SOAP 06/16/2012; Colossians 2:23

Today's reading: 1 Kings 17,18,19; Colossians 2
     
S) "²³ These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence."
     

Colossians 2:23 (NASB)
     

O) This whole chapter is warning against hollow philosophy and being led astray by the principles of the world. Ultimately, the world, referring to those outside of Christ, can offer some forms of enlightenment, but we need to be careful that it's not just another religion. And, disciplines which claim the name of Christ, but are truly forgery, are the most difficult to spot. There countless books by authors who love the Lord, but have differing (and sometimes even conflicting) views about any number of topics. Ultimately, we can't reinvent the wheel, though. There are a handful of disciplines which are sound, according to the Bible, and ultimately that's where the focus should be.
     
A) I tend to shy away from popular Christian books, because I sometimes feel like they are trying to reinvent the wheel, a little bit. When I break everything down, I think that staying rooted in the Word, praying daily, worshiping often, fasting regularly, holding fellowship with other believers... these are the things that will continue to edify, continue to shape me into the man God intends me to be. I know there is wisdom to be found in my brothers and sisters who write books about the things of God, but I can never let it supersede anything that I already know to be righteous discipline.
      
P) Father, You are holy and righteous and I trust in Your plan for my life. I always want to follow Your path to becoming the man You are calling me to be. So, if that means that I gain some insights or habits from some book written by another brother, so be it. But, Holy Spirit, I always want my direction and instruction and discipline to come firstly through You. Show me the will of the Father, with both positive and negative reinforcement according to Your will and not my own. Even when it's through another person, let me find wisdom and edification from You and You alone. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/15/2012; 2 Chronicles 16:9

Today's reading: 1 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 15,16; Colossians 1
    
S) "⁹ For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars."
    

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NASB)
    

O) From the fifteenth year of his reign, until the thirty-fifth year of his reign, King Asa had peace on every side. When He was finally attacked in the thirty-sixth year, by Israel, he sought the help of a foreign king, instead of seeking the LORD. Asa started his reign with great humility and faith in the LORD. In the end, though, he forgot his own testimony of God, and he finished his reign crippled. I think it is the contrast of God's surpassing strength and love, as compared with our lack of confidence in Him, that may provoke Him the most.
    
A) This verse is such a powerful promise, but also a terrible warning. I have, in my own history, tremendous testimonies about the goodness of the LORD. I know His salvation, deliverance, renewing, regeneration, provision, faithfulness, peace, strength, and His love. As powerful as I know Him to be, I also know that I know nothing of His true power. In my times of weakness and need, I cannot forget that He is eagerly searching to strongly support me, if my heart is completely His. Whatever my need, His strength is exceedingly good.
    
P) Father, let me continuously acknowledge the goodness You have shown Your servant. I am unable to comprehend Your might in its fullness, but I know that I do not know. In the small fraction You have shown me, let me be encouraged knowing that I have seen only a portion. Holy Spirit, remove all doubt from me, and increase my faith, to know that as I am fully devoted I am fully supported. I am setting my heart fully on You, LORD, so search me and find me and strongly support me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/14/2012; 2 Chronicles 14:11

Today's reading: 1 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 13,14; Philippians 4
    
S) "¹¹ Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, 'LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.'"

2 Chronicles 14:11 (NASB)
    

O) The humilty of this prayer is what really stood out to me. King Asa didn't say, "God we're strong, but not strong enough, please help us." He humbled himself to confess that his enemies were strong and he had no strength. So it's from a place of admitting helplessness, that he asks for help. Then later, he again forsakes himself to say that the LORD is God, let no man prevail against Him. So he's taking the battle, and it's outcome, out of his hands and off his shoulders and putting it all before the LORD to say that both the outcome and implications are the LORD's, not Asa's.
    
A) In general, this is a great example of how to seek the LORD. Throughout both books of both Kings and Chronicles, the various terrible kings would be in trouble for sinning, as well as not seeking the LORD. It's an obvious thing to avoid sin, but it's less obvious to not seek the LORD, since that's more like a sin of ommission. I cannot allow this, so I need to set new habits; I need regular discipline to seek the LORD for all things. As it applies to me currently, my battle is to find the work the LORD has for me. I place my faith in His hands, because I know He has a plan for my move and for my family when I get to Washington. Like Asa, I need to confess that I have nothing of my own that will secure a job for me. Like Asa, I need to put both the outcome, and the implications of that outcome, at the feet of the LORD who controls both.
    
P) Father, there is no one besides You to help between those who can employ and those who have no abilities of their own; so help me, O LORD my God, for I trust in You, and in Your name I am seeking a job. O LORD, You are my God; let no man prevail against You. Holy Spirit, direct my path as I seek the will and word of my Father in heaven. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/13/2012; Philippians 3:1

Today's reading: 1 Kings 13,14; 2 Chronicles 12; Philippians 3
    
S) "¹ Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you."

Philippians 3:1 (NASB)
    

O) It is foolishness to think that a message heard twice is a waste of time, especially regarding anything of God. In fact, our attitude should be quite the opposite. If the message was good to hear the first time, then we should be eager to hear the same message for the 200th time.
    
A) My old way was arrogance and restlessness. If I "already knew" something, I would not give time or attention to hearing it again. I would not abide some one trying to teach me something I already knew. That's my old self, the way according to my flesh, the way according to death. In God, though, I have new perspective. His ways are all good, and holy, and life-giving. I can read the same verse a thousand times and, even if I learn nothing new from that verse, it is still beneficial to me. It is still feeding my soul, because the Word of God is living and active; it is my daily bread. If I hear the message of the Gospel a thousand more times before I die, it should be nothing less than breathtaking each time. Nothing about God should ever seem dull, repetitive, or worn out. As soon as it does, it's a red flag that I'm being arrogant and headed toward deathly ways.
    
