SOAP 01/07/2012; Genesis 18:32

Today's reading: Genesis 18,19; Psalms 3; Luke 7

S)" ³² Then he said, 'Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?' And He said, 'I will not destroy it on account of the ten.'"

Genesis 18:32 (NASB)

O) Abraham has become quite bold in the presence of the LORD. I'm reluctant to use the word "negotiate" but through supplication, God tells him He'll spare Sodom if He finds 50 righteous men, or 45, or 40, or 30, 20, and finally, even just 10. Sadly, there were not even 3 righteous men. I don't want to discount Lot's wife or two daughters, but they didn't exactly prove to be the most faithful, righteous women... but the other two men who might have been found righteous (Lot's future sons-in-law), thought Lot was jesting about the destruction of the city. I can imagine how incredibly different history would be, if there were as few as 10 righteous people in the entire city!

A) First, this is the impact of a single man's requests before the Almighty. As a Christian, I can't even write this off as something "only Abraham could have done" because Paul makes it abundantly clear that Abraham's righteousness was obtained through the same faith that I have! So, if God credits me with the same righteousness, and He heard Abraham's request because of Abraham's obedience, faith, and righteousness, then I need to realize the power of my own prayers, and that God will hear my requests as well. He will only act according to His will, but He hears my prayers; I cannot neglect that! Second, this passage is showing me the potential of just 10 righteous men. It is very, very important that I stay involved in the lives of my brothers in Christ. I need to be available to them and I need to seize the moments that they are made available to me. I need to build up the men around me and allow them to build me up as well. I need to #MANUP.

P) Father, I want to be more committed to prayer, first of all. Help me see prayer as a time to talk with You, Father. Help me be honest and expressive about the concerns of my heart and about my fears and insecurity and the areas where I truly need help. Holy Spirit, open my ears to hear the Father's responses. Open my eyes to see what He's trying to show me. Open my heart to receive Truth, instruction, correction, and direction. Embolden me to use the courage You placed inside me, to be unashamed and completely honest with the righteous men You have placed around me. Help me reach out to them and sharpen them as iron, and be sharpened by them as iron. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/06/2012; Luke 6:30

Today's reading: Genesis 15,16,17; Luke 6

S)"³⁰ Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back."

Luke 6:30 (NASB)

O) I've heard a lot of people question the literal meaning of "turn the other cheek" and how Jesus may have been speaking in hyperbole. I don't subscribe to that. I think the standard that God is asking us to reach is simply that high, and this is another case like that. Giving to everyone who asks? Even if they're just going to use the money for alcohol? Even if we know for a fact that they're on drugs? Jesus didn't qualify the command. Perhaps equally difficult is the second portion. If our house is robbed, we're just supposed to let it go? Whoa! I'm not sure how far that goes, exactly. I mean, suppose that same drug addict you know is the one who stole from you, and you know who/where they are, Jesus is telling us not to pursue them? That's going to take serious humility.

A) The key, I believe, starts with how I see 90% of my world... When Kristin and I took the Crown Financial class, one of the first things I really learned from that course was about non-tithing. See, we had already learned the lessons of tithing very well. God began blessing us and giving us more and more financial freedom from the very first month we committed to tithing. Since then, it's been a no-brainer. But what I learned from the class is that I'm not giving 10% to God; I'm giving it to the church. The significance there is that the remaining 90% was never intended to be mine. It's still God's! So, if I start to change my mindset, understanding that every material thing (at least) I have belongs to God, then what do I care if some one else wants something I'm holding? I'm supposed to be a good steward of what God has given me, so I should protect it, but I should also certainly obey what Jesus commands, all the more readily!

P) Father, help me to continue to see all of these possessions as Yours and not mine. Help me to be increasingly giving. Holy Spirit, lead me in generosity. Show me when, where, and how the Father wants His money spent, how He wants His possessions handled. Help me let go of the things in this world, because no one can truly steal from You, Lord. I will rest in the knowledge that You supply security and provision, not these things which surround me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/05/2012; Genesis 13:11-13

Today's reading: Genesis 12,13,14; Luke 5

S)"¹¹ So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. ¹² Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. ¹³ Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD."

Genesis 13:11-13 (NASB)

O) Before today, I don't think I ever noticed that Abram had given Lot a choice of where to go. Shortly after this, God tells Abram that everywhere, north, south, west, and east will be for him and his descendants. So, it wasn't that Lot was choosing out a place that would belong to him. He wasn't staking a claim for his posterity. He was simply choosing where he was going to live. Still, such a simple choice had deep implications. In the end, Lot had to be rescued. Twice.

A) The family and I are moving next summer. We're not buying a house (immediately), we're simply choosing where to live. The implications can still be quite deep and the effects, far-reaching. It was especially important to Kristin and me to pray a lot, even fasting at length, to be sure we were getting this decision right. Sometimes God has us go through trials, so I can't even say that Lot made the "wrong" choice. What I do know, though, is that if we're following God's will, and we face trials, it will still be better than the alternative (life in our own will, facing trials). I'll continue to seek God's direction, especially as the move gets closer and closer, but I'll also accept the fact that God may have trials coming our way. I'll trust that He knows what He's doing with them.

P) Father, continue to direct my steps Lord. As I lead my family, it is especially important that You are leading me. That will ensure that You are also leading them. Holy Spirit, continue to speak the will of the Father to me. Alert me when I am facing trials and difficulties according to the will of the Father, so I can more easily trust and anticipate the ending. Help me to continue seeking my destiny according to Your will, God. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/04/2012; Genesis 11:6

Today's reading: Genesis 9,10,11; Luke 4

S)"⁶ The LORD said, 'Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.'"

