SOAP 08/06/2011; John 8:34-36

Today's reading: Habakkuk 1, 2, 3; John 8

S) " ³⁴ Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. ³⁵ The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. ³⁶ So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.'"

John 8:34-36 (NASB)

O) Outside of Jesus Christ, it is impossible not to sin. We are born into sin, because Adam sinned in the garden of Eden, and so all of mankind is born into sin. Because of this, every person is bound to sin eventually, i.e., they are in bondage to sin. They are enslaved by sin (of some kind). And, while a person can remain alive in that sin for some time, or "in the house" as Jesus metaphorically says here, eventually sin carries the penalty of an everlasting death. The only way to escape that penalty, is to submit to Jesus, allow Him to be in charge, and He will bring freedom from sin. He is the only way. And then, in that blessed freedom that is given through the Son, we have a new nature, having been born again. No longer are we bound to sin eventually, but now we are able to live in freedom from sin, indeed, because that Son is free from sin, and has eternal life, and so is able to give eternal life.

A) This is the beautiful Gospel. Not just the forgiveness from my past sins, but freedom from my future sins! There have been times when, after making a mistake and slipping into sin, I have been overwhelmed with a feeling of hopelessness or doom. I will be tempted to believe that it's useless to try, because I'll make a mistake eventually. I'll believe the lie that I'm bound to sin eventually... bound to sin... that is the lie. In Jesus, I am not bound to anything, or anyone, but Him! I need to celebrate that freedom! I need to spread this astounding news - that people don't have to bear their guilt, or shame. I need to tell people that there is forgiveness and freedom from all of the things they've kept hidden for years! There is hope!

P) Father, I truly cannot thank You enough for this mercy and grace. Let me constantly meditate on this goodness You have given me. Holy Spirity, help me keep my mind on this salvation. Then, being full of the confidence and joy that comes from such freedom and forgiveness, embolden me to share this amazing grace! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

There is a second part after the jump - please keep reading!

SOAP 08/05/2011; 2 Kings 23:2

Today's reading: 2 Kings 23; 2 Chronicles 35; John 7

S) "² The king went up to the house of the LORD and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD."

2 Kings 23:2 (NASB)

O) In the preceding chapters, king Josiah ascended the throne of Judah at 8 years old, essentially because his dad was evil and was overthrown. He orders God's temple restored and, during reconstruction, the priests find the book of the covenant (law), as recorded through Moses. At this, he realizes that the kingdom may very well be completely doomed because of their years of transgressions and sinful kings. So, he immediately implements reforms. He begins by reading the book of the covenant. What really stood out, was that he gather people of every station of life. He wanted to be sure that his every subject, each person, knew about the covenant and knew what God was commanding them. As the leader, he understood leading by example, because he knew that the kings that preceded him had doomed the kingdom, but he made it clear that they would each be accountable on their own, as well.

A) There are such great parallels to be drawn between leading a family, and how the kings of old lead their nations. It sounds so cliche, but my house is like a little kingdom. My number one responsibility is to lead a life of integrity as I pursue holiness. In that, I will inherently bless my wife and children - first because I will be a covering for them, second because I am leading by example and they will pick some of that up just by exposure and proximity. But also, as I lead by example, I need to be proactive in teaching God's statutes, in mercy through Jesus Christ, particularly with my children. If I consider that I am as a high priest and king, and Kristin is a priestess herself, then she already knows so much, and there is little instruction or teaching I can do that would be new to her; mostly, I can encourage her to continue in what she already knows. My kids, though, are much more like the "small" that are mentioned. I cannot leave their education about God to their Sunday school teachers. I'm a huge fan of their teachers, but they need a king who is proactive in their lives.

P) Father, like Solomon, I am not wise enough to lead Your people on my own. Give me wisdom, LORD, that I may guide my family in truth and light, in Jesus' name. Holy Spirit, continue to educate me and impart knowledge of who You are, God. Give me insight to effectively encourage my wife and educate my children, that they would know what You require and also that they would know Your mercy and grace. Please help me to be a good example for them to imitate - but not for my sake. Let them see, through my life, that Your way is the only way to true life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

SOAP 08/04/2011; John 6:68

Today's reading: 2 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 34; John 6

S) "⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.'"

John 6:68 (NASB)

O) So, in the previous paragraphs, Jesus has introduced the holy communion. He's told the listeners that His body and blood blood hold eternal life and that whoever eats and drinks of Him will not die. This was a particularly tough teaching for them, because the Last Supper hadn't happened yet, so there were no parallels drawn between Jesus' sacrafice and the historical redemption and symbolic resurrection that are presented in the Passover... consequently, some of the people following Him turned away at this point. When Jesus asked the twelve disciples if they'd turn away as well, this was Peter's response.

