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.