P) Father, thank You for the refreshing of Your word. Let it be nutritious to my soul, no matter how familiar it is. Thank You for making it a safeguard to me, even if it's the same message I hear over and over. Holy Spirit, warn me of arrogance and rebuke me when I am acting selfishly. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/12/2012; 2 Chronicles 10:16

Today's reading: 1 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 10,11; Philippians 2
    
S) "¹⁶ When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them the people answered the king, saying,
   'What portion do we have in David?
      We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.
   Every man to your tents, O Israel;
      Now look after your own house, David!'

So all the Israelites went home."

2 Chronicles 10:16 (NASB)
    

O) There are countless parallels between kingship and parenting, and this one scares me a lot. This error that Rehoboam made set up a civil war and divided the kingdom against itself for several hundred years and the kingdom never recovered. It wasn't until after World War II that Israel became a unified nation again. Now, this passage says that it was to fulfill the word of God (v.15), but that isn't to say it's fulfilling the will of God, which is subtly different. Just because God is telling us what is going to happen, doesn't mean that is His will. It only means that He knew ahead of time that His will would not come to pass (because of the freewill and rebellion of His people). The error of Rehoboam is that he forsook the advise of older counselors, in favor of more contemporary influence because they appealed to his pride.
    
A) As it relates to my family, I could never bear to hear my children forsake our family in this manner, let alone my wife. I couldn't take the heartache and pain of knowing that they (either wife or kids) feel like they have no portion with me. The warning that comes through this passage is that I need to seek righteous counsel, first of all, and avoid insidious, poisonous counsel. Also, my family (as individuals) will not feel invested and engaged with me (and our family as a whole) by default; it must be fostered in them. So, I need to be sure, every day, that I am engaged in their lives. I need to be sure that I am investing in them. If I'm not making deliberate efforts in these areas, then when they reach their teenage years, I may find myself in a civil war with my kids, and when that happens, nobody wins and few survive.
    
P) Father, You have given me such great blessings and great responsibilities in my wife and children. Like Solomon, LORD, I need wisdom from You to know how to lead them correctly. Holy Spirit, guide me in the daily call to leadership with my family, and especially in pivotal moments like this one that Rehoboam failed. Give me a supernatural ability to relate to my wife and kids individually. Let the time and focus and energy I invest in them each, bring about a positive return throughout my lifetime with them. Continue to draw me toward You so that, as they follow me, they follow You also. Victory belongs to You, Lord, so guide my hand as I fight for my family. Show me where the real battles are, so that I am choosing battles wisely and fighting my real enemy in the spiritual realm, and not skirmishing with my own wife or kids. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/11/2012; Philippians 1:6

Today's reading: Song of Solomon 5, 6, 7, 8; Philippians 1
    
S) " ⁶ For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
 

Philippians 1:6 (NASB)
    

O) If you break down messages from the Bible into two main categories, verses for believers and verses for non-believers, this verse is one that falls into both categories as very important. First, as an encouragement to Christians, because we know that we make mistakes and just because we're forgiven, doesn't mean that we don't still have flaws and weaknesses and suffer defeats. Knowing that God is not finished with us yet, it's such an encouragement because it keeps renewing hope and strengthens our resolve to strive for His perfection. Second, as a message to the world, this verse let's them know that we're acknowledging our shortcomings. Just because we're Christians, doesn't mean we're perfect, but not being perfect doesn't make us hypocrites, because we understand that God isn't done with us, yet.
    
A) I will continue to strive for the perfection to which I am called. I will continue to submit myself to the discipline of the Lord, so that I resemble Christ Jesus, the first (and only begotten) Son, more and more as my Father has His way with me. I also need to ensure that I am humbling myself before the watching world, so that I am never presenting myself as more than I am. Being a saint doesn't mean I'm better than other people, it just means I'm a sinner saved. Everyone can be that by asking God to have His way.
    
P) Father, have Your way with me. Continue the good work that You began in me and carry it on until perfection. I know that I will not be perfect until I am resurrected into perfection, after life here on earth, but let me strive to Your excellence, as it is shown through Your Son. Holy Spirit, work on me daily, carrying out the discipline of the Father until I am face to face with the Son. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/10/2012; Song of Solomon 4:7

Today's reading: Song 1,2,3,4; Ephesians 6   
     
S) "⁷ 'You are altogether beautiful, my darling,
And there is no blemish in you.'"
     

Song of Solomon 4:7 (NASB)

     

O) Song of Solomon is such a beautiful book for all of it's simile and imagry, describing both the physical and emotional attractions of a bride and groom. It's hard to fully appreciate some of the analogies, as relating to them in today's world can take translation well beyond the literal sense, but not this verse. This verse is so great because it illustrates the way that love is blind. Obviously, no one is perfect, so this verse is more of about declaring than discovering. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so he sees his wife as perfect more as a determination than an observation.
     
A) This verse is not about my wife being perfect spiritually. In that regard, in things like self-control or healthy habits, I should still be able to recognize areas where my wife can improve and areas where I can help her become a better woman in God. This verse is all about my wife being breathtakingly gorgeous to my eyes. This is how I choose to see my wife's beauty, that she is stunning and that I choose to be more attracted to her than I could ever be to any other. She is, and will always be, the only perfect 10.
     
P) Father, thank You for giving me such a beautiful wife. Let my eyes always see her as the single most beautiful woman there is. Holy Spirit, inspire me with new ways to describe my attraction to her, new ways to appreciate her beauty. Heal her heart from years of hurt and damage; heal her from a world of lies, so that she is able to accept and believe that she is altogether beautiful and there is no blemish in her. Restore to her the confidence in that, with me, that she is meant to have through You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.