SOAP 12/28/2016; Romans 5:17

Today's reading: Revelation 5, 6, 7, 8, 9*
S) "¹⁷ For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."

Romans 5:17 (NASB)
*This verse was highlighted before I kept these entries online, so I wrote a new entry

O) This is such a beautiful juxtaposition between the reign of death and the reign of life. Through Adam's sin, death entered humanity. We were all under the cruel rule of death. But, through the righteous, obedient actions of Jesus, life has replaced death. Not only that, but under sin, we were only oppressed, subjected to the reign of death. On the contrary, by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, we are not only given the gift of life, but that abundant grace also has us reigning in life! It's still a mystery, how exactly that plays out in the resurrection with Christ, but no matter what, it's immeasurably better. This is true to God's character, though, that His blessings are always greater than we deserve, but often greater than we could imagine. Not only are we no longer subjected to the cruel reign of death, and simply put into life, but we are given the opportunity to reign in life through Jesus Christ.

A) First, this is cause for simple thanksgiving. Second, like many promises I have in Christ, I must make efforts to keep this promise in mind. It is especially true, when I am struggling - struggling with sin, struggling to find peace, struggling to keep joy. Remembering God's love for me, and the ways He has expressed it in His grace, promised throughout the Bible, this is the cure for so many of my ails. His promises to me are based on what Christ has done, and that will not change. If I am in Christ, then I am made righteous, and I receive the gifts He has given in that abundant grace.

P) Father, thank You for Your unchanging character. Thank You for the promises You have given me in Christ Jesus. Lord God, let me remain humble and strive for obedience, not in order to earn Your  blessings, but as a response to the blessings You have already given me in Jesus. Open my eyes and ears, and give me wisdom and understanding. I want to more fully grasp Your love for me, and the wonder of the gospel. Help me to keep this in mind more often, to dwell on the wonders of Your grace. Be glorified in my life, Lord. Let Your will be done. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/23/2016; Luke 4:42

Today's reading: John 15, 16, 17, 18*

S) "⁴² When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them."

Luke 4:42 (NASB)
*This verse was highlighted before I kept these entries online, so I wrote a new entry

O) This is, by no means, the only example we have of Jesus going to be alone - whether to pray or rest. However, what I did notice about this particular passage, is that leading up to it almost gives the impression that Jesus was up all night ministering. That kind of work almost demands the seclusion that Jesus was seeking. Not to be truly alone, I think, but to be alone with His Father in heaven. Even so, the needy people would not be denied, and they found Him still. That in itself, seems like kind of a fulfillment of the words of Jesus, when He said that those who seek will find.

A) Passages like this one remind me of how Jesus' time on earth was completely and totally mission-based. He had purpose for His presence, and He was going to fulfill it. Certainly, Jesus did it to perfection, but it's a reminder to me that I also have a purpose. No one will ever minister 100% of the time, perfectly, with complete humility and focus, the way Jesus did. However, there should be a progression at work in my life, that I would become more and more like Jesus. My time is not my own. On the other hand, even if I am willing to serve tirelessly, all night, after serving others for a long stretch of time, I must seek to have alone time with God. In many other ways, too, God doesn't just want my obedience, He wants relationship with me. I want to serve Him, and do His work, but I also just want to be with Him.

P) Father, I am so blessed to have a relationship with You. I want very much, to do Your will, to work the good works You prepared for me. I want to be an obedient servant, and honor Your name. I also don't want to sin, Lord. Please, lead me not into temptation but deliver me from the evil one. At the same time, I also just want to be with You, Father. Help me to stay focused on You, and to keep my mind on the things above, and not the things here on earth, in front of my eyes. Help me to see and hear, what You are trying to reveal to me. Lead me to make time, devoted to You, just spending time in Your presence. Help me to pursue what You want me to pursue. Let Your will be done in my life, and on earth as it is in heaven. Let Your kingdom come. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

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 09/16/2016; Revelation 21:23

Today's reading: Ezekiel 40, 41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21

 S) "²³ And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb."

