SOAP 10/08/2011; Luke 21:36

Today's reading: Ezra 9,10; Psalms 131; Luke 21

S) "³⁶ But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Luke 21:36 (NASB)

O) Jesus gave many warnings that the end times would be very difficult. Here, He's actually instructing us to ask the Father to spare us from those times, that we would be able to stand before Him in the end.

A) The application of this verse is very straight-forward, since Jesus is essentially commanding, or at least imploring us, to a specific action. Keeping on the alert at all times means that I need to stay in the Word daily, pray daily, worship daily, fast often, give often, etc. Keeping all of the classic disciplines will help keep my perspective on the eternal, important things and less on the temporal, superfluous things. And of course, I should be praying for exactly what Jesus said, here.

P) Father, continue to discipline me in all of Your ways, God. Help me to continue to grow in Your Word, worship daily... all these things, LORD. Holy Spirit, help keep me alert to the spiritual world around me. Alert me to the spiritual climate, the way a reporter is aware of a political climate; I want to know when, where, and how I need to be taking spiritual action. Also, Father, give me strength that I might be spared from the struggles of the times to come. For myself and my family, LORD, I want us to be able to stand in Your presence, and have You be pleased in Your good and faithful servants. Thank You for Your grace and mercies, God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/07/2011; Luke 20:4-8

Today's reading: Ezra 7,8; Luke 20

S) "⁴ 'Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?' ⁵ They reasoned among themselves, saying, 'If we say, "From heaven," He will say, "Why did you not believe him?" ⁶ But if we say, "From men," all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.' ⁷ So they answered that they did not know where it came from. ⁸ And Jesus said to them, 'Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.'"

Luke 20:4-8 (NASB)

O) The world likes to pretend that Christianity is illogical. They like to pretend it makes no sense, it's juvenile, or for the weak-minded. The truth is, though, that they have as many unanswered questions as anyone else. They do not want to accept creationism or miracles, but they take theories as facts (the _ of evolution, the big bang _ ). It's important for Christians to acknowledge that some of our beliefs are built on faith, which cannot be proven; however, it's also important for Christians to have a thorough knowledge of why they believe the things they do.

A) I feel like sometimes, Christians think that critical-thinking is contrary to faith. I feel like sometimes Christians think their faith should be blind, or else it's not faith, or something. The term "blind faith" is almost a double-edged sword. My faith in the Bible, in God's divine intervention, and my relationship with Him, are all based on my experience; my faith is not blind. On the other hand, when I feel that God tells me to do something, I do not wait until I know why - I simply do it out of obedience; my faith is blind. It's almost to say that, my faith is built on the first-hand experience of God's manifested presence in my life, and with that faith I am able to follow God blindly, as needed. Just like a scientifically-minded atheist, I need to think critically about my beliefs, so that I am able to speak with conviction and education.

P) Father, continue to educate me through Your Word. Holy Spirit, continue to give me insight through prayer, speaking the knowledge and wisdom of God directly into my heart, according to your promise in 1 Corinthians 2. Father, I want to accurately convey Your compassion, love, mercy, and grace for the world, to the world. Thank You for giving all of Your people a spirit of boldness, and not timidity, according to 2 Timothy 1; help us act in that boldness. God, I ask that You'd pull on the hearts of Your people to pursue knowledge and wisdom, so that they can also accurately present Your Truth. Call on the teachers that You have gifted, and help them pursue the use of their gifts for the benefit of believers and to glorify Your Name, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/06/2011; Luke 19:4-5

Today's reading: Esther 9,10; Luke 19

S) "⁴ So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. ⁵ When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, 'Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.'"

Luke 19:4-5 (NASB)

O) This story always reminds me of that old song about Zaccheus :)
Aside from that, it occurs to me today as I read this, that as Zaccheus was searching for Jesus, Jesus was searching for Zaccheus. This is so true for us all! The phrase, "finding Jesus" or "he found Jesus" always seems a little misleading. Jesus has never been lost, as far as I know. Even when His parents lost Him, when they found Him again in the temple, He knew where He was the whole time! So, we don't find Jesus, so much as He finds us.

