run this marathon of life.

A) One of the most frustrating things, as a parent, is when your kid plays dumb. It really galls me. It's a lame attempt to skirt responsibility and shift blame. Yet I do it all the time with God and my sins. In the middle of temptation, God will convict me and I'll play dumb like I don't know what's going to happen next under the two scenarios (fighting or conceding). Flirting with disaster, I'll act like I'm naive when I'm really being ignorant. There are some sins that might surprise me; fluke-type stuff that's not at all the norm. That's no less damaging or needing of repentance, but it's not the same as a sin that easily entangles. The solution is to be resolute ahead of time. Laying aside every encumberance means removing anything that will lead to temptation. If there are ropes lying accross a 100M track, they're likely to entangle me. I can either leave them there and do my best to avoid them with tricky footwork, or I can remove them. I need to remove that which encumbers me.

P) Father, give me wisdom, and Holy Spirit, open my eyes. Let me see every obstacle for what it is and remove all of them that can be removed. Help me be bold in my confessions and honest in my convictions. I cannot lie to You, Lord, so remind me of just that fact. Be severe with me, God, because I want to run your race with endurance and succeed in obtaining the prize. I want to be fitting in my place amoung that great cloud of witnesses and I want to be effective in ministry for You, to my family first and then to others. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/13/2011; Hebrews 11:1-2,39-40

Today's reading: Hebrews 9,10,11

S) "¹ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ² For by it the men of old gained approval.
³⁹ And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰ because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect."

Hebrews 11:1-2, 39-40 (NASB)

O) This whole chapter is just so inspiring! First thing, the word "conviction" there is sometimes translated "evidence" because it's the type of proof that has real impact. So, consider it the type of evidence that would hold up in court, that would affect a conviction. The chapter moves through from the beginning of creation, showing how faith was valued by God, over and over. In the end, we're reminded that faith has a greater purpose, though. As much as it pleases God and produces blessings here on earth, those are not the promised reward of faith. The reward of faith is eternal life! If you want to see God bless your life, if you want to see God participating in your life, if you want to know just how real God is - step out in your faith. Faith is a leap beyond belief. The late Dr. Ed Cole said it well here.

A) I like to try acrobatic maneuvers just to see if I can do them. I'm very confident in my agility. I have a lot of faith in my body control, explosiveness, and balance. My wife does not always have that faith. I can do a front handspring, a tight cartwheel, a diving somersault. I can jump over my couch and hold a handstand for a few minutes solid. One thing I have not yet tried? A standing backflip. I'm sure I can do it, but Kristin reigns in my gusto. I've done it countless times off the edge of a pool and I always clear the water's surface easily... I daydream about it all of the time, almost as much as I daydream about jumping over desks at work... Anyway, everytime I read this chapter I think of this Lecrae song and it gets me pumped about faith! Taking chances with God is what will really bring fruit to my life. I need to show my kids how to trust in God, believe in Him with everything I have. It's how I can inspire and lead my wife from being church-goers to world-changers. I get inspired to make big changes when I dwell on faith. I know that a lot of them are probably unrealistic for me from right here, right now. But, keeping a vision of dramatic, drastic, dangerous faith will continue to push me to stretch my faith and make it grow. My baby steps may have grown to adult strides, but I want true leaps! I want to do a backflip!

P) Father, may I never lose eternal perspective! I want to continue to grow in my belief, taking it my faith into every area of my life. Holy Spirit, continue to lead me into faith-stretching situations, because I know it's the most impactful way to be used by You, Lord. I want to be intrepid in my obedience, God. Give me more faith, to not only believe You for greater things, but for me to act toward that end! I want to bring about Your will wherever possible. Thank You for this gift of faith You've given me, Lord. Help me glorify Your Name by honoring this gift. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/12/2011; Hebrews 8:1-2,6

Today's reading: Hebrews 5,6,7,8

S) "¹ Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, ² a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. ... ⁶ But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises."

