SOAP 01/25/2014 Exodus 12:4

Today's reading: Exodus 12, 13, Psalm 21; Acts 1

S) "⁴ Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to divide the lamb."

Exodus 12:4 (NASB)

O) God is so intent on creating and maintaining relationships among His people. Shared values, fears, trials, and triumphs create a network of support that makes it possible to be sanctified for The LORD. Without those common ties and the very real feeling of belonging, it becomes way to easy to be drawn away to whatever the world is doing - worshiping false gods, falling into sin, and the shortsighted chasing of the temporal.

A) At our church we have groups of families that meet during the week, outside of just Sunday morning congregating. They're simply called Life Groups. We're in a Life Group right now and when we first joined it, the group felt absolutely providential. Everything about the group seemed like an answer to prayer and we were so thirsty for those relationships. Slowly, however, I think I sort of got lulled into feeling like Life Group was not very important. As 2013 was coming to a close, we'd missed a few meetings here and there, and it didn't seem like much of a big deal (and truthfully, those individual misses weren't). But, as we hit the holiday season and into the New Year, our group went on a bit of a hiatus. In that period, I realized how fooled I was!. I need that support. I need that community. Simply put, I need intimate, vulnerable, mature relationships that will strengthen, encourage, and edify me in The Lord.

P) Father, help me keep my guard up about my relationships. I need godly friendships with the families in my Life Group. You are a God of divine appointments and I believe that You drew me and my family into communion with our friends there. Let me be responsible, honest, and faithful in those friendships. I want to support them, motivate them, challenge them, and love them. I want You to be glorified in my life with them. Your will be done there. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/24/2014 Exodus 9:4

Today's reading: Exodus 9, 10, 11; Luke, 24

S) "⁴ But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel."^*

Exodus 9:4 (NASB)

^{*This is The LORD telling Moses what he is to tell Pharaoh}

O) This plague establishes 3 things.
First, it is a continuation that God will not relent. His purpose will not fail, His word will not fail. He told Moses and Pharaoh that the plagues will continue until His people are freed.
Second, it further asserts His divinity. As I wrote yesterday, the world will try to replicate and, therefore, replace God. There are lots of ways to kill the cattle of a nation, even in that era, but how do you target cattle owned by specific people? God is omnipotent, purposeful, and specific.
Third, it is a tremendous example of The LORD's favor, provision, and protection. His people are living in a nation that is going through an unprecedented tribulation, and God is faithful throughout it to spare His people in gracious lovingkindness.

A) In response to each of those three elements, I need to remember and do the following 3 things.
First, I need to seek and trust the will of The LORD. Whatever storms rage around me, when I am sure of His will and purpose then I will know that the storm is temporary and I can rest assured that I will be better for it in the end - however "end" is measured according to God.
Second, I need to remember this story and let it build my faith that nothing is too big for God. He has the power to do anything. He alone can bless me, and he can bless me alone. His blessing may come from others (as we'll see soon as the Israelites leave), or it may come directly from Him. It may bless others with me (as it did with Jacob, living with Laban), or it may be me directly, specifically, and solely (like here).
Third, I need to be thankful for his grace. It is difficult to seek The LORD for His sake, without knowing that He blesses those who are truly seeking Him. I need to keep my focus on Him, and not on what He can do for me. When I am letting my focus shift to what He can do for me, then I might actually be focused on my problems and just thinking of God as a solution. I need to trust Him without trying to guess how He'll provide, exactly. Prayerful consideration and planning can be fine, as long as it's done while seeking His will, but as soon as I am trying to plan on behalf of God, planning for what He should do, then it's taken a very wrong turn.

P) Father, let me remember that I am every bit as much one of your children as these Israelites. Let me keep the perspective that, whatever I am going through now, it's nothing like the oppression and suffering they experienced here. I have no right to assume You deliverence for me will look like the same, dramatice, obvious, flashy deliverence they received. But, I will assert and believe that however You see me through my current struggles, Your deliverence for me is no less miraculous and praiseworthy. Let me trust that You will deliver without my planning. I concede that You don't need my help. I ask that You clear my heart of wrong motives when I plan and review my circumstances. Let everything I do be in reflection of Your will, sovereignty, power, and grace. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/23/2014 Exodus 8:18-19

Today's reading: Exodus 6, 7, 8; Luke, 23

S) "¹⁸ The magicians tried with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; so there were gnats on man and beast. ¹⁹ Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, 'This is the finger of God.' But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had said."

