SOAP 04/07/2012; Psalm 66:10-12

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 1,2; Psalms 66; 2 Corinthians 7
  
S)"¹⁰ For You have tried us, O God;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
¹¹ You brought us into the net;
You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins.
¹² You made men ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water,
Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance."
   

Psalm 66:10-12 (NASB)

   
O) When the Casting Crowns song "Praise You In This Storm" came out, it was near the beginning of Kristin and I serving God together. It seemed like everything was coming against us after we made that decision to put our lives under His control, under His will. I was driving down the road, feeling very much like serving God was harder than I remembered it as a teenager, and this song came on. It was so powerful, the way that it said what my heart felt, right at that exact moment, in those very same weeks. When the song was over, I turned off the radio and I just repeated the bridge over and over, because that was the part that struck me the most, "I lift my eyse unto the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and Earth." because I didn't want to forget that. I got home and furiously searched for that song for days, just with those two lines. When I finally found it, I bought that album and the song became a sort of familial anthem for Kristin and me. It was around that same time that Kristin, while reading at home when I was at work, found this passage of Psalm 66. It became a life-verse for our marriage and family.
  

A) Since then, in my mind, I cannot separate the two - the song and passage - as they are powerful reminders that the blessings of God are beyond my own perception at times. In the middle of storms, I need to remember that His blessings are still there, even if I don't see them yet. Beyond the storm, beyond the thunder and lightning and rain, on the other side, is God. The Maker of Heaven and Earth is waiting for me beyond my trials and struggles. So, I will praise Him as I go through my testing, because I know that He will bring me, and my family, to a place of abundance on the other side - even if I don't see it until I reach Heaven.
  

P) Father, You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins. You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water, Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance. Holy Spirit, continually reset my perspective. In the meantime, I will praise You in every storm. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/06/2012; Psalm 65:8

Today's reading: Ruth 3,4; Psalms 64,65; 2 Corinthians 6

S)"⁸ They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs;
You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy."
 

Psalm 65:8 (NASB)

 
O) There were lots of verses in this Psalm that make the point that the evidence of God and His Creation is all around us! One of my favorite songs by the worship band, Shine Like Stars, is the song "God of Rembrandt" That song talks about how all of creation points to God as such an artist, such a worker of beauty. All the way back through every recorded history and time, people everywhere have attributed the awesome, beautiful, and often fiercely dangerous, power of and majesty of the natural world around us - they've attributed to a supernatural creation. Often times, they simply missed the true Author. The signs are all around, though, we just have to have open eyes and open ears, or else we miss them.
  

A) Sometimes, it's nice to turn off my radio when I drive and use my peripheral senses to take in the world around me. Notice the sky and the rolling clouds. Notice the tree lines of the mountains in the distance. Notice the fresh crisp air. There's the old addage to "stop and smell the roses" and as trite or over-used as it is, there's still so much truth to its wisdom. I need to be sure that I'm not missing the simplicity of God in my everyday life. With so much of my future still to be found, and so many unanswered questions, it's good to get back to the basic, beautiful things of God.
  

P) Father, You make beautiful things. This world, in which You've placed me, is a constant testiment to Your nature as Creator. Holy Spirit, continue to slow me down and open my eyes to the way the Father loves to create, as it applies to my personal relationship and life in Jesus Christ. I am, myself, a new creation every day. I am made to be as beautiful as a sunset. Let me glorify my Creator the same way, shouting for joy! In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/05/2012; 2 Corinthians 5:20

Today's reading: Ruth 1,2; Psalms 53, 61; 2 Corinthians 5

S)"²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
 

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NASB)

 
O) If some one asked me to point to one verse that shows how to deliver the Gospel, this might be it. The whole purpose of spreading the gospel is to show people that their Father in heaven wants to have a relationship with them and that relationship is found through Jesus Christ. It's not about being a Christian, it's not about reading the Bible, it's not about going to church or paying tithes, it's not even about resisting temptations of sin. All of that will come, but it all comes through the first step - being brought back together with our Creator. When we are rejoined with our Father in heaven, then everything else will start to come together as we pursue to strengthen our relationship with Him.
  