Revelation 21:23 (NASB)

O) This verse actually relates to the story of creation. That seems especially appropriate, considering that only a few verses earlier (v.6), God said He is the Alpha (beginning) and the Omega (end). The relationship, is that the light of the world, the light of creation, the light we need is not from the sun or stars, but from God Himself. It shouldn't be lost, that many early civilizations worshiped the sun, because they recognized the need for light, the dependence that crops had on light, the warmth and even just the general comfort from living in the light. At this point in Revelation, the first earth has passed away along with the first heaven, which i think also refers to the stars, moon, and planets, etc. (see also 2 Peter 3:10-13). But, just as the early peoples recognized the importance of light in their very lives, I think this verse (like the creation story) is reminding us that God Himself is our source of life. In Him, we have all we need of light, all we could want of light.

A) The first thing i thought, reading this passage, was of the correlation to the creation story (that God declared light before making the sun). But, the second thing I thought, was that there would be no bedtime! Perpetual day means no night, no night means no sleeping! I don't know if that's literally true, but the appeal of that possibility reminded me of another entry i made regarding my sleeping habits. Pulling all of this together, this verse is really a reminder to me, that I must find my satisfaction and life in God Himself. He sustains me, He gives fulfillment. One day, maybe i won't have to sleep, but what I do with my time in that place, is also beyond my imagination. When distractions are set aside, and I worship God with a pure heart, I often am reminded that there is nothing I'd rather be doing in that moment. In the New Jerusalem, maybe I'all do nothing but worship Him, and never be more glad than to not have to stop for any reason.

P) Father, thank You for this glorious promise! Hasten the day, Lord, that night never returns. Let me keep focus, that one day I will live in Your glorious, perpetual light. In the meantime, let me remember that my source of life, warmth, comfort, and revelation, is You alone. Let me be patient and disciplined, to sleep when I should, and to make the most of my days. Let Your will be done in my and through me. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/12/2016; Daniel 4:37

Today's reading: Daniel 3, 4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17

S) "³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride."

Daniel 4:37 (NASB)

O) The king had a vision of a tree being cut down, and he could not understand what it meant. When he finally consulted Daniel, he was warned that his pride would bring the judgment of God, and that he would be driven mad for seven years. Daniel warned the king to humble himself, that perhaps he would not be made like the beasts of the earth. The actual judgment didn't happen until a year later, but it's not really explained why. Perhaps Nebuchadnezzar had humbled himself enough, or for a while, and that postponed his judgment. Perhaps God was simply being patient, trying to give him time to repent in the first place. In either case, the king vocalized his arrogant heart from the rooftop of his palace, God heard it and pronounced sentence against Nebuchadnezzar, and he went insane for seven years. He was eating grass and was wetted by the dew, and apparently his appearance was like a wild beast, with his hair like feathers and his hands like claws. Eventually, he did repent, and the verse above is his conclusion on the matter after it was over.

A) Nebuchadnezzar is a prime example of a man whose life should probably not be emulated, but he still had a profound, accurate, challenging thing to say about God. There are many things in my life that are so far beyond my control, that I never even consider defying them. I can't control how much money I make. I can't control who my neighbors are. But, the power wielded by this King was, by earthly standards, limitless. Even so, God humbled him by directly turning his life upside down. God didn't use circumstances like an uprising rebellion, or a conquering empire. He didn't even use natural disasters, or famine, or plagues. Instead, to reveal His absolute sovereignty, God simply reduced this king to an animal. Thankfully, God has never resorted to such devastating methods in my life. He could, and as Nebuchadnezzar said, His decision would be justified. Having said that, He certainly has used circumstances to do it. Much more desirable would be to humble myself, then God won't have to humble me. Even so, I'd rather God humble me, even as He did to Nebuchadnezzar, than for me to be obstinate before Him. I'd rather be humbled by God's ways, than destroyed by His wrath.

P) Father, You are the King of heaven. All Your works are true and Your ways just. You have humbled this proud servant, and I know You will again. In fact, today in my clearheaded and humble thinking, I invite Yiu to keep me humble, Lord. You are sovereign and I am not. You are wise and I have no understanding. I need Your righteousness, judgment, protection, and goodness. I depend on Your grace and mercy. I never want my pride to stand between us, Lord. So, if I am ever failing to humble myself before my Lord, then please, by all means, humble me. You are worth my humiliation, Father God. Thank You for Your compassion and lovingkindness. Thank You for the patience Yoh show me everyday. Be glorified in my life, and let Your will alone be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/09/2016; Revelation 14:3-5

Today's reading: Lamentations 1, 2; Obadiah 1; Revelation 14

S) "³ And they *sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. ⁴ These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. ⁵ And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless."