Exodus 6:18-19 (NASB)

     

O) This was the real turning point of the plagues and miracles. Up until this point, Pharaoh's magicians were able to mimic the miracle of the serpent staff, and the plagues of the Nile turning to blood and the frogs swarming. A few verses earlier, the magicians did try, and fail, to get rid of the frogs, though. Now, they have completely failed to imitate The LORD.

A) Sometimes as I go through life, I feel like the world challenges God by showing what humanity can do. Sometimes it gets pretty discouraging to think about how closely things can immitate His power. Jesus healed the deaf, now science has given us Cochlear implants. He healed the blind, now science has given us LASIK surgery. Those things aren't bad on their own, quite the opposite! They're wonderful, amazing leaps of scientific discovery and creation! But, as well as we can mimic God, there are still things the world cannot produce. It cannot produce hope amid tragedy. It cannot produce joy amid sorrows. It will never create compassion where there was only selfishness. These are just some of the things we know only The LORD can do. So, as I share the gospel, and as I tell people that God does exist, these are just a few of the things I can show as the power of God still at work in the lives of men. These are a few of the things I can reveal about my own testimony that undeniably say, "This is the finger of God."

P) Father, give me boldness to share the gospel and my own testimony. Give me confidence in knowing that the work You've done in me cannot be replicated, and therefore, it is every bit the evidence of Your existence, power, compassion, and lovingkindness. Let me proclaim that boldly. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/22/2014 Exodus 3:19-20

Today's reading: Exodus 3, 4, 5; Luke, 22

S) "¹⁹ But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. ²⁰ So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go."

Exodus 3:19-20 (NASB)

     

O) So, two years ago, to the day, I wrote about Exodus 5:22-23 and how important it is that our losses in life are handled correctly and humbly. Somehow, I missed the fact that Moses was warned ahead of time that his first encounter with Pharaoh was going to be unsuccessful. There aren't many examples of God warning a person that they will fail, but still go and do it. Jeremiah comes to mind, you might include Peter's denials, or even Jesus's own warnings to his disciples that e was going to die. These communications are, maybe, the most rare kind (without counting specific prophecies).

A) When God speaks, in any form, I need to listen. That part is simple. Even more importantly, I need to be recording what I'm getting from it. If I feel like God is putting something on my heart, or giving me a dream or vision, or however I can say He spoke to me without sounding like a weirdo, I need to take it seriously to the point that I can't forget it. How much differently might Moses have reacted, if he'd remembered these words? When Pharaoh's initial reaction is severe, this testimony would have made all the difference, I think. I want to be sensative to the Holy Spirit. When I read the Bible, I want God to show me things in my life. When I pray, I want to have an expectant heart that searches for the answers. When I sleep, I want to invite The LORD to show me dreams. I know that I'll face ups and downs throughout my life and I wonder if God wouldn't like me to know when those are coming, both the good and the bad.

P) Father, the hope I have in You cannot be defeated. You give me life beyond this world and ultimately, I rest in that promise. But, I know that You redeemed me with purpose. I want to serve You actively, and contribute to Your Kingdom, more than just a citizen who tries to be good. As I look forward in my life, God, please show me what lies ahead. Show me where my successes will come, but also where my failures will be. Discipline me to be obedient in the face of difficulties, trusting when You are telling me to go forward or when to retreat. Discipline me to be sensative to the Holy Spirit, to follow step in step. Open my eyes to see and my ears to hear. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/21/2014 Exodus 1:17, 21

Today's reading: Exodus 1, 2; Psalm 88; Luke, 21

S) "¹⁷ But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. ...
²¹ Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them."

Exodus 1:17, 21 (NASB)

     

O) This seems like a fairly obvious choice, not to kill babies, but I have to imagine it was still very difficult to navigate the decision to disobey a decree from a king. Putting your own life in peril is never easy, regardless of the alternative. But, Jesus said there was no greater love than to lay down your life for another. These midwives were doing exactly that, in a very real way, choosing the lives of these baby boys over their own lives. Here was see God immediately blesses them and protects them.

