SOAP 09/10/2011; Lamentations 3:25-26

Today's reading: Lamentations 3,4,5; Revelation 15

S)"²⁵ The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him. ²⁶ It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the LORD."

Lamentations 3:25-26 (NASB)

O) Patience is indeed a virtue. Sometimes, I think God really wants to see that our devotion to Him is serious. I think when most Christians encounter calamity, their first reaction is to seek God. However, when they don't get immediate results or response, many people will give up that pursuit. Also, God wants us to be persistent in our pursuit of Him, but He doesn't want us to simply complain. It's a matter of humility to trust that God will not be late with His salvation. He knows what we face and He is might to save; we need to trust and wait, and not give up on our hope in Him.

A) It's a similar situation to seek God when I have no apparent needs. Right now, in my life, I'm not facing any disasters or storms; however, I know that they will come. C'est la vie. Right now, I can practice the same focus and patience in my prayer times and devotion times, that is needed when I am desperate for God's salvation. It's difficult for me to sit still sometimes; I tend to fall asleep. There is growth to be had, and character development, in disciplining myself to wait with purpose. It's not enough to simply put my requests before God; I need to wait for His response.

P) Father, You have never failed me and You never will. I trust that You always have my best interests in mind. You are a good God and a good Father! When I come to You with my life is a mess, I will wait for You to move. I know that You have perfect timing. Holy Spirit, strengthen me to develop patience before the LORD. I will pursue You, in difficult times and times of blessings, and wait for You, God. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/09/2011; Obediah (1:) 3

Today's reading: Lamentations 1,2; Obadiah; Revelation 14

S)"³ “The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,
You who live in the clefts of the rock,
In the loftiness of your dwelling place,
Who say in your heart,
‘Who will bring me down to earth?’"

Obediah 3 (NASB)
(1 chapter book)

O) Literally, God is talking to Edom, the descendants of Esau. Like many other passages in the Bible, though, the symbolism here is very applicable to our lives today. First of all, the biggest difficulty with arrogance, is that it is blind. Very few people have honest self-awareness to admit, or even recognize, that they have an arrogant heart. From there, arrogance will absolutely deceive people into thinking they are more secure than those around them. The arrogance can come in the form of physical security, like the above example, but owning my own home can't protect me from the economy. Then there are less obvious, but more eternal issues. Being a good guy isn't going to fill my life with joy, and it's also not going to get me into heaven. The bottom line is that, we can never be confident in our own answers, our own strength, our own goodness. Ultimately, because our own is never good enough, if we try to pass it off like it is, that's arrogance.

A) Since an arrogant person seldom recognizes it in themselves, the only way I can combat arrogance is to purposefully chase humility. I need to profess that it is God who provides my economic means. It is God who fills my life with joy. It is God who paid my way into heaven, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is God who fill-in-the-blank! God is the only reason I have anything good in my life. He is the only reason I am capable of work; He's the only reason I have any meager talent; He is the only reason I have breath in my lungs.

P) Father, I owe everything I am to You, God. That's a debt I can never repay. The amazing thing is, that You will never ask me to try. That's true grace. You loved me when I was completely unlovable. You redeemed me when I was completely worthless. Holy Spirit, whatever it takes, humble me before the LORD if I ever fail to humble myself. Remind me of Your every salvation, God. I am eternally grateful for Your eternal grace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/08/2011; Jeremiah 42:6

Today's reading: Jeremiah 42,43,44; Psalms 48; Revelation 13

S)"⁶ Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God."

Jeremiah 42:6 (NASB)

O) This is good resolve. It shows excellent self-awareness to realize that God's will isn't always pleasant, but even when it isn't, it's still good for us. For all of their resolve, they still didn't heed the Word of the LORD, through Jeremiah. You wonder what level of conviction they had when they made this claim in the first place. Maybe that's why it took Jeremiah 10 days to get His response (see vs.7). Sometimes I think God is less willing to answer if He knows it will fall on deaf ears. Also, it's worth noting that Jesus paved the way for us to approach the throne of God on our own, to inquire of the LORD without a prophet, as we have all been made priests with Jesus Christ.

A) When I ask God about direction, I need to be genuine in my proclamation for obedience. It's easy to say ahead of time, that I'll obey. Usually, that's because I'm not expecting anything alarming, or that I'm expecting something that makes sense and is logical (to me). It's difficult to truly expect the unexpected, or plan for any circumstance, but when you really determine from the start, that God's way is truly the best case scenario, it makes giving a blind pledge of obedience a lot easier. Actually obeying is still difficult sometimes, though.

P) Father, as I submit my whole life to You, I want to be sure that my heart is contrite and humble. I am determining now, that You are infinitely more wise, and knowledgeable than I could ever be. I am determining now that You are a good God, who is compassionate and full of loving-kindness. I am determining now to be obedient to Your Word, LORD. Holy Spirit, continue to soften my heart to do the will of the Father. Open my eyes to see and my ears to hear, and give me boldness to act, when I have the Word of the Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.

SOAP 09/07/2011; Revelation 12:11

Today's reading: 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 40, 41; Revelation 12

S)"¹¹ And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death."

Revelation 12:11 (NASB)

O) The "him" here is satan. It's amazing to me that he will be overcome by the word of our testimony. The second part is a huge challenge, though - facing death and not loving life over faithfulness to God. Also, it's interesting that there is, again, a procession to this verse that mirrors our relationship with God. First, it's the blood of Christ that begins the relationship. Second, it's my relationship that builds testimony, as I go through my life within that relationship. Third, it is through that relationship, that I will love Christ more than my own life, even when faced with death.

