SOAP 11/22/2014; Matthew 11:28-30

Today's reading: Matthew 11, 12, 13


S) "²⁸ Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)

O) This is the heart of the gospel. This is a vital part of discipleship. Failing to properly grasp this, could be the primary reason for apostasy. Jesus does call us to obey Him, following His steps in righteous living, worship, giving, and prayer. All of those actions, though, are external executions of a disciple, and they are exhausting. The Pharisees did these things, and required them of their disciples as well. So, the difference with Jesus's discipleship, is that He offers rest, gentleness, humility. All of the rest of the burdens of the world, Jesus takes from us and puts on Himself. And, the nature of all of those other burdens is sin - that is exactly why Jesus came. When we have taken off the heavy chains of sin (or truly, when Jesus breaks them off us), and we put on His yoke, learning His ways, it is light. It would be light anyway, fulfilling God's design for us, but it is especially light compared to the heavy burden of our sin and brokenness.


A) When following Jesus feels like a chore, that is a humongous red flag, that the core of the gospel has been missed. If I am trying to take His yoke upon me, while I am still wearing the chains of my sin, then I am tormented by the contrast. The weight of sin will wear me down, while I am fooled into thinking it's the weight of His yoke. The solution, then, is to focus on the gospel daily. Doing so will help me focus on the newness of His plan. When I am focused on the beauty of grace and mercy, offered by the suffering and victory of Christ Jesus, then I am lifted from the broken chains around my feet. Taking up my cross, His yoke, is then my joy. While I was enslaved to sin, chained by my burdens, I walked in circles around my death sentence. I was slowly strangling on that tightening chain. When freed of those chains, and under His yoke, I am free to run and follow His path to life.


P) Father, this is so beautiful, and yet I do not think about it often (at least not often enough). I get distracted by a lot of things in this world. Temptations to sin, obligations to family, duties at work... I do not want to miss Your beauty, Father. What Jesus offers me, this is a daily offer of rest and life. Sometimes, it seems like I pick up those heavy burdens, and put those chains back on myself. I forget about the yoke You have given me. Forgive me for those sins, Father God. Open my ears to hear Your call everyday, that I would take up my cross and bear Your easy yoke and light burden. Let Your will be done in my life, as it is in heaven. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 11/21/2014; Matthew 10:26-28

Today's reading: Matthew 8, 9, 10

S) "²⁶ Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. ²⁸ Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

Matthew 10:26-28 (NASB)

O) Jesus was speaking to His disciples, as He was sending them out for the first time. He commissioned them to spread the gospel, and knew they were embarking on unknown territory. It was going to get a lot tougher for the first century church, but even from the start, He knew there would be fear. He called them to put their minds on His words, not their own fears. He called them to remember the dangerous holiness of God, rather than the dangerous evil of the world. Comparing this passage, to the parable of the talents (see Matthew 25:14-30), we see how seriously God treats this message, and those entrusted with it.

A) So, why is it so hard for me to evangelize? Not with everyone, but there are certainly circumstances that make me very timid, when it comes to speaking about my faith. I've been stretching it, lately, but I still feel some of those fears. The answer isn't to, "just stop being afraid" or to "just be fearless" but rather, to change my focus, to change my fear. Like Jesus said, I need to focus on what the Bible actually says (His words), and remember to fear the LORD, my Maker. Then, I'm not trying to "convince" people, I'm just relaying His message. I'm not worrying about the consequences relative to their response, but I'm celebrating the consequences relative to His response.

P) Father, the beauty of Your gospel plan, is in the simplicity of its delivery. Remind me constantly, that I do not need to be persuasive, but only to tell my testimony. I do not need to have every explanation, I only need the Bible. Help me to remember well, what I read and hear from You, Father God. Then, in boldness, let me speak what I have learned and heard. Help me to embrace the bold spirit You have put inside of me, to the point that I can actually proclaim from housetops! Continue to draw from me, more and more fear of Your holiness. Thank You for Your mercy and grace, LORD. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 11/20/2014; Matthew 7:28-29

Today's reading: Matthew 5, 6, 7

S) "²⁸ When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; ²⁹ for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes."

