SOAP 12/20/2014; John 7:14-18

Today's reading: John 7, 8

S) "¹⁴ But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. ¹⁵ The Jews then were astonished, saying, 'How has this man become learned, having never been educated?' ¹⁶ So Jesus answered them and said, 'My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. ¹⁷ If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. ¹⁸ He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.'"

John 7:14-18 (NASB)

O) Jesus is the manifestation of the character of God. One of the things that continually tripped up the Pharisees and Sadducees, was that Jesus and His disciples were not educated men (see Mark 6:3 and Acts 4:13). Jesus was not a rabbi, in the sense that He was not a disciple of another rabbi, after having been taught throughout his youth. Then, Jesus' own disciples were not educated in this way, either, having already begun various trades (although some, like Luke, were educated in other fields). But From the beginning Jesus spoke with the wisdom of God the Father, always amazing others (see Luke 2:46-48), only now it was becoming more threatening, since He was gaining a following. Jesus' response to them actually addresses that unspoken concern. If He was seeking His own glory, trying to mount a military or political coup, then they should have felt threatened. This was not Jesus' motive, though, as His own will was perfect obedience to our Father God.

A) This passage has a couple, very personal applications to me. As I pursue a counseling ministry (and truly, what has always been one of my biggest insecurities), my own educations will come into question. Having never been to college, there will be those who question my ability to teach and counsel, and the credibility of my words. The example I have in Jesus and the disciples, and what this passage reminds me, is that the only teaching I should ever be giving, is that of Him who sends me. As long as I am ministering the Word, and not the opinions of man, then I will do well. Second, this passage carries with it a warning about pride and ministry (of any kind, really. In verse 18, Jesus warns about self-seeking motives. In my marriage, parenting, family, friendships, or ministry (really, any relationship or action), if I am trying to teach or counsel or lead from myself, then I am in sin, seeking my own glory. In humility, I should always be keeping my goals and motives on one thing: to glorify of the LORD.

P) Father, You are worthy. You are worthy to be obeyed, trusted, and followed. You are worthy to be believed, known, and glorified. You are worthy of all honor, power, and praise. Open my eyes and ears, to know myself clearly. Show me the true motives of my heart, in every relationship I have, especially when I am giving advice to someone. Let the Holy Spirit remind me of my true goal: to reconcile people to You, and to help them discover Your will for their lives. In my marriage, parenting, and every other relationship, help me to keep You centrally focused as I lead, discipline, or counsel. Give me the confidence that the early disciples had, in knowing that my words and teaching are not my own. Remind me that it is not up to my own wisdom or abilities. In grace, You have given me the Bible, and in it, everything I would ever need for life and godliness. May You alone be glorified in my life, Father God. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/19/2014; John 6:15

Today's reading: John 5, 6

S) "¹⁵ So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone."

John 6:15 (NASB)

O) The first thing that struck me, here, was that people have always tried to make Jesus into something He never was. He was not an earthly king. Many of the people believed He was the Messiah, but still had a misunderstanding of who the Messiah was going to be (in that, many expected a political leader who would overthrow the rule of their oppressors and lead a revolution, a la the stories in the book of Judges). This verse is also another example of the discipline of Jesus, to seek time of intimate, exclusive prayer with the Father God.

A) Working backwards, I need to start by saying that I should never shy away from corporate prayer. There is even a place for more dynamic and "public" confession, where things like accountability can take place with a small group of men, and people can pray together over a person, event, or circumstance. Having said that, there is great value in making efforts to have secluded time to speak to my Father God, exclusively and intimately. Also, in our society today, the specifics of how people are trying to make Jesus into someone He is not, have certainly changed since the first-century, but the root problem is still the same. People have certain expectations and desires for everything in their lives, including their savior. People want to be in control. I want to be in control. If I am not submitted to The Lord, then I am prone to the sin of self-exaltation. The best practice to prevent this delusion, is to be in the Word constantly. Jesus is the Word made flesh (see John 1). So, it bears out that, by submersing myself in the Word daily, I am exposing myself to whom Jesus is in truth, not as I wish for Him to be.

P) Father, I confess that I know Your plan is perfect, and the salvation and lordship of Jesus Christ over my life is the best possible plan for me. I trust that obedience to You will lead to the best possible outcomes. I love You, and I want to follow You and become more like Your Son, regardless of other blessings that may or may not come. Your goodness, grace, love, and mercy, all lead me to repentance and obedience. I desire more exclusive time with You, Father God. Help me to see with wisdom, the best way to plan that time. I want to be wise about my schedule, and make time for that level of devoted prayer. I know it will take work and sacrifice, but I confess that both are worth it, and more. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/18/2014; John 2:10

Today's reading: John 2, 3, 4

S) "¹⁰ and *said to him, 'Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.'"