Revelation 14:3-5 (NASB)

O) Like most passages in Revelation, we must understand that there are, actually, a few ways to interpret the book as a whole. Whether the majority of its prophecies have already been fulfilled, or they actually point to an "End Times" can vary tremendously. In this case, I'm not sure it actually matters, because the sovereignty of God on display is the same, whether this occurred in the first century, or it will occur centuries from now. This is not the first appearance of this multitude. Earlier, in Chapter 7, they were sealed on the head as bond-servants to God, to be protected from tribulation. Now in this chapter, they are said to have the name of the Father and Lamb (being Jesus) on their heads. This is noteworthy, because the previous chapter ended with the warning about the mark of the beast being on the foreheads (and hands) in order that they might be able to buy and sell. In both of these groups, we see a symbolism in this mark on the forehead (and/or hand), because this is one of the ways that the Romans marked their slaves (or "bond-servant" as many recent English translations have the word). These 144,000 were said to be the slaves of God, and now we see they bear His name on their heads. This is in contrast to the people who take the mark of the beast (implying an allegiance, debt, or slavery to him). With all this context in place, we come to the scene, seeing this multitude of faithful Christians (because they follow the Lamb, which is what disciples do, which is what Christians actually are) taking up wondrous worship to God, which is unique to them. Now, whether or not their are other Christians in this scene, in the world, is also not explained. However, this 144,00 is described as remarkably faithful. They are said to be chaste, but that seems very likely to be symbolically telling of their faithfulness to God, more than their physical sexuality. No lie is found in their mouths, which could be talking about them simply being honest, or it could also be more idiomatic. Honesty, in this way, was often representative of moral purity in general. When Ezekiel says he was a man of unclean lips, from a people of unclean lips, he seemed to be speaking of impurity more broadly. Also, when Jesus met Nathanael, he was called, "an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Again, this could have simply meant he was extraordinarily honest, but it seems to carry with it a broader implication. And, the last line of v.5 certainly makes it clear that these people are blameless. Finally, and perhaps the most telling of the descriptions of this group, is that they are said to be purchased from among men as the first fruits to God and the Lamb. Now, this term is clearly symbolic, but it's not unique to this book. In fact, it appears several times in the New Testament, and it either refers to Jesus Himself, or to the church (see James 1:18 especially). So, this 144,000 seems most likely to me, to refer to the early church. This would set this whole period (at least from ch.7 through ch.14) in the time period of the early church.

A) The more I read through Revelation, trying to read it for what it says within itself, the more I wonder how much of it may already have come to pass. Having said that, I don't have a strong desire to be decided about it. If it does indeed refer to the past, then this passage is inspiring me to be like that early church, faithfully wed to the Bridegroom. I want to follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Even if I'm not counted among the first fruits to God, I want to keep lies from my lips, and remain blameless (I say "remain" because Jesus makes me blameless by justification, taking away the guilt of my sins before my Father in heaven). If, however, this multitude has not yet been revealed on earth, then I still want to be like them! It doesn't change the fact that this group, whoever they were/are, remain exemplary in their walk with Jesus. That is exactly who I want to be, exemplary in my walk with Jesus, and one day worshiping before His throne.

P) Father, You are worthy to be praised. This multitude, they are right to sing a new song before Your throne. Lord, I don't pretend to know all the mysteries of John's revelation, but this passage is clear, that I must remain a faithful disciple. I must remain loyal, unwavering in following Jesus. I must remain honest and blameless. I confess, that in terms of exemplary disciples, I have a long way to go. But I want to grow and mature in my relationship with You, God. Help me to be more like these, who are the first fruits. Let my life be for Your glory, God. I only want Your will to be done, that I would be a servant who pleases my Master. To You be all praise and glory forever. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/05/2016; Revelation 10:10-11

Today's reading: Ezekiel 25, 26, 27, 28; Revelation 10

S) "¹⁰ I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. ¹¹ And they *said to me, 'You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.'"