Hebrews 8:1-2, 6 (NASB)

O) One thing that's important to remember when reading the book of Hebrews, is that it's written to a people who had a long-standing, historical covenant with God. But, these three verses almost completely sum up what is the main theme of the book of Hebrews. Jesus was the Son of God, a perfect sacrifice, a risen king who became our new high priest, serving in the heavenly sanctuary, and all of this was to seal the better covenant, replacing the old, giving us new, better promises. Whew! That was quite the little run-on sentence.

A) So, I sometimes find it a little hard to apply certain sections of Hebrews, because I had no former relationship with God at all. But, this is one of those passages that is really only applied by realization, acceptance, and memory. It's important to remember that Jesus ministers as The High Priest forever and ever, which means that there is no additional sacrifice necessary, or even appropriate. So, I cannot try to redeem myself, or pay for my own mistakes by way of some sacrifice or good deeds. Furthermore, the promises that were established under the old covenant pale in comparison to the new promises. Keeping this in mind, I should be increasingly encouraged when I read about God's grace, mercy, protection, provision, and all other blessings in the Old Testimony.

P) Father, thank You first of all, for the grace that is found in the Gospel to the gentiles. I had no way to benefit from Your promises, blessings, ... any of it. But by the miracle that was Jesus' sacrifice for all mankind, You provided a way to redeem a people who was not a people - me. Holy Spirit, remind me of the principles of this passage. If and/or when I sin, remind me to let it go after repentance, realizing that I can do nothing to fix the error, and that through the blood of Jesus, my High Priest, the sin is forgiven and I am no longer liable. Help me do a good job of ministering this this precious grace to others. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/11/2011; Philemon [1:] 6

Today's reading: Philemon; Hebrews 1,2,3,4

S) " ⁶ and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake."

Philemon [1:] 6 (NASB)
Philemon only has 1 chapter

O) Simply hearing the gospel is seldom enough. The most effective thing is to show people the gospel. Fellowship is not like the "Lord of the Rings" movie. Fellowship is sharing your life with people, inviting them into your home, letting them see you in a more vulnerable, intimate place. From there, if people see goodness in you, they will be able to glorify God. The proof is in the pudding, as they say. So, if revealing who you "really are" still points toward Christ, that's going to be effective ministry. If people can see how you are behind closed doors, they will see how much love, fear, and respect you truly have for God and His command over you.

A) The first thing is making sure that I am walking in integrity. I need to ensure that every part of my life is above reproach. If (or when) I do make mistakes, then I need to be walking in repentance and taking immediate action to end my lethal behavior, attain God's forgiveness through Christ, and resume my walk in righteousness. Taking that a step further, though, I need to be sure that my life is without sin and has good works. I need to be building something, working toward something, doing something. I can't just be teaching my kids not to sin, I need to be teaching them that I love them. I can't just tell them to obey me, I need to tell them to play with me. I can't just give my tithe to the church I need to give my offering to the man on the corner with the sign.
Now, all of that comes through everything else in the Bible. This verse is applied when I pray that any and all goodness in me is not only visible to others through our fellowship, but also points to Christ and His grace in me. Anything honorable, righteous, worthwhile, noble, commendable, praiseworthy, or otherwise good, should be a reflection of how God took me, a wretched, arrogant, selfish, lustful, deceitful, and otherwise bad man, and redeemed me. He made me new. I want people to see that for Truth.

