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.

SOAP 12/30/2011; Revelation 17:14

Today's reading: Revelation 15,16,17,18

S)" ¹⁴ These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

Revelation 17:14 (NASB)

O) I love the song, "We've Already Won" by Red Umbrella. So what if they are Canadian? My wife has heritage from the Great White North, too! Anyway, in that song they echo the wonderful point made in this verse. The battle is already over, we've already won! In the end, His chosen and faithful are with Him when He is victorious.

A) Nothing will establish and protect faith like an eternal perspective and placing our minds on His salvation. In the end, everything else passes away. Do I still have rent to pay? Yes. Do I still need to put food on the table? Yes. Will God always provide for those things along the way, while I seek His eternal, spiritual direction for my life? YES! satan will try to overwhelm me with doubt, linking all sorts of problems together to make it look like a hopeless situation. The quickest way to counter that destructive thinking is starting at the end. God will win and I will be with Him when He does, as I have been chosen and will remain faithful.

P) Father, thank You first of all for the grace that You chose me in the beginning. The truth is that You choose everyone, if they will only respond in kind. In the divine way that only You can, You have chosen me as Your favorite, just as all of Your children are favorites. Holy Spirit, continue to discipline me, shape me, mold me to be the man I am destined to be. Help me remain faithful in everything, according to the will of the Father. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/29/2011; Revelation 14:13

Today's reading: Revelation 10,11,12,13,14

S)"¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, 'Write, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!"' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.'"

Revelation 14:13 (NASB)

O) So, there is a principle here, mentioned at the end of the verse, that our deeds can follow us after we die. There is a ripple effect in our world, for better or for worse. At the very least, there are the children - as we raise children, they will raise their children, and so on to the generations that follow, and as it trickles down our family trees, the way we raised our children will impact, on some level, our posterity for generations to come. Again, this is for better or for worse. Beyond our own families, though, this effect is felt everywhere we minister, or fail to minister. Everywhere we speak words of healing, or words of harm. Everywhere we build up, or tear down, we are affecting the people in our world and beyond. Our deeds will follow us.

A) There is tremendouse peace and promise in this, as long as I am doing well. It can become quite the test and danger if I am not doing well. This is all the more reason for me to think eternally, not temporally. I need to consider what kind of impact I can have on the people around me, but also how that may or may not ripple through that person's world. This is all the more reason to rely on the Holy Spirit to lead me in how I treat my wife and kids, but also how I live out my life in every facet. He has an eternal perspective I could never hope to own.

P) Father, I want my deeds that follow me to bless the people affected. Holy Spirit, lead me in all things, so that I am careful to do the will of the Father. I know You have the ultimate plan for everything, LORD, so I want to follow that plan as closely as I can. Forgive me for where I have faltered in its execution. Please give me grace in the harm I have done and might do in the future. In Jesus' name. Amen.

SOAP 12/28/2011; Revelation 5:9-10

Today's reading: Revelation 5,6,7,8,9

S)"⁹ And they *sang a new song, saying,
   'Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
 ¹⁰ 'You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.'"

Revelation 5:9-10 (NASB)
*Original Greek used present tense to convey stronger emphasis

O) I think the term "redeemed" is a little archaic and some of its implications are lost. One such aspect is the effect of purchase. God purchased us with the blood of Christ. There was an exchange that occurred. Because of this, we are made as kings and priests to our God, but it also means that we are endebted to the Lord. The truth is that no one is truly free. How many tales are there of princes and princesses, kings and queens who feel oppressed and bound by their duties, responsibilities, courts, and councils? But, there is no better creditor than God, because His motives are pure. He doesn't need us. He has no ulterior motives. He simply wants the best possible life for us, so He purchased us.

A) There are really only two ways to apply this scripture. I will remind myself that I was purchased for a reason - God has a preisthood, a throne for me. I need to minister to my family, lead them, and even minister to others. Alongside that, I need to continue to spread the gospel. Using the perspective and promise in this passage, I need to share that with others.