John 2:10 (NASB)

O) This is the result of Jesus' first miracle, and this verse is all about exceeding expectation. He was invited to a wedding, present with His mother and disciples. When the wine ran out, Mary gives Jesus over to the help (see vv.3-5). Up until that point, remember, Jesus had never performed any miracles. So, it's a little unclear what Mary was expecting of Jesus. It's entirely possible, that she simply expected Him and the disciples to go out and buy more wine. Maybe she wasn't even sure what to expect, and simply wanted Jesus to help however He was asked. But, I think it's safe to say that Mary didn't expect Jesus to solve the problem like this. Beyond immediately solving the problem of no wine, and beyond simply solving the problem of no wine, Jesus' first miracle is one of surpassing goodness. This miracle was not just better than expected, but unnecessarily good, too. The problem of no wine, was not a vital problem. This was the first-century equivalent of a #firstworldproblem. Weddings run out of wine all of the time - but not this wedding, not when Jesus was there. It wasn't even like there wasn't enough wine to go around; the people had drunk freely. But, God blesses in the middle of blessings. He is good in the middle of goodness.

A) There is a fine line between hope and entitlement, and I think sometimes in (American) Christian culture, there is a reaction to entitlement that makes people recoil, and the effect is a loss of hope. We are approaching Christmastime, and one thing that I love about this season, is the hope that is there. I have, in my younger days, experienced a lot of need. However, at during Christmas, my mother strove to give me gifts of absolute frivolity, even in the midst of great, real need in our lives. She wanted us to understand that hope for things that are not vital is okay. This is who our God is, as our Father God. He loves to give good gifts (see Matthew 7:11) - not just gifts we need, but gifts we want. Not even when we want things we can't, or don't have. He will bless us on top of things with which He has already blessed us! He will give us some, then even more, until we have an abundance (see Matthew 25:28-29). It's important that I do not put a limit on what God can, or will do, or what He wants to do. Equally important, and vital to prevent entitled feelings, is to remember that it is still His will, not mine, that determines His action. This is exactly as it should be, as He is God and I am man. There are a lot of ways that God has blessed me, and it's okay for me to ask that He blesses me more in those ways. I realize He may choose not to do so, but that part is not for me to decide. If I would like a gift, it's okay to ask for it, even if it's not a need. Even if I already have some of what I'm asking to receive.

P) Father, You have been exceedingly good to me. It feels silly, sometimes, to ask for anything from You. Really, my focus should be on what I can do for You. But then, I remember two things. First, You existed a long, long time, and never needed my help. Second, You are a holy and good Father God, the likes of which the world has never known. I am still learning that part, Father God. Open my eyes and ears, to better understand who You are, and how You view Your children. Increase my faith, to be bold enough to ask for things, even if You've already blessed me with them. In everything I receive - everything in my life - be glorified, Lord. Let others see my life and immediately recognize Your undeniable hand upon me. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/17/2014; 2 Peter 2:7-8

Today's reading: 2 Peter 1, 2, 3; John 1

S) "⁷ and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men ⁸ (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),"

2 Peter 2:7-8 (NASB)

O) Peter's concern in this chapter, is primarily about apostasy in the church. He refers back to an elemental point about the story of Lot (who knew the righteousness of God, given because of faith, that was with his uncle Abraham). Lot was living in Sodom, just before its destruction. While he made his own mistakes, the above passage shows us that his struggle against their sin was a very heavy burden. It was a daily struggle to not conform. He was tormented by the society in which he lived. It is notable that it was both what he saw and heard. He was inundated by their sins, ever exposed to their evil, and unable to escape (until he had angelic help).

A) There are some parallels between Sodom and Gomorrah and today's society, but I can't pretend it is the same as it was. For one thing, our current humanity is simply not as brutal as it used to be. Daily tasks are just not as hard. There are societal normalcies that have made things better, like employment laws, accountability in government, and (genuine) journalism. The one thing that is strikingly similar, and will only get worse: the publicity of sin. I feel inundated by the sins of the society around me. I am ever exposed to evil, seeing it and hearing it at every turn. There is no escape available. I cannot isolate or insulate myself. My only hope is the external, heavenly help. Thankfully, I don't need angelic help, because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. But, like Lot, I must concede that I cannot hold a white-knuckled grip on righteousness forever. I must rely wholly on Jesus to see me through.

P) Father, the faithful grace You have given me is humbling and amazing. I feel afflicted by the sins around me, feeling like I am under attack by society's sins trying to pry their way into my life. It's unavoidable, the external temptations that surround me. My only help will come from You. I have only one hope, and it's the Holy Spirit that is within me. Strengthen me, provide the way of righteousness through the garbage that surrounds me. Let Your will prevail in my life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/16/2014; 1 Peter 3:14-15

Today's reading: 1 Peter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

S) "¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, ¹⁵ but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;"

James 3:14-15 (NASB)

O) Peter gives us a powerful reminder in this passage, that there be opposition to the gospel. In this, we have both a warning and a promise. We are warned, that the opposition will be intimidating at times, as it is, and that we will suffer for the sake of righteousness at times, they certainly did and some still do. However, with that, we are given a promise that we are blessed in those trials. We are reminded not to be defeated by those fears, because we do have hope in the One who saved us. We must be ready to offer answers for that hope, because it will draw people to the gospel.