A) In today's world, it's easy to take the Gospel for granted. The main reason I stopped serving God as I reached adulthood is because I didn't feel the same need for Him that was there in my teenage years. Being part of a church is difficult sometimes. Whether it's a sermon that's challenging your faith, or a person who's challenging your integrity, if you're growing as a Christian then there will be struggles. In all of it, though, we must be treating the Gospel the same way. Everything else can fade, but the Word of God must be treated as the only way to life, because it is! Often times I see brothers and sisters who are offended or challenged by a teaching or a decision in leadership and they decide that they're better off on their own. This is tragic, and I mean that sincerely and literally. As long as the Word of God is taught at my church, I must cling to it, regardless of how difficult a situation becomes. If I'm to move on, I need to be very certain that it is God calling me to another place, and not my pride rebelling against God's very Word.

P) Father, thank You for the Word. It is firm and unchanging. It is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). God, continue to acclimate me to hear Your truth, as it is written, so that as I live out my life I am able to better discern Your will for my life. Give me understanding and wisdom to absorb Your word apply Your teaching. Your Word is life to me, and I never want to take that for granted. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

SOAP 08/03/2011; John 5:47

Today's reading: Nahum 1, 2, 3; John 5

S) "⁴⁷ 'But if you do not believe [Moses'] writings, how will you believe My words?'"

John 5:47 (NASB)

O) Put simply, this is Jesus endorsing the Old Testament (OT). While there are certainly rules and regulations in the OT, that was not the purpose. As you read through the whole Bible, starting from Genesis with Adam and Eve, the whole thing is about God's desire for relationship with us. As you move from the Fall of Man, and through to the Forefathers of Israel, and the Exodus, and on through the history of God's people, all of it is foreshadowing God's ultimate plan: reconciliation. For every regulation in the OT, trying to keep God's people clean and safe, there must be dozens more prophesies that point to Jesus. The Bible, as a whole, is a 66-book love letter, like Lecrae says at 2:35 of this song.

A) I need to value the entire Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed..." and so, like this blog is prompting me to do, I need to be a student of all of it. It's tempting to put more weight in the New Testament (NT) books of the Bible, since they were written after Jesus came. While His significance cannot be understated, if I am neglecting the OT, then I will fail to grasp all that is offered in the NT. As my pastor, Stephen Dabbs says, the Bible is like a quilt and its verses are like the patches. I cannot take a single patch and try to cover myself with it, or it will make for a long, cold, and restless night (and life). I need to take the Scriptures as a whole.

P) Father, continue to give me a thirst for Your Word. Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see the mysteries You've written in the Bible, both before and after Jesus came. There are deep workings throughout Your Word, Lord, and I want to understand them better. I want to understand You better. As I seek to understand them, give me wisdom to apply them to my life, so that I will bear fruit and glorify You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

SOAP 08/02/2011; John 4:23

Today's reading: 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33; John 4

S) "²³ 'But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.'"
    

John 4:23 (NASB)

O) This is one of my favorite scriptures about worship, because it really shows how our Father in heaven views our time of worship. He is actively seeking a relationship with us. He's searching for any man (or woman) who is willing to humble himself and truly submit himself to Him in worship. This worship is more than singing, it's more than the raising of hands - it's worship from the very spirit within. It's the inmost being crying out to Him, acknowledging that He is God, He is good, and He is worthy of praise.
    
A) I want to be found by God! For so long, when I'd think of God searching for me, it's the sort of search a U.S. Marshall does for a fugitive. I knew I was guilty of a crime against God and He's on the hunt. Seeing this new perspective, that God is seeking me for the relationship we can have, it has given me a new desire to worship Him! As a father, I know how wonderful it is to get home from work and to see and hear how excited my family is to see me and spend time with me. Knowing that God feels the same way about me, fills me with genuine excitement and joy at the thought of worshipping Him. 

P) Father, forever I will praise Your holy name. You are so good to me and words alone cannot express all of the gratitude, admiration, and love I have for You. I commit myself now, to worship You regardless of the circumstances in my life. I will choose to worship You for who You are, regardless of what You may, or may not, be doing for me in any given stage in my life. You are my Creator, and I will humble myself before You and exalt You on high. I pray that You find me, when You are seeking true worshipers. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

SOAP 08/01/2011; John 3:20-21

Today's reading: Isaiah 65, 66; Psalm 62; John 3

S) "²⁰ 'For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.'"
    

John 3:20-21 (NASB)

O) Even before I was serving God, I always kind of knew this to be true. When a cop is behind you, it puts you on edge. When a cop is behind you and you have illegal substances in the car, or the car is unregistered... you're a different kind of edgy. When you're trying to hide you're behavior, it's literally easier to do it in the dark. Figuratively speaking, it's also true. However it can be hidden, people will try to hide it; I know I did. And, in the midst of all of my lies that I had to maintain, I was constantly afraid of discovery. Conversely, there is such a tremendous freedom to be had when you practice truth. I love to expose the good works God has done in me, to glorify Him! Remaining humble is key, but anything I am, anything I have, anything I can do - it's all because of God.