P) Father, I pray that the fellowship of my faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in me for Christ’s sake. Holy Spirit, continue to shape me, mold me, purge me, purify me, and help me represent You in glorious fashion, glorifying Your goodness, power, and love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/10/2011; 2 Timothy 3:16

Today's reading: 2 Timothy 1,2,3,4

S) "¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,"

2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

O) All of the Bible is God-breathed. I like the NIV because of that phrasing. The word "inspire" (used in the NASB translation) has its roots in the same word for "spirit" and "breathe" which is why we see the dual-translation (God-breathed or inspired). I like the imagry of the NIV translation, though, because that's what it's like when God is speaking through us. It's like God is breathing words directly into us. Furhermore, "all" does not mean "some" or even "most" but it means that there is nothing excluded here. This is especially important regarding the Old Testiment, which many Christians under-value. There can be no doubt, though, that it is also useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. God hasn't changed just because the covenant has, and studying the OT is an amazing way to become familiar with who God is, how His personality is, and how to please Him; not from the standpoint of avoiding sin, but from the standpoint of blessing Him more directly.

A) There are a lot of verses that remind me to keep doing what I'm doing. This verse isn't new to me, but it's no less crucial for not being news. It's no less vital, because I already know it. I need to continue to place a considerable value on the Word. I think this process of reading every day and journaling is already producing more character in me, but I want it to do more. I think, as I close out this first 6 months, I need to start looking ahead at really meditating more on the Word, and not just the study. I need to dwell on it throughout the day. Part of that will be to get to journaling earlier in the day, allowing more time for that contemplation. Also, I need to slow down when I read. Sometimes I'm treating the Bible more like a history book, still worth studying, than I am the living Word of God, worth absorbing. If God were to open His mouth right now, and speak audibly in my ear, would I respond the way that I do after reading the verses marked out in my devotional? Brief contemplation and then a short essay? I can no longer read the Bible, or study the Bible, I need to hear the Bible. I need to breathe the Word.

P) Father, help me appreciate Your words, God. I want to do more than consider them. I want to live and die by them, as Jesus instructed us. Your word is the bread of life to me. Holy Spirit, breathe the words of the Father into me. Help me dwell on them throughout my day. Help me meditate on the words as I read them, and long after I've read them. I want Your Word to be planted deep in my heart, God, in fertile soil, so that it bears fruit in my life, namely righteousness. I don't just want to avoid sin, I want to do good things to bless Your heart. I want my life to please You wholly. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/09/2011; 1 Timothy 6:7-8

Today's reading: 1 Timothy 5,6; Titus 1,2,3

S) " ⁷ For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. ⁸ If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content."

1 Timothy 6:7-8 (NASB)

O) The message of this passage is simple living and contentedness. This is a reminder that being a content person is not a personality trait, but rather a very conscious decision. Keeping an eternal perspective, and realizing that our life on earth is temporary sets the tone for accepting present circumstances and choosing to be content.

A) I'm generally content but I have my moments of materialism. I suppose the fact that this verse jumped out at me is a testiment to the fact that the last few months or so I had noticed a more discontent attitude in myself. I had already begun to address that issue in my heart, but this is a good reminder, especially around Christmas. Not only do I want to set this straight in my own heart, but it's important to me to set the tone and culture for my family. Again, especially around Christmas, it's vital that I'm walking as a good example of a content heart.

P) Father, thank You for humble beginnings. I know that I dealt with a lot of envy and greed growing up. A large issue of pride was based on the misconception that I had somehow pulled myself out of the financial chaos in which I was raised and had managed to create a stable life for myself. While I've learned through Your Word that I must be financially responsible, I've also learned that everything on earth is temporary. I want to have financial resources as a means of blessing others, not as a personal security. Holy Spirit, continue to remind me that my financial security, and all my securities, are found in Christ alone. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/08/2011; 1 Timothy 4:13-16

Today's reading: 1 Timothy 1,2,3,4

S) "¹³ Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. ¹⁵ Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. ¹⁶ Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you."

1 Timothy 4:13-16 (NIV)

O) My number one goal as a husband and parent, is for my wife and children to make it to heaven. This passage is addressed to Timothy, as a young pastor needing encouragement to lead his congregation, but all of the principles in it apply directly to leading a family, also. Public reading of Scripture and exhortation and teaching are crucial in raising children. While the evidence of progress isn't necessarily motivation with family, it's still important to focus a lot of attention and energy to these things. The last verse is crucial, though. No one will respect a leader who doesn't do what they, themselves, are saying. The old, "Do as I say, not as I do" statement never flies with kids.