A) Keeping the mindset that God is searching for me, because He wants relationship with me, makes it a lot easier to repent and get back on my feet when I make mistakes. It's easy, when I'm down, to feel like God is looking for me to punish me. It's a lot harder to remember that He's trying to find me because He wants me to have Him over for dinner - so to speak. So, this is another passage that is applied by keeping it in mind.

P) Father, thank You for finding me. I was completely broken and unworthy when You found me; I'm still broken and unworthy on my own. Holy Spirit, remind me of this passage often, to encourage me when I'm struggling. God, I'm finding more and more examples of how Your grace is manifested in my life. Continue to reveal Your grace to me in new ways, Lord . In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/05/2011; Esther 4:15-17

Today's reading: Esther 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; Luke 18

S) "¹⁵ Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, ¹⁶ 'Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.' ¹⁷ So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him."

Esther 4:15-17 (NASB)

O) I think in the entire story of King Ahasuerus, Queen Esther, Mordecai, and Haman, this was the pivotal point. There is so much power in fasting and prayer. God inclines His ear in powerful ways when we are committed to seeking Him in such a way. A fast isn't a hunger strike, it's a showing of discipline and devotion. Fasting is enough to save a nation from genocide, but it must be paired with action. In the chapters that follow this passage, Esther takes bold risks and speaks with wisdom, Mordecai is faithful in his actions and clever in his resolution. All of it is made possible through fasting and prayer.

A) Fasting should be a regular discipline for every Christian. I suppose I don't do it with enough regularity. I fast when there's an emergency, like Mordecai and the queen, but I also need to consistently fast for my life, family, loved ones, ministry, job, future, city, leaders, and on and on. Fasting is too valuable a tool to leave in my toolbelt.

P) Father, thank You for hearing my prayers, God. I know that, through Jesus, I have been made righteous. I know that, according to Jesus' words, His promise, I can pray in righteousness and have confidence that my prayer will be heard. God, I also know that You honor commitment and devotion. God, I want to honor You with fasting. Holy Spirit, help establish this discipline in me. Even if it hurts, I want the Father's discipline in my life. Strengthen my resolve and help me pray and fast with focus and purpose. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/04/2011; Luke 17:32-35

Today's reading: Esther 1,2; Psalms 150; Luke 17

S) "³² Remember Lot’s wife. ³³ Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. ³⁴ I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. ³⁵ There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left."

Luke 17:32-35 (NASB)

O) Make no mistake, there will be a rapture. I've been hearing some teachings floating around that the rapture was manufactured and not scriptural... I'm just not sure there's another way to interpret these verses*. Looking into the passage, Jesus draws our attention to Lot's wife with a stern warning. When He comes back to get us, if we're lingering, wavering, and ultimately tied to our life here on Earth, there will be a heavy price. 

A) I have to be fully submitted to God, invested in Him with every aspect of my life. That will ensure that when He returns, I am immediately able to drop my life on Earth to follow Him to Heaven. This is not, by any means, to say that I am not valuing my life around me. My wife, children... everything about my life is entrusted to Jesus and valued through Him. So, I am able to "leave them behind" because I know that I have properly raised my children in God, so they will also be brought. I am confident that I have strengthened my wife in the LORD, so that she will also be brought. All of my financial, or material gains were only vehicles to further the Gospel, secure my family in Christ, or for trivial leisure. So, when Jesus comes, I am completely ready, because everything is filtered through an eternal perspective in Jesus Christ.

P) Father, everything I have is a gift from You. Even my family is given to me, entrusted to me, as a gift from You, God. Holy Spirit, remind me to have an eternal mindset, that the things in this world around me are temporary, and that it's the people who are eternal. Help me properly invest in relationships with my wife, children, and other family, friends, and loved ones. When that day comes, LORD, strengthen my resolve, God, so that I am not distracted in any way, but I will be focused only on You, and I will be willing to lose my life in order to save it. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


* Edit 12/23/2016: I have, in the last year or so, learned a little more about the various views of eschatology. To be clear, there can be no doubt that there is a rapture, but the timing of it, and what exactly the tribulations are that are described in the New Testament, is a little less direct than I always thought. With this particular passage, there is a slightly alternative view, that vv.26-37 are not about the end times, but about the destruction of the temple in 70 AD that followed the invasion/siege of Jerusalem. In either case, the point is still quite valid, that this passage is indeed a warning to be ready, and it's also a promise to those who are (or were) ready.

