SOAP 07/02/2011; Jude 24

Today's reading: Isaiah 4, 5; Psalms 115, 116; Jude

S) "²⁴ Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,"

Jude 24 (NASB)

O) I wasn't sure about choosing this verse, because it seemed like a typical closing. Many of the books in the New Testament were written as letters to churches, and so they had this sort of ending, but something in this one stood out. Jude is describing God, about to give Him lots of praise in v.25, but it was then last 3 words of vs.24 that really caught my eye. As I discussed yesterday, one of the most amazing things about submitting ourselves to God is that we are then empowered to avoid temptations in a whole new way (see also James 4:7). Too often, avoiding sin is perceived as some sort of burden, a bummer, a kill-joy. This also, is a lie. One of the worst feelings in the world, is guilt. Trying to sleep when your day fills your mind with a regret so big you can't turn off your brain. The feeling of living day after day while trying to keep a shameful act a secret, afraid you'll be found out... it's exhausting. Too often it's overlooked, that one of the most simple, and sweetest joys, is to know that you are found not-guilty. To know that you can seek God out, without the fear of His wrath, because He's already forgiven you - it is truly a great joy!

A) First and foremost, I need to walk in repentence. All of this joy is lost if I am not first asking God for forgiveness for my sins, and genuinely turning away from them. Second, I need to be submitting myself to Him day-by-day, moment-by-moment so that I am enabled to walk in the righteousness He has given me. My ability to avoid sin is directly related to the degree to which I am submitted to Him. And lastly, I need to celebrate each day that I have victories over temptations. I need to accept the joy it gives me and share that with those who are closest to me (at least Kristin, right?).

P) Father, thank you for your forgiveness and making me new. Thank you for making a way to redeem me through Jesus Christ and for giving me your Holy Spirit to empower me over my temptations. I was born to sin, but I was reborn to your glory. Let my innocense through Jesus fill me with joy, which will prompt me to pursue your righteousness even more. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/01/2011; Titus 3:5

Today's reading: Isaiah 1, 2, 3; Titus 3
S) "⁵ He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit," - Titus 3:5 (NASB)

O) This is a great summation of the Gospel. God didn't save us according to what we have done right, but because of what we've done wrong. Furthermore, He didn't just save us, he changed us in the process. He didn't just say, "I forgive you." He forgave us and remade us, so that we can walk in uprightness.

A) I need to be reminded of this, especially when I've sinned. It's easy to feel defeated and helpless when I've made mistakes. It's easy to believe that I'm bound to mess up again. That's a lie! When I read "washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit," I need to remember that it means I'm not bound to any sin! Quite the contrary, I'm free from sin! Being remade, means God hasn't just forgiven me of my sins, He's conquered them by making me a new!

P) Father, I thank you that your redemption is so complete that I'm not just forgiven, but I'm made new. Help me to remember this, always. When I've fallen, Holy Spirit remind me that, in my repentence, I'm remade. When I'm tempted, remind me that I'm a new creation so I will honor that in my actions. Thank you for this, Lord, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Introduction

In my life, I've made a lot of commitments. Some have been easier to keep than others. Some have been more serious than others. In the past year, I've been going through some growing pains, trying to discern where God is trying to take me. Through fasting and prayer, I've discovered some direction and with it, a new longing. I need to make a new commitment to God's Word.

When I read these Scriptures,
Deuteronomy 6:1-10, Ephesians 5:25-26, 2 Timothy 3:16
I'm reminded that the Holy Bible, the very Words of God, are simply too important for me to not know better. They are the most important words I can ever read, and I need to acknowledge that and start living my life according to that truth.

So, I will commit to a daily journal, immortalized on the web. There's a church in Hawaii that started a format for journaling called SOAP (hence my URL). It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer. It's a great way to deliberately digest the verses you're reading. It's also a great way to convey where you are in your life, by how you're hearing God through His Word on that day.

So, I've actually already read for today, but I didn't write out my Journal entry. I'm at work now, but I wanted to get this blog up and running. I'll come back on lunch and write in my first SOAP entry. Hopefully I'll gain some kind of following so that it's easier to keep myself accountable =]