A) There's a bit of a laundry list of things to do in this passage. I think the issue of integrity, as mentioned in verse 16, is already a priority for me. It's still important to check myself often, but that's not necessarily a change to make, just a reminder to keep on... Not neglecting my spiritual gifts as a father, is a somewhat new notion to me. I need to approach parenting with the same sort of preparation, prayer, and participation that I do every other ministry. While my kids may never see my progress as a father, I'm sure Kristin will. I may never know who else may be encouraged or inspired by my progress, either, so I need to ensure that I'm making progress. The biggest application of this passage will come through verse 13. I need to organize a way to hold Bible studies, home worship, and prayer with my kids. It needs to be regular, consistent, and serious (even if it's scaled down for the kids at this age). I'm going to work this out with Kristin tonight.

P) Father, thank You for equiping me for marriage and parenthood. I don't want to neglect my giftings or responsibilities, Lord. Holy Spirit, reveal to me an effective way to minister to my family as a whole, and to minister to my family individually. The most important thing is to ensure their salvation, God, so help me be an effective leader for them, pointing them toward the cross of Your mercy and grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/07/2011; Colossians 4:12

Today's reading: Colossians 1,2,3,4

S) "¹² Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God."

Colossians 4:12 (NIV)

O) THIS!! This is what it means to fight in prayer! Laboring earnestly, praying with great concern, urgency, fervor, and passion - this is how to battle in the spiritual. The NIV says, "wrestling in prayer" and it really is that kind of struggle.

A) My freshman year of H.S., I thought I was going to try out for the wrestling team. I had a pretty good core strength and I my physique was compact. I showed up to the first practice and the coach told us we were going to warm up with a two mile jog. I quit that same day. The hardest part of prayer, especially effective, fervant, striving prayer, is stamina. I need to build stamina by doing a little more at a time, each time, consistently keeping up my discipline and slowly pushing myself bit by bit.

P) Father, help me develop a plan. I want to work on praying more effectively, more fervantly, and with persaverence. Holy Spirit, continue to lead me in prayer, giving me the words to speak when I don't know what to pray. Please bless my spirit with stamina, helping me to stay focused on the greater good, while in the middle of my wrestling matches. Anoint me when I fight. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/06/2011; Philippians 4:5

Today's reading: Philippians 1,2,3,4

S) "⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near."

Philippians 4:5 (NIV)

O) Too often, manhood is measured by the ability to intimidate. Men in our culture mistake aggression for confidence, they mistake violence for strength. They mistake silence for stupidity, they mistake gentleness for weakness. Our King, though, is described as a lion and a lamb. Being a man is more than exerting strength and imposing will. I think every man has a gentle side, because we are made in the likeness of God; I believe our likeness to Him is in spirit, as much as appearence. The most life-altering moments I've had with God didn't come when He struck me down, or broke me with His strength. The most impactful, meaningful times I've had with God were when I was vulnerable and already broken and struck down. He quietly lifted me up, put me on His shoulder, cleaned up my mess, and then reassembled my shattered heart with His careful, patient, slow, and gentle hands.

A) As a father of 2 girls, I am fully aware of the need to use gentleness. Will they obey me if I am scary, aggressive, violent, and strict? Yes. Will they grow up fearful, uncertain, distant, and resentful? Probably. It's pretty easy for me (and most men) to realize that gentleness is a necessity when raising girls. As a father of a boy, I am much less aware of the need to be gentle. It's not that I don't recognize that need, but it's admittedly harder to recognize when the need arises. Like so many other things, I need to rely on the Holy Spirit, and the discernment I have through Him, to recognize when my son needs my gentle hand and when he needs force. Certainly, I know that he will need to test his own strength against mine (he's really burgeoning into that phase now, at 4 and a half), and I need to give him a hard edge, against which he can sharpen himself, but my gentleness needs to be revealed to him. My daugthers need to be able to trust and rely on my strength to protect and provide. They need to know that I will use my strength for their security, but I need to present them with a gentleness that comforts with those same strong hands. These are all parallels to how God handles, leads, raises, disciplines, and loves us as our heavenly Father.