SOAP 10/03/2011; Luke 16:29-31

Today's reading: Ezra 5,6; Psalm 138; Luke 16

S)"²⁹ 'But Abraham *said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' ³⁰ But he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' ³¹ But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Luke 16:29-31 (NASB)

O) This is taken from the story Jesus tells about a rich man named who died and was in Hades, awaiting judgement, while a beggar that he knew, named Lazarus, was on the opposite side of a chasm walking with Abraham. After being told that he was doomed, the rich man pleads with Abraham. The last verse is why I quoted the passage. It's scary, but true, that some people simply will not believe and obey God, regardless of what kind of miracles they witness. It's scary, because that means there are lots of people who will simply never submit to God, regardless of the evidence presented, and they will doom themselves to hell for their stubborn disbelief.

A) There are really only two ways this applies in my life. First, I need to constantly check my faith. I need to keep my mind on God's salvation, and humbly remember the miracles I've seen in my life. Second, I need to be a good witness to the hand of God moving in my life. While I'm bearing witness to His goodness, and the fact that He lives, and the fact that heaven and hell are real outcomes, I need to remember that there are, unfortunately, unwinnable battles. I've said it before, failure shouldn't stop me from trying, but I should be aware of the fruit that is, or is not, coming from my work.

P) Father, soften the hearts of those around me. Strengthen me, Lord, to be a bold witness to Your work in my life. As I proclaim Your goodness, and praise Your Name, please bless that seed of truth that I'm planting in people. Holy Spirit, water that seed to see it grow and bear fruit in people's lives. Lead me, Holy Spirit, to know when to press on, and when to move on. Let me never give up hope, and never stop proclaiming Your salvation. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/02/2011; Luke 15:18-21

Today's reading: Zechariah 13,14; Psalms 147; Luke 15

S)"¹⁸ I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.' ²⁰ So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'"

Luke 15:18-21 (NASB)

O) The Prodigal Son is a fairly famous story, or at least most people know the term and a general idea of what the story is. This is an element that I'd never noticed before today, though. In v.18, the son intends to go to his father, confess to him, and apologize in humility. And when the son returns, the father famously runs to greet him with hugs and kisses. What really jumped off the page today, was that the son still told his father everything he had intended to say. Even though his father was clearly not angry, and was even joyful at his sight, the son was still remorseful and still bore the responsibility for his actions. He still acknowledged his unworthiness, and didn't shrink back from the difficult task of discussing his mistakes.

A) I don't think people should dwell on their mistakes after repenting. I have been overcome by guilt, after repentence, and I don't believe that's from God. After repentence, God forgives and He doesn't hold it against us anymore. Sometimes, though, that lulls me into a place where I will not exactly acknowledge a problem I've had. It has happened that, after sinning, repenting, and being forgiven, I have felt the responsibility to talk to some one that my sin may have affected, but in my head I'll rationalize that God has forgiven me, that I'm no longer guilty, and therefore I do not need to talk about my mistake or sin. That is false. God forgives me when I confess to Him, but sometimes I need to confess to the people I have wronged. If I'm being prideful and arrogant, and I say something that offends some one, I can repent and have God forgive me, but I need to take responsibility and still apologize to the person I offended. Furthermore, if I'm struggling with a sin over and over, yes God will forgive each time (as long as I'm truly struggling, i.e., still fighting to stop sinning in it), but there is also wisdom in confessing to a brother in Christ so that I can receive prayer, counsel, and healing.

P) Father, give me courage to take responsibility and speak up when I know I've wronged some one. I know that it's a rare sin that only affects me, and not another person in some way. Help me to see when my sins hurt others, and strengthen me to apologize to them also, and ask for their forgiveness too. Holy Spirit, alert me to all of my sins from which I still need to repent, especially those that harm others around me. Forgive me, God, In Jesus' name. Thank You for grace and mercy, LORD. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.