Genesis 11:6 (NASB)

O) The first thing I thought when I read this verse was about the fact that we live in the information age. Now, ultimately, it was the pride of the people that was the problem, not simply building the Tower of Babel. But, after reading through Revelation last month, about the end times, I couldn't help but see a correlation. As we progress further and further toward the information age, are we getting closer and closer to rebuilding the Tower of Babel in the heart of a new Babylon, just in time for God to strike against the collective pride of mankind?

A) This is a sobering reminder of the things to come, potentially in my life. I need to continue to be deliberate in my humility. Pride is insidious and relentless and I cannot take a break. I need to be vigilant in watching my own behavior. I need to be open, honest, and accepting of the counsel of others to advise, instruct, and rebuke me.

P) Father, continue to break down my pride. Soften my heart so that it is continually fertile soil for Your words to be sewn and eventually bear fruit in my life. Holy Spirit, convict me of pride and reveal to me all the secret places it lingers. Help me to deliberately submit my will in subjection to the will of the Father every moment of every day. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/03/2012; Luke 3:21-22

Today's reading: Genesis 6,7,8; Luke 3

S)"²¹ Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, ²² and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.'"

Luke 3:21-22 (NASB)

O) This marks the beginning of Jesus' ministry. He hadn't healed anyone yet. He hadn't fed anyone yet. He hadn't raised anyone from the dead. He hadn't driven the Pharisees out of the temple, or given any crowd gathering sermons yet. But here we see the Father declare that He is well-pleased with Jesus. The only reasons He has, are because Jesus is free of sin and because God is the Father. Jesus didn't earn God's approval. He had it simply because of lineage and because of purity.

A) So, as a lower-case son of God, what does this mean to me? The first thing I need to do is remember that I am God's son. This adoption happened the moment I accepted Jesus Christ and His Way. At that same moment of absurdly beautiful grace, I was also made righteous before the Father. And so, walking in repentence, I am constantly being re-made as righteous and a son. I could never earn God's approval; If Jesus couldn't, what hope did I have? But, like Jesus, I am given the approval of the Father, through the grace I have in Jesus. Besides, if I could somehow earn God's approval, that would mean He would be endebted to me, which is just foolish to consider.

P) Father, forgive me of my sins, especially the when I am trying to earn Your approval. I am motivated by the compassionate grace You've already given me. Don't let satan try to convince me that I still need to impress You. Holy Spirit, continue to speak the will of the Father to me, so I can be obedient in what He has for me to do. But, Lord, let me do it out of gratitude for Your gracious approval, not in seeking Your "obligated approval." In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/02/2012; Genesis 3:17

Today's reading: Genesis 3,4,5; Luke 2

S)"¹⁷ Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’;
   Cursed is the ground because of you;
In toil you will eat of it
All the days of your life."

Genesis 3:17 (NASB)

O) It's interesting, what God says to Adam, here. He doesn't simply address the fact that Adam disobeyed. He also addresses the fact that Adam was taking his wife's lead. Adam was listening to his wife instead of God. He had placed his spouse ahead of his creator. The immediate result is lost blessings (the Garden and its Tree of Life). The end result is a life of difficult, miserable work.

A) Kristin is an amazing wife; she makes it easy to be a husband. Having said that, there are times when I want to please her so much that I will comprimise what I know is right. Nothing huge, or even immoral, per se. But, I have certainly made unwise decisions. For example, because I don't want to tell her no, I have spent money that we should not have spent. This has been known to create all sorts of havoc. Initially, it affects our actual financial stability. But then prolonged effects on our marriage surface with the stresses of tight finances or extra work (e.g., overtime, etc.). Again, my wife has great discernment and obedience, and through that we have addressed this particular issue. Over the years, we've gotten better at it - me saying no, her not asking when she knows we shouldn't. Ultimately, it's hard to be a man and to choose what's right, instead of just trying to make my wife happy. I need to remember that happiness is fleeting and just because something feels good, doesn't make it good - even with your wife. I need to focus on what will bring her joy and what will be good for her.

P) Father, forgive me for my sins and failures in my marriage. I want to effectively, righteously lead my wife. Holy Spirit, strengthen me to walk in righteousness and to follow the will of the Father, even as I know it. God, Your word is not always a mystery to me, I simply need to be obedient. Remind me that my wife responds to godly discipline and she is blessed when I put my foot down. Remind me that she has said, and even shown, that when I am firm in doing what is right, she feels more secure, more blessed, more joyful, and even more attracted to me. Continue to shape me into the man she needs me to be. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/01/2012; Luke 1:8-9

Today's reading: Genesis 1,2; Luke 1

S)"⁸ Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, ⁹ according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense."

Luke 1:8-9 (NASB)

O) I think I'm pretty familiar with Luke 1 and 2 and the stories of Gabriel visiting Zacharias and Mary, but this is a subtle bit that I'd missed in the past. Zacharias was only even in the temple that day because they had cast lots for it... So God had to divinely arrange to get Zacharias into the temple, to have him be visited by an angel, that he wasn't going to fully believe in the first place... It's like God had to pull all of the circumstances together to make the strongest case possible, only to have Zacharias barely believe!

A) I don't want God to have to throw together every circumstance just for God to barely convince me. I need to make a decision right now, that I will believe God in the slightest evidence. I need to ask for more faith, increase my faith in the Word, and also determine now, to act on that faith.

P) Father, please increase my faith. I choose to obey, even now, Lord. Holy Spirit, speak to me now and show me the will of the Father. Send an angel messanger, give me a dream, speak to me through Your word, to my heart, or even audibly. I choose now to believe in the words spoken to me. Even so, convince me however You might, using whatever circumstances are necessary, to the greatest degree of belief possible. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.