P) Father, the best way for me to reflect Your combination of strength and gentleness is to know Your strength and gentleness. Reveal Your nature to me, God. Lead me, so I can lead them. Holy Spirit, direct me well. Open my ears to hear and my eyes to see, so I know when to use force and when to be gentle, with each of my children, and even with my wife. I want to be a righteous king that glorifies You, God. As my children grow up, I pray that they are easily able to relate to You as their heavenly Father, because I have done well as their earthly father. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/05/2011; Ephesians 5:3

Today's reading: Ephesians 5,6; Psalms 119:1-80

S) "³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people."

Ephesians 5:3 (NIV)

O) This became a life-verse to me as soon as I read about it in the book, Every Young Man's Battle, by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker. There is a very strong line drawn, a very high standard used, with the verbage used in this verse. I used the NIV version, because that word, "hint" is so concise and definitive. It makes it very easy to answer questions regarding sexual immorality. Is it ok to watch this movie? Well, is there even a hint of sexual immorality in you watching it? If so, then no. Is it ok to go into a store that sells lingerie? Well, is there even a hint of sexual immorality in you being in that store? If so, then no. The biggest issue with this sort of purity test, though, is that it's always going to be a matter of the heart. There's no outward sign that there is a hint of sexual immorality (or other impurity, or greed). The NASB translation says these things shouldn't be "named among you." This is a good barometer for some one who is honestly trying to gauge their own heart. If some one saw you doing it (whatever "it" is), could they name it sexual immorality, impurity, or greed? If so, then don't do it. That's somewhere in the neighborhood of "better safe than sorry." The main reason I'm less keen on that translation, though, is that we shouldn't exactly use the behavior of others as our moral barometer, even in the name of being overly careful.

A) Here's the best application, I think: Instead of trying to define the borders, the outer limits of holiness, and how far the boundries can be pushed and what, exactly, falls on each side of that line... I need to concern myself with finding the center of purity. People like to say that the world isn't black & white (which I contest, but that's a different argument). They say there is a lot of gray area in our world. I say that I need to stay out of the gray areas of purity and live in the clean white areas. I need to keep myself pure in such a way, that if some one saw my every move, I wouldn't need to explain myself in anyway. That is pure white, no gray area.

P) Father, forgive me for my sins. Thank You for Your mercies, Lord. I know that the battle for purity, all kinds of purity and not just sexual purity, is a life-long battle. The fight never really ends because my enemies, satan and my own flesh, will never let up. Holy Spirit, strengthen my hands, just as You strengthened Nehemiah's. I need to fight and not grow weary in my battle. Help me recognize it as a battle and fight with honor. Remind me of the people for whom I am fighting... that it's not just myself that faces the consequences of failure, but that my purity means blessings or curses to my wife and children. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/04/2011; Ephesians 4:25

Today's reading: Ephesians 1,2,3,4

S) "²⁵ Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another."