Matthew 7:28-29 (NASB)

O) These are the final verses that follow, what is widely regarded as, the greatest sermon ever preached (or at least recorded). All three chapters from today's reading comprise the Sermon on the Mount, which is a super broad, diverse, and long sermon. There are so many crucial teachings, including the beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer, that it is virtually impossible to pull out just a few verses as particularly important. Every time I read through these chapters, it seems that something new will jump out, because they are so dense with rich teaching. This particular time, when I got to these last two verses, I realized how amazed I still am at these teachings. This is for the same basic (yet profound) reason that they were amazed: these are just clever words or wise sayings. These are the very words of God Himself, divinely revealed. What's more, is that they are not simply instructions for better living, or tips for improving relationships. These words reveal more than authoritative mandates; they reveal the authority of the one speaking. In this regard, the Sermon on the Mount, the New Testament, even the entire Bible, is about revealing God's character, as much as it is about revealing His instructions for living.

A) When the prophets of old spoke, it was not by their own authority. When Moses spoke, it was not by his own authority. The judges, the kings, the later prophets, the Pharisees - all of them were speaking with inherited authority. Jesus spoke by His own authority. The Bible, the written Word of God, speaks directly by the authority of God Himself. This is why people do not feel offended or convicted by fortune cookies or Confucius. But, wherever the Bible is quoted, wherever God is quoted, people will be offended or convicted. It's easy to remember that I am reading the very words of God, when I'm reading the red letters. When I'm reading other parts of the Bible, though, it's easy for me to forget the true weight of the words I read. I must humble myself to always approach the Bible with the same reverence and amazement that the people felt, as they were impressed by His direct authority.

P) Father, amaze me with Your words and authority. Open my eyes to see, and ears to hear, the true nature of Your words. Help me to recognize all of Your words as being directly from You, inspired directly by the Holy Spirit. Simply put, God, I want to revere You more. I humble myself before You, asking for more of Your discipline in my life. Soften my heart to receive Your words correctly, and let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SAOP 11/19/2014; Matthew 1:17

Today's reading: Matthew 1, 2, 3, 4

S) "¹⁷ So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations."

Matthew 1:17 (NASB)

O) The book of Matthew begins by breaking down the genealogy of Jesus, from Abraham through the Messiah. Then, the above verse summarizes it, while highlighting the symmetry of the generations that separated Abraham and Jesus Christ. Abraham received the promise, that through his seed, every nation on the planet would be blessed. Jesus Christ was and is the manifestation of that promise.

[It's worth noting that there are a few names missing from this list. It is unclear why they were omitted, and there seems to be some debate. Even still, this is emphasizing that the coming of Jesus was according to plan, not happenstance.]

A) The pattern that God used, here, of 14+14+14 might have deeper meanings, I just don't know. What I do see, however, is a simple beauty to God's order. The LORD is not a random God, but orderly in His plans. He has a purpose for all of His ways. It is not up to me to discover all of the reasons why He plans things the way He does, but I should determine to recognize the beauty of His ways.

P) Father, Your math is impeccable. I may never know why You chose fourteen generations between Abraham and David, then the same from David to the Exile, and again from the Exile to Jesus, but I recognize its simple beauty. I know You also have orderly plans for my life. I know that You have perfect timing in mind for events that are coming my way. If it is Your will, then open my eyes and ears, to see these things coming, that I might know what my role is in Your plans. In the meantime, I will continue to worship You for all of Your mysterious ways, Father God. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 11/18/2014; Psalm 124:1-3

Today's reading: Psalm 124; 2 Corinthians 11, 12, 13


S) "¹ 'Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,'
Let Israel now say,
² 'Had it not been the Lord who was on our side
When men rose up against us,
³ Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their anger was kindled against us;'"

Psalm 124:1-3 (NASB)

O) David wrote this song after the LORD had delivered Israel, but it is not readily apparent what the struggle was (or whom the enemy was). After their victory, their deliverance, David made it a point to ascribe their freedom to the LORD, and that it was the name of the LORD which was their help (v.8). He made no room for the people to give him credit, or to take credit for themselves. He says plainly, that they would have perished, if it were not for the compassion and actions of their God.


A) In a sense, it's almost important to disregard the circumstances of this deliverance, because the details of my circumstances are irrelevant. The LORD will deliver me, if it is His will to do so, and my circumstances are not a hindrance to Him. I also need to acknowledge that I am unable to save myself. I could not save myself from my sins, and I cannot save myself from the people who are against me - especially the spiritual fight against me. I stand no chance to be delivered, except by the LORD who is on my side, because of the reconciliation given through Jesus Christ. It is especially important that I make a point to pray these words, confessing their truth, every time I am saved (which is truly everyday, relative to my sins).