Revelation 10:10-11 (NASB)

O) The imagery of eating a scroll from God is actually seen in another place in the Bible, in Ezekiel 3, where the prophet also described his eaten scroll as sweet as honey. In both instances, they were given prophecy about future events, not only for themselves to know, but they were told to go speak those prophecies to the people and their leaders. In John's case, there is also the added bitterness. The Bible doesn't expressly tell us why it turned bitter, but there are a few logical possibilities. For one thing, most people want to know the future, and so hearing about future events would initially be exciting and good, but when John heard about the great calamity upon the earth, it would have become grievous knowledge to him. Another possibility is that it was his call to prophesy, specifically, that made it bitter. That is, like Jeremiah with the word of God burning his bones within him, it's possible this reference to the book becoming bitter in his stomach is an image of him needing to expel it from within, needing to get it out. That is, with the words bitter in his stomach it made him want to spit the words out.

A) In either case, I must pair knowledge with obedience. If I am not willing to do what God says to me, then why should I expect Him to speak to me at all? I suppose any devoted Christian would feel this way, but I would love to hear God speak things to me. I have certainly felt Him lead me in certain things, certain decisions over the course of my life. The more certain I have been that it was Him directing me, the more joyful it was, the sweeter it was, to be in communication with my Lord. However, I don't want to chase "a word from God" when I have over a thousand pages of words from God. The Bible itself, being the certain words of God, should be just as sweet for me to eat. Like Jesus repeated, I do not live on bread alone, but on the very words of God. Even with just what's in the Bible (and that's a little bit of an underwhelming description, because it is vast in its content), that is a heavy responsibility of knowledge that must be followed by obedience. There is a great deal in the Bible that is indeed sweet to take in. It is full of promise, comfort, peace, and joy. At the same time, there is still a lot to make my stomach bitter. There are a lot of hard truths for those who are still rebelling against the King they won't acknowledge. That knowledge, those words, those are bitter to my stomach, knowing that I do have some responsibility to speak the truth about some very hard topics to some people that I love, in many cases, love dearly. But, like John, I must be fully committed to obedience, to repeat the things God has spoken, the truths that will not change whether or not I speak them. I suppose the important thing is, to never leave the bitter by itself, but to present it with the sweet. I don't want to rebuke without encouragement. I don't want to warn without giving hope. I don't want to talk about judgment without also talking about mercy. I don't want to talk about righteousness without also talking about grace. There is a lot about God's words that can be bittersweet, but when we are in Christ, every bitterness can be taken away, and we can experience only that sweetness of His communion. That is what I want to share. In the end, that is what I want people to take in, the sweetness of Jesus Christ.

P) Father, thank You for the words You spoke, for the preservation of the Bible. Thank You for the sweetness of Scriptures, Lord. In Your grace, You tell us of Your peace, love, compassion, mercy, and hope. Your lovingkindness is sweeter than honey. But I confess, that Your judgment can be bitter to my soul, Lord. I humbly confess that You are totally, completely, and utterly perfect in Your judgments, in Your sovereignty. But, as a limited creature, I am not always able to see things clearly, Lord. I am heartbroken by the knowledge that some people I love will die in their sins, never having been brought into proper communion with You, God. I know this also breaks Your heart, so I will continue to pray that they all come to repentance, that they all would come to a full and right knowledge of You, trusting and following Jesus Christ as their Lord. Father, You have opened my eyes and ears, to see and hear Your will. It is more than enough to have the Bible, to know what You have spoken that it records. Help me to be faithful with that knowledge, Father God. Let the bitter parts of Your words, the parts that are hard for be to digest, let those words in me be a motivation to speak the truth to people about what their future holds apart from You. However, don't let me ever stop there. I pray that I am always given the opportunity to also speak of Your great sweetness, Lord God. To share all of the promises, the comfort, the relationship that You provide. You take the bitter and You turn it sweet. You redeem and restore. You heal and give purpose. You open ears and then You speak. You open eyes and then You reveal. Thank You for Your sweet words, Lord. And also thank You for the bitter ones. I will gladly take them both, Father. Thank You for speaking to us. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and let me be obedient with the knowledge You have given me. All this to Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/03/2016; Ezekiel 20:11

Today's reading: Ezekiel 20, 21; Psalm 111; Revelation 8


S) "¹¹ I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live."