A) This really needs to be the basis of all my ministry work or evangelism, ever. My life changed when I found freedom from various sins, my life changed when I started paying my tithes, my life changed over this last year when I started reading my Bible and journaling everyday. All of that, though, was only possible because my life changed when I was brought back to my Father. I think a lot of people might hesitate at the thought of serving God because they're uncertain or afraid of what they'll be asked to do, or whom they'll be asked to become. Whether they feel it as a pressure or as a threat, all of it is jumping the gun. The first, most important thing, is to be reconciled to the Father.
  

P) Father, being reconciled to You is the difference between life and death, growth and destruction, prosperity and ruin. I don't deserve the blessings You give, but they come nevertheless. Holy Spirit, help me to stay focused on my relationship, more than anything else. LORD, I want to become closer and closer with You, and understand You better and better. I want Your presence in my life to be visible to those around me, even to those far off. I want Your presence upon me to be palpable to those around me. Let them be blessed, just for being around me, so that Your name will be glorified. Let them see that it is the reconciliation that brings every form of blessing and positive change in my life, and it will in theirs as well. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/04/2012; Judges 21:25

Today's reading: Judges 19,20,21; 2 Corinthians 4

S)"²⁵In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

Judges 21:25 (NASB)

O) I was shocked to read the story of the levite and his concubine. Not shocked about the incident happening, but rather at how closely it mirrors the story of Lot in Sodom, when the two angels visit him. It just goes to show that eventually, regardless of whether or not the people are God's people, eventually everyone will become vile if they're not actually living a life submitted to God. This last verse really does sum up the problem Israel had throughout the period of the judges. Taken to the theocratic kingdom, it sums up the problem with the modern-day Christian. If Jesus is not our king, we will do whatever we think is right - which almost always devolves into primal urges as we justify and rationalize whatever we want.

 

A) The most important thing is to continue living under the sovereignty of the King of kings, Jesus Christ. I need to continually see my life as His subject, putting myself under His direct rule and authority. With each decision I make, I need to stop to determine if it is simply and only what I want to do, or if it is in accordance with my King's Way.

 

P) Father, I am unfit to lead my own life. I have proven it time and time again that my own decisions and desires only lead to pain, loss, destruction, and even death. Your ways are good, though. Your instruction leads to prosperity. Your discipline leads to righteousness. Your rules are life to me. I will continue to put my life and will in Your hands to follow You completely, LORD. Holy Spirit, make me aware of every decision I make that's outside the will of my King so that I am not living in secret or unknown rebellion to the Throne. I don't want to do whatever I think is right, I want to do whatever my King tells me is right. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/03/2012; 2 Corinthians 3:17

Today's reading: Judges 17,18; Psalms 89; 2 Corinthians 3

S)"¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NASB)
  

O) Paul is asserting that, because of our hope that we have, the Spirit of the LORD within us, should make us increasingly bold. It is the very fact that the Spirit is upon us, that we should be so bold, because His presence means freedom to us, as well as freedom to others. Unlike the glory which shone on Moses' face, which was a mark of his unique access to the presence of God, all can now have the access every Christian is given, through the reconciliation provided through Christ.

A) I'm a pretty bold, outspoken guy, but even I have trouble sometimes being bold with my faith. I need to remember that the Spirit of the Lord is constantly upon me. It seems silly, but I sometimes forget that. With His presence upon me, I have nothing but freedom and that freedom can be given to others. If they choose not to believe it, then I can't do much else for them, but I need to wear that freedom boldly, with no veil, with nothing holding it back.

P) Father, Your goodness knows no bounds and the freedom I have because of Your Son, means that my life and faith know no bounds either. I have access to Your full goodness and I need to be more bold about that. Holy Spirit, remind me of Your presence daily, so that I am not distracted by trivial matters, tempted by things that cause death, or intimidated away from sharing the incredible Gospel for what it is. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/02/2012; Judges 13:12

Today's reading: Judges 13,14,15,16; 2 Corinthians 2

S)"¹² So Manoah asked him, 'When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy’s life and work?'"