Ephesians 4:25 (NASB)

O) This passage is in the context of unity among believers, so it's not talking about malicious deception. This passage is talking about the Christian F-word: Fine. Jon Acuff has a funny blog entry about it here, and it really sums up this verse. If we're really thinking of ourselves as one body, the body of Christ, then we're not helping ourselves or anyone else by glossing over our problems. Most people will quickly agree that it's unhealthy to keep secrets from a spouse. If you're struggling with a sin, or having financial problems, some other kind of trouble - it would be utterly foolish to hide something like that. Why? Because your spouse is one flesh with you. They are blessed as you are blessed and hurt when you are hurt. The same is actually true with the body of Christ! Sure, practically speaking it's less direct, but it's no less true! If something is wrong in your life, whether a sin, or tragedy, or affliction, or trial, etc, then it's going to hurt your ability to be an effective member of that body. Now, maybe this effect is lessened if you were already "dead weight" but I'm sure no one reading this falls under that catagory ;)

A) This certainly becomes more impactful as a member of church staff. If I'm struggling with a sin, that's going to affect my capacity for ministry. If I have issues that are draining me emotionally (like some kind of family chrisis) then it will affect my ability to minster effectively (distracting, exhausting, etc). It's hard to be honest, though. Sometimes it's guilt, sometimes it's that I don't want the attention, sometimes it's that I don't want to "be a bother," but ultimately, I can't afford to be "fine." The only fix here is to hold myself accountable to church members in bold faith and unadulterated truth. I'm going to immediately follow up this post with some text messages...

P) Father, I need courage to be more honest with my brothers and sisters. I don't often think of this as a lie, I suppose. It seems less like a lie sometimes, and more like an "interpretation" of the word "fine." I can't keep that up, though. Holy Spirit, help me be bold in my confession/requests. Sometimes I need to be vocal about my deficiencies; sometimes I need to be a snitch. Convict me in those moments, God, to be honest with my brothers and sisters, my church body. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/03/2011; Romans 14:19

Today's reading: Romans 13,14,15,16

S) "¹⁹ So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another."

Romans 14:19 (NASB)

O) I don't think enough attention is paid to this sort of command. It's hard to establish and maintain peace with one another, even as Christians. Despite the vast agreements in basic dogma, there are still plenty of details that cause dispute, or at least difference of opinion. I think, too often, we dismiss how others might think or feel in the name of "I'm not trying to please other people." Consideration is under-valued, and I don't think this changes when looking at believers and non-believers.

A) I'm guilty of this as often as anyone, I'm afraid. I have the blessed grace to be married to the most considerate person I've ever known, though. God knew what He was doing, even though I didn't know what He was doing, when He created my wife. I've learned a lot about the value and importance of consideration through the simple process of puting myself in the mindset of another person. Some of that, I'm sure, simply comes with age; however, a big part of my progress has been sheer effort. Unfortunately, I don't know if I qualify as a considerate person, but I am trying to improve that. I need to remember, first of all, that it's simply a command I must obey. Beyond that, though, I need to remember the value of being considerate. The gospel is cast in a poor light without consideration. Compassion can be easily misunderstood or mistaken without consideration. Offense and pain can be avoided through consideration. Friendships can be nurtured - even healed - through consideration. The list goes on and on. Remembering all these things is helpful in pursuing peace and building up others, being considerate.

P) Father, continue to soften my heart, God. I want to be humble and put the thoughts and feelings of others ahead of my own concerns, or selfish apathy. Holy Spirit, give me discernment to avoid offense and frustrations. Give me wise words to speak and help me say them in the best possible way to avoid misunderstandings and hurt. Even in cases when I have to instruct or correct, lead me so that Your purpose is done according to Your will. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/02/2011; Romans 11:19-21

Today's reading: Romans 9,10,11,12

S) "¹⁹ You will say then, 'Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.' ²⁰ Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; ²¹ for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either."

Romans 11:19-21 (NASB)

O) Paul uses an olive tree to represent the people of God. Here, he says that there were branches of Israel that were broken off for unbelief and in their place, gentiles were able to be grafted in by their faith. It is foolishness, however, to think that we will be saved forever since we are called sons of God. Just as the first believers of God have lost their place in Him, we also can lose our place in Him.