A) Sometimes, the opposition to the gospel will come with difficult questions. I feel a pressure to answer all of those tough questions. However, this verse reminds me that those questions are not my biggest concern. If an atheist is coming at me hard with hypothetical, scientific questions, a perfect answer is still not likely to turn their belief system. However, if a person is struggling with hopelessness, through a difficult time, and they see that I have maybe experienced the same trials, except I persevered with great hope and joy, then me sharing the source of my hope and joy might very well change the way they see life and God. The above passage really goes hand-and-hand with Romans 1:16-17. As much as I should be bold about the gospel, and unashamed, I need to be bold about sharing my own testimony. There is nothing anyone can say, that will change my history, and how God has saved me, and changed me, and given me peace and hope.

P) Father, I want to be obedient in sharing my testimony and the gospel, both. Give me the boldness I need, to present these two things together, revealing the hope I have in Your power to save. I invite You to send people my way, so that I have opportunity to be bold with my faith, and do your work. Remind me to strive for gentleness with the person, and reverence with You. Please give me the grace I need to be effectively used by You, and let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/15/2014; James 1:5-6

Today's reading: James 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

S) "⁵ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind."

James 1:5-6 (NASB)

O) The entire book of James is full of rich wisdom, covering myriad topics like money, works, words, salvation, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. It's not wonder, then, that he gets to the topic of wisdom pretty quickly. Later in the book (see James 3:13-18), we see a distinct difference between the wisdom of the world, and the wisdom of God. Like anything else that the world offers, it has only counterfeit goods. Wisdom is always obtained externally (a person cannot make himself wise), and so the options are to seek wisdom from the world, or to seek it from God. But, thankfully, our God is our heavenly Father, who loves to bless His children in grace, with wisdom, if only we will ask in faith. The faith is not simply to believe that God can and will give wisdom, but to believe that His wisdom is solely sufficient.

A) Years ago, I think I read this verse and began praying for wisdom. How can I follow and serve the LORD, if I am unwise about it? In grace, I learned that I didn't know what I needed to know. I believe that God has answered those prayers, to some degree. I can look back and see that I have more biblical, godly wisdom now, than I have ever had. At the same time, I realize that I still lack more than I ever knew. When I think of the most wise man in history, of course my mind goes to Solomon. If he did, in fact, write the book of Ecclesiastes, then it becomes pretty clear that his wisdom led him astray (even if not for Ecclesiastes, his wisdom didn't keep him from lustful, idolatrous sins). So, true wisdom is to know, that I need the wisdom to lead me back to God. As I pray for my children to have wisdom as well, I couple the requests with prayers that their wisdom would be from God, and lead them toward God, as only His grace will provide.

P) Father, Your grace is sufficient. I trust that, according to Your will, You have blessed me with wisdom enough. Your perfect Word gives all of the direction I need to live a life of righteousness and peace, according to Your provision. Even still, I know that there are things I don't understand as well as I could. I humbly ask for Your wisdom, to know how to rightly live my life, lead my wife, raise my kids, and minister to others. According to Your will, please bless my children with godly wisdom, that would let them properly understand the Bible, discern spiritual things, and ultimately strengthen their relationship with You, through Jesus Christ. Let Your will prevail in my life and theirs. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/14/2014; Hebrews 13:8-9

Today's reading: Hebrews 12, 13; Jude 1

S) "⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹ Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited."

Hebrews 13:8-9 (NASB)

O) The Writer is warning against "new" teachings about Jesus that were coming to light. There were many people being led astray, even as early as the book of Hebrews being written. False teachings that seem similar to the truth, are the most dangerous. This verse reminds us of the unchanging eternal nature of our Lord. The most important discipline we have, in guarding against false teaching, is to be rooted in the Word of God. Being strengthened by grace, by consistently being in the word (which is our spiritual food), will guard our hearts against false teachings that seem like a "new way" of looking at Jesus or Christianity.

A) Study this Word! I must stay grounded in my Bible, constantly. This is a beautiful reminder of the dependability of our God. He isn't going to suddenly change things up. Jesus ushered a new covenant (the New Testament), but it was after hundreds of prophecies, over thousands of years (throughout the Old Testament, pointing forward to the Messiah). The only unfulfilled prophecies now, are all end-time prophecies. When that time comes, we'll know. Until then, I need to remain consistent with the proven word of God, of which Jesus was the manifestation. The Word of God does not change, and neither does Jesus. If I am grounded in Him, then I cannot be fooled.

P) Father, thank You for Your faithfulness, trustworthy nature, and unchanging character. Open my eyes to see through deceptions. Remind me of the truth in Your words. Let me rely on them, and depend on them, alone. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.