Judges 13:12 (NASB)

O) It becomes a lot more obvious, when an angel of the LORD appears before your child's birth, that God has designs for your child. The truth is, though, that God has designs for all people. He has a purpose and a call for everyone, it's a matter of whether or not that person grows up to answer that call and submit their life to the LORD.

A) I had no angelic visitors or heralds regarding the birth of any of my children, but I need to remember that they still have a destiny in the LORD. Because of that, I need to remember that my children are not my own, but I am a steward of their lives. They are in my charge and part of my own purpose is to help prepare them for their own futures in the LORD. Again, it's not as obvious as a Nazarite oath, as Samson had, but that just means I need to be more committed to it and more determined in my dedication to their lives in Him.

P) Father, thank You for having a greater purpose. It's actually a relief to know that You have a plan for my children's lives as well. Holy Spirit, remind me that parenting is more than biding time until my children are grown. Let me not miss opportunities to teach them and nurture them and let my parenting be purpose-driven. Give me direction and strength to not let up, to not wear out in my parenting. Take laziness from me and do not let me parent out of convenience. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/01/2012; Psalm 50:15

SOAP 04/01/2012; Psalm 50:15

 
S) “Call upon me in the day of trouble;
I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
 
O) I am constantly shown how God’s true expectations are so different than what I would guess, or how they seem to be so counter-intuitive sometimes. Here He says that we honor Him, not when we have our lives together, not when we do good for others, and not when we are going long periods without sinning (all of those things do honor Him, but that’s not what He’s saying here). Instead, He’s saying that we can make mistakes, but all is not lost. In the middle of our mistakes, the most important thing is that we still turn to Him for help, and the sooner we do it, the more we honor Him.
 
A) This is a pretty simple verse to apply, since it’s just instruction. The important part to remember is that God doesn’t just tolerate my presence when I come back to Him, and He isn’t even just welcoming me as a prodigal son. This verse is showing that God is eager to be my savior and He would have it no other way, than to be the one to save me.
 
P) Father, Your goodness knows no bounds. Your grace to me is beyond my understanding sometimes, so I thank You that I still have Your Word to study. Holy Spirit, continue to open my eyes to see how You really are, Lord. In my times of trouble, call my name and remind me that You want to be my only rescue. I thank You that You want to be my last resort and I pray that You’re also my first resort, most often. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/31/2012; Judges 10:15

SOAP 03/31/2012; Judges 10:15

S) “The sons of Israel said to the LORD, ‘We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please deliver us this day.’”

O) Israel realizes their mistake in serving other gods, but they also realize what’s at stake in losing the LORD forever. He was ready to leave them to their utter destruction and they realize, like the prodigal son, that serving God under any circumstance, is better than being abandoned by Him.
 
A) This should really be my prayer, and my humble heart. Through Jesus, we are given an eternal path to forgiveness and mercy, but my heart needs to adopt this attitude still. Serving God and being called His son is worth whatever the price or discipline He can place on me. Even if it meant a severe consequence to every sin and a heavy burden or tax – whatever – and this is especially true when seen in an eternal perspective, with heaven or hell hanging in the balance. This is quite similar to a prayer that my pastor has shared, the first prayer he really remembers praying wholeheartedly to the LORD, “Whatever it takes, Lord, don’t let me burn in hell.”
 
P) Father, I thank You that the love You give me is so much bigger than a tyrant god. You don’t want servants to mindlessly serve You. It’s not robots that You’re after. Even if You did, though, You would be justified because of Your sovereignty and holiness. By contrast, the best I have is like filthy rags compared to Your goodness. Yet, I thank You for the mercy You give, for the love You have for me that was so great that You sent Jesus to take my place, my punishment. This is my prayer today, LORD, that even if You required a heavy homage, a high price, a terrible burden, and really the opposite of the yoke and burden Jesus described… even still I would serve You because You are so good. Whatever the cost will ever be, LORD, I will pay it, only do not let me ever lose Your presence in my life, and Your life in my spirit. I thank You for the promise You give to that effect, but let my heart remain humble, just the same. Holy Spirit, remind me of the promises the Father gives, through the Word, to encourage me that the Father’s love is much beyond this severity. Remind me to chase righteousness just the same. Whatever it takes, keep me out of hell. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.