A) There was a very specific command given in the middle of this passage, "Do not be conceited, but fear;" I need to keep that central in my mind as a believer. Humility is a lifestyle, not a personality. It's learned behavior. I can either learn because other branches were broken off, or I can learn because I am broken off. I don't have to read the Old Testament to see men of God lose their ways; there have been plenty of cautionary tales in the last 10 years alone. Being humble is not the same as self-deprication or self-doubt. I can acknowledge who I am within Christ, as long as I remember who I am without Him.

P) Father, thank You for the grace You've given in calling me Your son. It's beyond my comprehension that You would sacrifice Your only Son for me, when I was wretched, filthy, guilty, and shameful. Thank You for wanting me. Holy Spirit, remind me that I am nothing without grace. I can be removed from the tree if I am not obediently believing and faithfully serving. Help me to know my place among the branches and be thankful for everything, even my own belief. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/01/2011; Romans 8:5-8

Today's reading: Romans 5,6,7,8

S) "⁵ For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, ⁷ because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, ⁸ and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

Romans 8:5-8 (NASB)

O) How important is a correct mindset? It's of the utmost importance! Controlling our thoughts is one of the most difficult and most important disciplines of being a Christian. Having our mind in the correct perspective is absolutely crucial! If we are not able to reason in our minds that God's law is good, then we are never going to be able to sustain obedience. From that acknowledgement comes the realization that whatever we have a mind to do, we will do. It's like that old saying, "Whether you think you can, or you think you cannot, you're right."

Edit (12/02/2011): I had one more thought I meant to write last night. If people consider that divorce is an option when they get married, they're incredibly more likely to become divorced. But, if they're setting their minds from the beginning to never even entertain the thought of divorce, then that's one less danger to the life of their marriage. Taking it further, if the couple is constantly setting their mind on God, and acknowledging how they are blessed through their marriage, then they are honoring God, valuing their spouse, and giving life to their marriage.

A) This verse makes it painfully clear that it is absolute foolishness to allow my mind to entertain thoughts of sin. Not only is it as simple as making it more likely that I'll slip up, but it's actually sowing seeds of hostility toward God directly. It's very helpful to create reminders to proactively, forceably, and purposely set my mind on God, and on the Spirit. Sticky notes with reminders of righteous principles, reading the Word earlier in the day so I can meditate on the Scriptures throughout the day, even the clothes I choose to wear can all be helpful tools to keep my mind on the Spirit and subjecting my flesh to God's will.

P) Father, Your law is good! I declare that Your words are life to me and Your will for my life is the best possible course my life could have. I want to continually subject my life to Your rule, Lord. Holy Spirit, help me to place my mind on You throughout the day, forsaking my sinful flesh and the desires of its lusts in all its deadly forms. Remind me that sin still leads to death and it is no trifling matter. Thank You for freedom and continued maturity and growth, God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 11/30/2011; Romans 1:16-17

Today's reading: Romans 1,2,3,4

S) "¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.'"

Romans 1:16-17 (NASB)

O) Between the first 4 chapters of Romans, there were plenty of verses that stood out. Ultimately, though, this is a life-verse for me. The key to sharing the gospel is to recognize the power and gift that the gospel truly is! It's amazing, phenominal, epic, earth-shattering, life-alterring news! Have you ever done something wrong? You don't have to go to hell! In faith, we're given righteousness as a gift! Why would we ever keep that a secret?!

A) It would probably surprise people who know me, to hear how often I've been intimidated about sharing the gospel. To overcome this, I really need to meditate on the key I mentioned above. The gospel is amazing grace. It's undeserved mercy in the face of pure guilt. Remembering my own faults, the mire from which God has removed me, the muck that He has cleaned off of me, will fuel my courage to share the gospel boldly. Staying in the Word will help too (Paul was SO BOLD throughout his ministry in Acts!).