A) The whole decision begins with appropriated fear. To live with no fears whatsoever is probably insanity, I think. It's unnatrural and not what God calls us to do. I am generally dauntless, but I've also never truly had my life threatened. I think sometimes I get used to being fearless, in a sort of way, and I forget that there are things that could scare me. In addition to that, I forget to appropriately fear God. I think I need to put my mind on how terrifying His power truly is, and how utterly destroyed I would be if I opposed Him. I think, by confronting my fear of God as a way to establish it, I will never fear anyone or anything else by contrast, even if I face things that would truly cause fear in me.

P) Father, I am reminded today how immensely powerful You are. I am completely unworthy and insignificant in Your presence. If not for Your grace and mercy, I would be completely destroyed. If ever I am in a place that my fear of You is less than it should be, LORD, put the fear back in me. I want to fear You more and more so that I will fear everything else, and everyone else, less and less. Reveal to me areas in my life where fear of man or circumstances has crept into my heart and purge them with the knowledge and certainty of a fear of You, God. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/20/2014 Luke 20:34-35

Today's reading: Genesis 49, 50; Psalm 8; Luke, 20

S) "³⁴ Jesus said to them, 'The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, ³⁵ but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;'"

Luke 20:34-35 (NASB)

     

O) As a man who is happily married, this verse makes me a little bit sad. As cliché as it sounds, I am married to my best friend. I mean, I am truly blessed in my desire to be with my wife all of the time. I honestly never get sick of her and it's one of the most appealing parts of the idea of retirement (being around her all of the time). So when I think about being married in heaven, the prospect just becomes infinitely better. And then I read this... But I choose to believe that the point Jesus is making here is that we cannot comprehend Heaven. We are constantly trying to imagine life beyond our earthly existence without ever having been there. I don't think Jesus was using a parable or hyperbole here; I believe Jesus was being literal. But, I think the lesson goes beyond the simple facts He gave.

A) To follow Jesus is to choose and confess that His ways are better than our ways. His will is better than my will. His plans are better than my plans. This extends to every area of my life. When I consider my marriage and what it means, I need to confess that, as good as it is to me, it still belongs to God. Every aspect of my marriage is His to control. I am thankful that there are things about my marriage I know He will not change, since I also have His word. But with this passage, despite the twinge of disappointment I feel, I choose to believe that I cannot fully comprehend what Heaven will be like... I cannot comprehend how I'll even view my earthly marriage, in pure and uninhibited view of His glory.

P) Father, I am truly blessed in my marriage. Thank You for the grace and mercy that has been at work there, and continues to be at work there, and will continue to be at work there. You are exceedingly good and I see it more in my marriage than in any other area of my life. I confess that I do not always know how to glorify You in my marriage. I confess that my understanding is a drop of water in the ocean of Heaven. However You choose it, and wherever it happens, let my marriage glorify Your Name. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/19/2014 Genesis 48:14, 18-19

Today's reading: Genesis 47, 48; Psalm 10; Luke, 19

S) "¹⁴ But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn. ...
¹⁸ Joseph said to his father, 'Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.' ¹⁹ But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.'"

Genesis 48:14, 18-19 (NASB)

     

O) Over and over we have examples showing us that God's ways are not our own. He does things with purpose and planning, not by happenstance or accident. Jacob did not mistakenly cross his arms to bless the younger brother as first; God never gets it twisted. He was obedient to God's plan and, despite being blind, still knew to cross his arms to bless the younger as if he was the firstborn.

A) God can, and often does, break the traditions and expectations of man. I would do well to remember that my traditions might need to be altered according to what God may want. This is also a great reminder that I need to still seek God's plan and will, even for things that "make sense." I cannot rely on my own wisdom, tradition, habit, culture, or society to tell me how to live my life.

P) Father, I want to live my life with complete abandon to obeying You. Even when things don't make a lot of sense to me according to "the norm." Your ways are not my ways and Your thoughts are not my thoughts, just as the prophet Isaiah said. Give me the courage to break worldly precedent and follow Your command, and let me stand firm by my convictions, not relenting to outside pressures of conformity. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.