P) Father, had it not been You on my side, when men rose against me, and when I was accused by the enemy, then I would have been swallowed alive. I don't even fully know all of the ways You have saved me, but I do know that it is You alone who sustains my life. You alone delivered me, and You alone keep me free. I am therefore Your servant alone, and it is my joy to serve You completely. Let Your name be glorified by my life, according to Your will being done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 11/17/2014; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

Today's reading: 2 Corinthians 7, 8, 9, 10


S) "⁹ I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. ¹⁰ For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death."

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NASB)

O) Paul had written a letter previously (2 actually) to the church at Corinth. The book of 1 Corinthians was a letter written to the church, which contains a lot of admonishment for that church, and the report had come back to Paul that they were sorrowful about it. Then, Paul was told of their changes in their church, and the good that had come out of the sorrow, that they felt because of his letter. So, the point of the above verses, is that their godly sorrow produced good fruit in their hearts (which he specified in the verses that followed). This is another element of God that is missed in the world. The sorrow that is mentioned, is specifically a result of guilt. Guilt is not a feeling, it is a legal standing. When we sense that we are guilty, we feel shame or sorrow. When the world feels sorrow, they tend to just get angry, go into denial, or take any number of other courses that are not addressing the cause of their sorrow: their guilt. Outside of God, aside from the sacrifice of Jesus, there is truly nothing that can be done about that guild and associated sorrow. But, in the LORD's perfect plan of the gospel, there is a proper solution. The sorrow we feel from guilt, leads us to repentance, which clears the guilt through faith in Jesus Christ.


A) There are two main applications of this in my life. First, is directly to myself, to remember that sorrow from guilt is cleared when it leads me to repentance. Then, I can bear fruit like Paul mentioned in v.11. The other application is in parenting. There is a deadly trap that parents will use, called the guilt trip. It is a manipulation parents have fallen to using as long as children have existed. No doubt, Adam and Eve probably used it, too. The problem with using guilt to manipulate, is that it sets a wrong view of what guilt is, or how to clear guilt. The Bible must be the model that I use in parenting, when assessing and declaring the guilt in my children's lives. But, just as importantly, the Bible must also be the model I use in parenting, when clearing that same, biblically defined guilt. The goal of exposing the guilt in my children, must only be, to bring them to repentance. It can never be to get something that I want from them, or to alter their behavior outside genuine repentance - about the behavior that caused the guilt.


P) Father, You are so good to me. You perfectly model who I should be as a father toward my children. I am so thankful that You do not execute justice immediately, but You offer time to repent. I am so thankful that You provided a way of escape, that Jesus Christ paid the price of my guilt. Parenting is such a heavy responsibility, and I could never do it correctly, on my own. Help me to continue following the model You gave me for correct parenting. I confess that I have been guilty in my parenting, and I repent of that worldly and manipulative form of guilt assessment. Help me to clearly teach my children of the biblical view of guilt, repentance, and justification. Thank You for the grace You give me, especially in my parenting. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 11/16/2014; 2 Corinthians 6:1-4a

Today's reading: 2 Corinthians 3, 4, 5, 6


S) "¹ And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— ² for He says,

'At the acceptable time I listened to you,
And on the day of salvation I helped you.'

Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— ³ giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, ⁴ but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God..."

2 Corinthians 6:1-4a (NASB)

O) Do not receive the grace of God in vain... that seems a little vague, and it might leave a person wondering what that looks like. But then, as we get to v.4, we see that we are to commend ourselves as servants of God in everything. Just in case the reader is unsure of how completely inclusive that word is, Paul went on to make a list (spanning the rest of v.4, all the way through v.10), giving a plethora of examples. So, the point then, is that anything less than a life completely commending ourselves to God as His servants, in everything, means that we received grace in vain.

A) It is the will of God to give us grace. It is with purpose, and on purpose, that He gives that grace. It is vanity if I receive the grace, without also accepting His purpose. His purposes are all-encompassing. He doesn't want a part of my love. He isn't interested in having His dominion in some areas of my heart. He doesn't want me to commend myself as His servant on Sunday mornings, but not when I'm watching television in the evening. When Paul wrote that "now is" in v.2, he wasn't speaking to the first century church. "Now" is the time that the believer is reading those words. Every time that the words of 2 Corinthians 6:2 exist, is the time that is "now" that God wants me to commend myself as His servant.

P) Father, You are the God of time. You own it, control it. You fix time and also exist apart from it. You understand eternity in its largest and smallest senses, and senses I can't even comprehend. So, when You say You want me to be Yours now, there is no time excluded. When You say to commend myself to You in everything, there is nothing excluded. Help me to tear down the walls of separation in my heart and perspectives, that I try to keep up as partitions between You and areas of my life. Tear down those walls, Father God, and let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.