P) Father, please bless Lecrae and all of the people in the 1-1-Six Clique. They're truly inspiring to me. I never want to be ashamed of the gospel, for any reason. Holy Spirit, strengthen and encourage me to be proactive, making a point of sharing the gospel regularly. Help me recognize the treasure I have and value it for what it is. You got the grace amazing, help me wear that on my sleeve. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 11/29/2011; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Today's reading: 1 Thessalonians 4,5; 2 Thessalonians 1,2,3

S) "¹⁶ Rejoice always; ¹⁷ pray without ceasing; ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB)

O) I've heard a lot of Christians complain about not being able to hear from God. Or complaining about not knowing the will of God for their lives. The funny thing is, though, that so many Christians neglect the written words of God. If we aren't attentive to what God has already shown us, should we be surprised at all that we're not hearing His further instruction? In this passage we have a very clear directive for God's will for our lives, yet so many Christians still act like they've been left directionless.

A) If I'm ever in a place that I'm having trouble discerning God's will for my life, I need to return to these basics.
1. Be joyful. I have every reason to have joy. No matter what else happens in this life, I don't have to go to hell. I have hope of a life everlasting. It takes effort to be rejoice; joy is not an emotion.
2. Pray. It's easy to lose focus or drive when I feel like I'm not hearing from God. I need to continue pressing on in prayer. "without ceasing" doesn't mean that I'm continually talking to God, but my dialogue with Him needs to remain open at all times. It's like when teenagers are on the phone - they aren't always speaking, but they're still "talking" to their bf/gf. I need to be on the line with God, even if I'm not actually speaking, and I'm not exactly hearing Him - I still need to be listening.
3. Thank Him. This one can be the most difficult, especially if I'm feeling distant from God in the first place. Thankfulness is a deliberate act and sometimes it takes some real stretching. That may actually be the biggest testiment to thankfulness, though. If, in my heart, I want to be thankful, so much, that I'm looking for any reason to give thanks to God, then I'm heading in the right direction.

P) Father, I want to do Your will. I want to want it, as well. I know sometimes it's easy to lose focus or perspective. I know that if I'm not attentive, it's also easy for me to allow distance to grow between us. Thank You for helping me these last 5 months, to be consistent in my study of Your Word, and my devotion in prayer. Holy Spirit, continue to speak to me, through the Word, or other people, or directly, and give me discernment to know the will of the Father. Strengthen me and encourage me and embolden me to carry out that will. I want to be an action figure in Your hands, God. Let my heart be ever joyful, open, and thankful. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 11/28/2011; 1 Thessalonians 1:5

Today's reading: Matthew 28; 1 Thessalonians 1,2,3

S) "⁵ for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake."

1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NASB)

O) It is difficult to share the gospel from afar. I recently read a great quote from Lecrae, "You can impress people from a distance, but if you want to impact them get up close." The gospel can only mean so much in a span of 5 minutes. If you can show people the effects of the gospel over time, show them how you've been affected by it, then it can make an impact. I can simply tell people that God loves us and offers forgiveness and can change us, but it makes a bigger impact if I take the time and opportunity to show people that God loves us and offers forgiveness and changes us, using myself as the first-hand example.

A) Relationship evangelism is my favorite way to show people the gospel. In order to show people how God's grace, mercy, and love have changed my life, I need to make my life available to other people. I have to live according to God's Word, being 100% honest about mistakes and shortcomings, and showing people who I am in Christ. I'm a sinner saved. I've been made new. I make mistakes, but they don't ruin or doom me. I can walk in compassion, mercy, grace, and love, because God has given me these things. It takes vulnerability to share the gospel this way. Will it hurt sometimes, getting close to people and having them still reject the gospel? Yes. Will it be worth it? Every time.

P) Father, give me opportunity to share the gospel in the most intimate, impactful way. Help me take risks with people, by letting them see me and my family personally. Help me invest in others so they can see You through us. Holy Spirit, give me courage to reach out to people, braving the most harsh rejections to reach even one person willing to see the Truth in my life. For the people who are already in my life, who still need to see the gospel for what it is, God open their eyes to see and their ears to hear, so they do not miss You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.