SOAP 12/13/2016; Ezekiel 16:18-19

Today's reading: Hebrews 9, 10, 11*

S) "^{18 '}Then you took your embroidered cloth and covered them, and offered My oil and My incense before them. ¹⁹ Also My bread which I gave you, fine flour, oil and honey with which I fed you, you would offer before them for a soothing aroma; so it happened,' declares the Lord GOD."

Ezekiel 16:18-19 (NASB)
*This verse was highlighted before I kept these entries online, so I wrote a new entry

O) This chapter begins with God reminding His people how graciously He has treated them, from first choosing them. As the chapter moves along, it progresses toward the adulterous idolatry of His people. In vv.16-17, God describes how His provision was used for harlotry, but when we get to the verses above, it takes a subtle shift. It is no longer only that the people have used what God gave them for this idolatry, but they are also now taking what belongs to God directly, and using it for idolatry. It was not just their clothes, jewels, gold, and silver which God had given them, but it was also His oil, His incense, and His bread. This passage is really a revelation of God's jealousy. He isn't jealous for His things, as if He so desired the oil, incense, and bread. He is jealous for His people. But, this shows that, not only had they betrayed His love, so as to turn away from Him and pursue idols, but they had betrayed His person, by also stealing from Him.

A) I could certainly take this passage as a warning, and I do, but more than that I take it as a reminder of how my idolatry (that is, the things I treat as gods in my heart), it hurts Him. My sins are a betrayal on a deep level with God. And, more often than not when I sin, I am using His provision as a means to sin. As it says in Romans 2:4, it is verses like this, which show the lovingkindness of God, and the pain my sins cause Him, that lead me to repentance, even more so than a warning of His wrath.

P) Father, forgive me for the idolatry of my heart. Forgive me for using Your blessings as a means for sinning against You. Forgive me for betraying, not only Your love, but Your person. Thank You for rescuing me, when I was helpless and dying. Thank You for blessing me, cleansing me, clothing me. Thank You for leading me by the hand, as the loving Father that You are, God. Let me dwell on Your love, Your character, Your compassion. Let me carefully, and prayerfully, consider how my sins hurt You, and hurt our relationship. Let me walk in repentance, seeking You more constantly throughout my days. Be glorified in my life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/12/2016; Ezekiel 3:8

Today's reading: Hebrews 5, 6, 7, 8*

S) "⁸ Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads."

Ezekiel 3:8 (NASB)
*This verse was highlighted before I kept these entries online, so I wrote a new entry

O) Very much like the prophet Jeremiah, Ezekiel was told to take the words of God to a people unlikely to repent. They had become a very hard people, hard of heart and heard of head. They would not accept rebuke or change well, if it all, and Ezekiel had a very difficult task ahead of him. However, in this chapter, he is given the words of God to eat (with much symbolism in itself), and he's sent to his own people to preach. God makes it very clear, the issue won't be one of understanding language. They should understand, but they won't (vv.6-7). But, in the verse above, we see a provision of God, a promise to Ezekiel that he will be hard enough to handle their hardness. They will butt heads, but he will not break.

A) While I may never be called to rebuke the religious or political leaders of my land, ministry is always hard. Even my primary ministries aren't exactly easy (although they are labors of love, to be sure). Parenting correctly is often difficult, and leading my wife (although she does so much to be easy to lead), even that kind of ministry can have its own unique challenges. However, I can rest assured that God gives me everything I need to perform what He has asked me to do. I wouldn't call my family obstinate people (although, I don't have teenagers, yet), but if I need to have a firm head about anything, I can count on God giving it to me. If I need to have a soft heart, I will count on Him softening me. Whatever He needs me to be, to minister to my family, I will rely on His change in me, to accomplish His will for them. This extends to any other kind of ministry I could ever pursue. The two main keys are these: I must seek to be doing His will, and I must submit to His changes in me to accomplish His will.

P) Father, thank You for being in my corner. You are for me, and because of that I have all confidence that what I am called to do, You will equip me to do. Whatever I need to be, in order to accomplish Your will, You can and will make me to be. Start Your changes with me, Lord, that I may be used by You, for Your glory. Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done, in my own household, in my city, in my country, on earth as it is in heaven. Make me usable in Your hands, Lord. Use me to accomplish Your will, according to Your will. Be glorified above all else. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/11/2016; Jeremiah 38:19

Today's reading: Philemon 1; Hebrews 1, 2, 3, 4*

S) "¹⁹ Then King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, 'I dread the Jews who have gone over to the Chaldeans, for they may give me over into their hand and they will abuse me.'"

Jeremiah 38:19 (NASB)
*This verse was highlighted before I kept these entries online, so I wrote a new entry

O) Zedekiah, like many kings before him, heard the truth of God from a prophet, but he still rejected it. Unlike some of those other kings, however, he almost seemed reluctant. In many ways, he seemed like he was almost on the fence about whether or not to heed the warnings of the prophet before him. He even sought Jeremiah's counsel, although his motives were certainly questionable. In this verse, we see the summation of his real problem. In the end, King Zedekiah feared men more than he feared the LORD, and that was his undoing.

A) I cannot think of very many instances in the Bible, where the fear of men so clearly trumped the fear of God, like in this verse. I think that is because, like in most of my own experiences, this conflict of fears is more subtle than that. I am not really a fearful person, and I don't generally care too much what other people think about me (or what they think at all). However, I was recently confronted with the realization that, under a certain type of circumstance, this is exactly what was happening. I was being tempted when I was alone, and I had the striking awareness of the presence of God. In itself, that was His grace at its most beautiful, because God was trying to rescue me in that moment of weakness (and He truly did). At that time, I realized that the temptation to sin while no other people were around, was unique to my loneliness, because if there were any people around at all, my fear of their judgment would have been enough to cut through any temptation. I'll say that again, I wouldn't feel tempted because I'd be too afraid of what people would say and think and do in reaction. However, with only God watching, I was not afraid enough of what He would say and think and do. That sickened me that day, and it opened my eyes to the reality that any time I am sinning, I am clearly not fearing God as I should. On the other hand, anytime I would be tempted to sin, if only there were no watchful eyes, then I am clearly fearing people more than I should. The truth is, my very own sins will abuse me. The wages of sin is death. My sins will be the death of me, unless there is intervention. Thankfully, there is divine intervention, the only kind that could ever work. God intervenes, repeatedly, to rescue me from myself. In Christ, His perfect love casts out all fears, and I have no fear of punishment, and no fear of death. I must walk in that mercy every day, and acknowledge the holy perfection of my God. I must fearfully acknowledge His sovereignty to rule my life according to His authority and judgment. That is the only way I can live free of the fear of punishment, and death.

P) Father, open my eyes and ears, to be more aware of Your sovereignty, might, judgment, and authority. Let me fear You as I ought. Show me where my fears are maligned. I never want to be motivated by a fear of men, because I know that is such dangerous ground to walk. That is the same misguided fear that led King Zedekiah astray. Instead, let me fear You, and only You. Let my fear of You alone, motivate and guide my decisions. Let my heart be fully submitted to You, that You would then keep me from sin. Let Your will be done in my life, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.