A) So, my actions then become acts of praise and worship, as they were intended to be. This also becomes a useful barometer for any so-called gray-areas. Simply determine if I'd like my pastor to know about it. If I have any hesitations, steer clear. If I can't use it to glorify God, as I relate the story to some one, then don't let there be a story. Not everything I do can be an ultra-holy, trumpets blaring, heaven opening-wide, act of worship - but in everything, I should be able to glorify my Maker.

P) LORD, I want to bless Your holy name! I want to be exposed for my good work, not afraid to step into Your light. I was, as all of Your creations, wrought for a specific purpose. In that purpose, I want to glorify You obviously and boldly. But, in every other situation, I want to be able to reflect who You are, by acting like the man You've created me to be - in all sorts of things. I want my everyday life to be a testament to Your awesome power to change lives. Use me in such a way as that, Father. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

SOAP 07/31/2011; Isaiah 64:6

Today's reading: Isaiah 63, 64; Psalm 107; John 2

S) "⁶ For all of us have become like one who is unclean,
And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;
And all of us wither like a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.'"

Isaiah 64:6 (NASB)

O) This is such a sobering reminder that our best, on our own, is so far below God's standard. Without Jesus, my very best is simply not good enough. God is holy, pure, and righteous; God cannot abide even a single transgression because He is completely just. So, in His presence, my best is like a filthy garment by contrast and, according to His justice, which is infallable, I am found immediately guilty. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and so my actions would immediately convict me and I'd be carried away to my own deserved end. Thank God for mercy and grace!

A) I think this verse is best "applied" by simply remembering it. It puts a lot of things in perspective to think about how hopeless I was before His grace amazing. Before I turned my life over to Him, I was completely doomed. For a large part of my life I didn't even know I was headed for such disaster in the end. My best fell completely short, but He knew I was never gonna make it on my own. So, Jesus took my place and now I'm clothed in Christ (Galations 3:27).

P) Father, You are so good to me. My best was never good enough and You knew it all along. Before I was even born, You knew how dirty my clothes would get. You knew I had no chance to succeed in living a life pleasing to You. So, in Your justice, Jesus took my punishment and I found mercy. And now, through Your Son, I have found new threads. I'm clothed in the righteousness You gave me. I will strive to keep clean, but I thank You for mercies which are new each morning, as the Bible says. Help me to walk upright, but if I stumble, to immediately get up and let Your mercy clothe me new. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

SOAP 07/30/2011; John 1:47

Today's reading: Isaiah 60, 61, 62; John 1

S) "⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and *said of him, 'Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!'"

John 1:47 (NASB)
*Greek authors frequently used the present tense for the sake of heightened vividness, thereby trasporting their readers in imagination to the actualy scene at the time of occurrance. However, the translators of NASB felt that it would be wise to change these historical presents to English past tenses.

O) This doesn't seem like much on the surface, but it did get me thinking. Not a lot is said in the Bible about Nathanael, but this is the story that makes it into the Word of God. It's a short passage where the Son describes some one with intimate detail. His response in the next verse is, "How do you know me?" and I get the impression that he was actually taken aback by Jesus' revelation. It's not the sort of thing you can notice of some one by simply looking at him. And, consequently, it grabs Nathanael's attention. Nathanael isn't a liar. People only know that if they really know him.
A) God is omniscient. No matter how well we hide our "true self," He sees us for who we are. If God is going to describe me in front of my friend, as Jesus did in this passage with Philip and Nathanael, how will He describe me. If God is going to tell some one about me in a single sentence... if He's going to describe something about me that's only known by those who really know me, what would He say? Would He say that I'm honest? Would He say that I'm arrogant? Would He say that I'm compassionate? Whatever He would say, would He exlaim it? Would He mutter it regretfully? Would He be excited to share this tidbit of info? What do I hope He'll say? How would I want Him to say it?

P) Father, I want to make You proud. I know that You've created me with a purpose. You've called me to a destiny. Some of that is clear, like what is already written in Your Word. Some of it is more difficult to discern. All of it is important. I want my life to reflect the good work You're doing in me, though. However I might be used, I want to glorify Your name, LORD. Continue to shape me, humble me, soften my heart, help me be willing to help, meek, patient, faithful, honest, walk with integrity. When I'm standing before You, Lord, when I have lived out my life, the thing I want to hear You say the most is, "This is My beloved son, in whom I am well-pleased." Whatever it takes, whatever I need to let go, however You need to change me - make it happen in Jesus' name! I want to please You more than anything else, God. Continue the good work You've started in me, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.