P) Father, I want to be lead my family justly. I want to lead by example, in holiness, through righteousness, to Your throne, God. I want to minister faithfully to them. Holy Spirit, lead me so I can lead them. Speak to me the will of the Father so that my prayers are effective. Help me wash them with the Word and foster an attitude and culture of worship in my home. Help me exert my boldness to proclaim the gospel with Your promises, and show people their destiny has been purchased for them. In Jesus' name. Amen.

SOAP 12/27/2011; Revelation 3:10

Today's reading: Revelation 1,2,3,4

S) "¹⁰ Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth."

Revelation 3:10 (NASB)

O) So, this is a huge promise that I've overlooked. God is about to spell out The Tribulation, and here He's telling the church at Philadelphia that they may, very well, escape it altogether. Like many promises from God, it's conditional. Here, protection is granted for those who have kept the work of His perseverance (or steadfastness). In otherwords, they persevered as Christ did (see John 17:6 and 2 Thessalonians 3:5). Will this faithfulness, perseverance, and obedience save us from other trials? I don't know, but Jesus said we should pray to avoid the end times, so this is a promise worth pursuing, even if it only escapes the last trials.

A) So, I should strive to persevere, first of all. Holding fast to the Word is a worthwhile, fruitful pursuit anyway, but this is a new layer of motivation. It's a hard thing, though, to be motivated by an event that still seems far off. Ultimately, though, no one knows the day or hour. So, I will continue to pursue the steadfastness of Christ, and pray that I am part of the church at Philadelphia, that I am spared from the trials of the end times.

P) Father, let me be found in perseverance according to the Word of Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, continue to lead me in all things, in all areas of my life, but especially speak to me concerning my steadfastness in the word of God. Show me where I've faltered and warn me before I slip. Strengthen me to persevere and strive to protect the righteousness within me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/26/2011; Psalm 119:116

Today's reading: Psalm 117; Psalm 119:81-176; 2 John 1; 3 John 1

S) "¹¹⁶ Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope."

Psalm 119:116 (NASB)

O) Sometimes it's easy for the enemy or the world to make us feel embarrassed of our faith in the Lord. They will make it seem silly, childish, hollow, or otherwise false. Ultimately, though, we have good reason to hope. Our hope is firmly established in the testimony of His word.

A) One of the effects I desired when I started to journal everyday, was to build up my boldness in the gospel. I want to be very transparent with my hope, so that the hopeless can see His light. Establishing myself in His word will secure my hope and remove any doubt. satan will not be able to sway me and the ridicule of this world will not hold me back. This verse will be my common prayer.

P) Father, sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Holy Spirit, sew this word in my heart as seed, and let it bear fruit in my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/25/2011; 1 John 4:19

Today's reading: 1 John 1,2,3,4,5

S) " ¹⁹ We love, because He first loved us."

1 John 4:19 (NASB)

O) This is the BEST Christmas gift! This is especially true because I am a Gentile. I was not part of God's chosen people, the Israelites. I had no covenant, no relationship with God. But He loved me first, before I loved Him, before I loved my family, or my parents, or anyone! He loved me in the perfect definition of grace.

A) I did nothing to deserve His love. I did nothing, even, to incurr His love. It's not even like I did something, anything, that would compel Him to love me. He simply is love and I am His creation, and so He loves me. Keeping this at the forefront of my mind is crucial to erasing the false-shame associated with stumbling in sin. Keeping this in mind is vital to combating the attacks of doubt from satan. From that focus, I need to continue to love others in His name. As an extension of His love, and the manifestation of His love, I need to love others in His name, and show them mercy in His name, and grace in His name.

P) Father, thank You for this love! Words escape me because this grace is so great. Holy Spirit, remind me of this very simple, very impactful truth; remind me often. Show me opportunities, and let me take opportunities, even create them, to share Your gracious love with others. Not because they deserve it, not because they even incurr it, or inspire it, but simply because You love them, and I am Your son, so I will love them. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.