A) So, I need to continue to foster and nurture my relationship with God. I need to continue to invest in that relationship with my time, energy, money, and devotion, etc. Along the way, I need to continue to put my mind on God's salvation, reminding myself of how God has saved me - not just from hell, but also from all the perils of this present life. As I strengthen my relationship, and build on my testimony, I will assure that if I am ever faced with death, I will not value my life selfishly over my faithfulness to Him.

P) Father, thank You for sacrificing Jesus for me. You redeemed me through pure grace and I can never thank You enough, but I will try. Holy Spirit, continue to remind me of all the testimonies I have. You have shown me great miracles and wonders that displayed the Father's love and power, and I will never be the same. Build my faith, secure my faithfulness, and assure that nothing can jeopardize that relationship. If I ever face death for my devotion to You, LORD, I thank You now for the strength built between us, to never abandon our relationship. I will walk in victory with You, God. In Jesus' name, amen.

SOAP 09/06/2011; Revelation 11:18

Today's reading: Ezekiel 29, 30, 31, 32; Revelation 11

S)"¹⁸ And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth."

Revelation 11:18 (NASB)

O) So, Jesus will return and the dead will be judged; that's expected and pretty well known. Also, the people of God, those who fear His name, will be rewarded - also pretty well known. But what really grabbed me, was that He will destroy those who "destroy the earth." God cares about His creations, the people, but also the earth and the things in it.

A) I need to honor God in all areas of my life. There is my salvation first, and leading my family, but I also need to be a good steward of my body (being healthy) and a good steward of the things God has given me. From money, to the upkeep of my home, even recycling and not being wasteful, I need to honor God with all of my behavior. I need to act responsibly, so that God will be glorified.

P) Father, You are the Creator of all things. I want to magnify Your name, Lord. When people look at my life, I want it to be a reflection of Your goodness to me. I want them to see that You are a good God, worth our devotion, servitude, faithfulness, and gratitude. Help me to know where my life needs improvement, Lord. Continue to shape me, and push me, toward being the man You intend me to be, God. In Jesus' name, amen.

SOAP 09/05/2011; Ezekiel 28:25

Today's reading: Ezekiel 25, 26, 27, 28; Revelation 10

S)"  ²⁵ 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and will manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their land which I gave to My servant Jacob."'"

Ezekiel 28:25 (NASB)

O) This promise has a distinct sequence that parallels my relationship with God. First, the Israelites are gathered back to God. In the same way, I came to Christ because the Father drew me (see John 6:44). Then, God's holiness is manifested in them, as a gift from God. Equally, Jesus' sacrifice redeemed me and I was given righteousness (holiness) as a gift (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). Finally, they were brought back to their promised land, just as I am given promises as I have now been adopted and am called a son of God (see 1 John 3:1)

A) The first and the last parts of this are already done. I came to Christ and was redeemed; I was adopted by God, and I have also adopted promises from God. The middle, though, is still a process. The righteousness I receive is continual, based on my perpetual repentence and acceptance of God's grace. As I life my life and make mistakes, the holiness from God is blemished (as sin destroys holiness), and consequently, the promises of God are jeopardized. So, I can reclaim those promises by accepting God's mercy, through grace, in repentence. Also, I can protect my God-given righteousness by living holy and pursuing right-living.

P) Father, thank You for drawing me near, God. That is the first part of Your grace which is just, so far beyond me. Your grace is truly amazing and I am in awe as I think on it. And in Your goodness, You provided redemption for me; You gave Jesus as the redemption for my sins! As if that wasn't enough, LORD, You lavish more love on me in the blessings You provide above and beyond my simple salvation. Holy Spirit, continue to humble me, and help me dwell on this grace and to live my life to honor these gifts. Thank You for these blessings, God, in Jesus' name. Amen.

SOAP 09/04/2011; Revelation 9:20-21

Today's reading: Ezekiel 22, 23, 24; Revelation 9

S)" ²⁰ The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; ²¹ and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts."

Revelation 9:20-21 (NASB)

O) This is a scary thought. It's astounding to me that people could witness such wonders, dissasters about which there are explicit and specific prophecies, and still not believe. It's scary to think that people can be confronted with such severe and certain evidence, and yet still not believe. The fact that there are people who, no matter what kind of consequences or effects they face, simply will never repent and turn from their sins... it's tragic, really. These are people who will be doomed to hell; they will not be doomed by God, they will be doomed by their own stubborness and rebellion against God.

A) First, I pray that any family I have, whether that's my wife and kids or grandchildren or further progeny, I pray that they are spared from these horrors. Not just the plagues that are mentioned in this chapter and the surrounding chapters, but also that they would be spared from a world where mankind has become so callous and the worldwide population has such seared consciouses. Secondly, this verse simply reminds me again to walk in repentence. Sin is harmful, but God is merciful to those who repent.

P) Father, please give grace to my family and my descendents. Spare them from this tragic time, God. whatever favor I may receive in Your sight, please let that favor also be given also to my whole family. LORD, please forgive me for my own selfish acts. I am a sinner who is not worthy of Your grace, but You choose to give me grace anyway. Holy Spirit, humble me daily, and let me bear fruit in keeping with repentence, in Jesus' name. Amen.