Ezekiel 20:11 (NASB)

O) God is not out to trick anyone. Even from the very beginning of creation, He told Adam all that was required for an eternal life in perfect communion with Him. There was only one rule: do not eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Even a simple rule like that proved too difficult to keep. Going forward all the way to Moses (which is what this verse is harkening), and God gave His people a great many rules. He started with the ten basic rules, but then He gave hundreds more to Moses, so the people would have a more keen understanding of what it meant to be in covenant relationship with Him. At the time the above verse was written, God was about to execute a final judgment against His people (final, relative to their inheritance of the promised land). So, the reason God is reminding them now, at this point, that He has always been very plain, very forthcoming about what He required, was so that they could not claim ignorance in their guilt. They could not claim to have misunderstood or not known what was required to live. He gave them every chance to be obedient. He gave them all the information they needed. Information was not the problem, obstinate hearts were the problem.

A) It is not small thing of God's grace, that we know what He requires. I am so thankful that I heard the gospel as quickly as I did. Even knowing the gospel, there was a time when I tried to live without God. But, it eventually became apparent to me, that living apart from His ways would lead to my death. This verse, like the opening of the book of Romans, reminds me that God is for His creation. Like He said only two chapters earlier, in Ezekiel 18:23, He desires for us to live. He is not making it hard for us to know what is required. He gives us every opportunity. In that sense, the verse above is a promise about His character. God does not change, so this is still His attitude. He wants us to know what is needed to serve Him; it's no secret. In the new covenant, it is written plainly in the New Testament. I don't have to figure out how to please Him, I only have to choose to do it. Indeed, God has done all the heavy lifting. He has paved the way. He has funded the project, drawn up the blueprints, and provided all the materials. I only have to agree to do what He says, and do it.

P) Father, this grace is so humbling. Every time I read about Your grace like this, I am ashamed for ever complaining about Your call to be holy. Every time I read about how You have done all the work, You have provided in every way, I am ashamed about my disobedience, laziness, and apathy. It makes me all the more thankful for Your mercy that comes with Your grace. Please forgive me for my selfishness, lately. I know what I should be doing, so let me be found doing it when my Master returns. I want to please You, Lord. I know that Your love is not dependent on my obedience, but that is all the more reason I want to obey. Let Your will be done in Your servant, today, tomorrow, and until my Master returns. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/02/2016; Ezekiel 18:23

Today's reading: Ezekiel 17, 18, 19; Revelation 7

S) "²³ 'Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,' declares the Lord God, 'rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?'"

Ezekiel 18:23 (NASB)

O) This chapter, up until this point, is God telling Ezekiel that He will not punish the sons for the sins of the fathers, and neither will He punish the fathers for the sins of the sons. That is, He clarifies that the guilt of each individual will be on the head of that individual. Then, He also shifts a little to clarify His desire for repentance from every guilty person. If a wicked man turns from all his wicked ways, practicing righteousness instead, then his transgressions will not be remembered against him (vv.21-22). Then, we see the verse above; the rhetorical question makes it clear that God would much rather a man repent and live, than for Him to put that wicked man to death. That does not please God, but it is the just thing to do if a man will not repent of his sins. This is proof positive that the will of God is not always done; God does not impose forced repentance, forced faithfulness. In His grace, He provides that all are able to repent, He has always been willing to receive the contrite and humble heart. His grace is evident in His patience and lovingkindness. God does not want us to bear the wages of our sins, but rather, He desires that we would take His free gift of life by repentance and turning from our ways to His. This was made ultimately and permanently possible through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and made sure through His resurrection.

A) The most important thing for me to remember, when I do sin, when I transgress the ways of my Lord, is that my God is my Father, and His love for me never changes. His heart is always for my repentance, for my restoration, for me to turn from my sin and live. My mistakes never please Him, but my repentance always does. Sometimes, the will of God can seem unknowable. Sometimes, it's easy to get distracted, almost, trying to figure out what God wants me to do. However, many times I think that is me over-thinking, over-complicating things. Starting simply, remembering that His will for me is for me to repent when I sin, that is where I should start. His will for me is to worship and praise Him, being thankful in every circumstance. Knowing the heart of my Father God will keep me in a state of repentance, so that a heart set on His ways will become the posture I keep, the lifestyle I maintain. When I do fail, when I sin, it will then be the natural, quick, and inviting thing to repent and come back to my Father, whose will is for me to live.

P) Father God, thank You for this great love for me. Thank You for the grace and mercy I have, because of Your great heart for me. Let me remember that Your will for me is to repent and live. That starting there, remembering Your great love for me, I will move to worship and praise, thanksgiving and submission to Your will. Let me walk in obedience, but when I stumble and sin, let me quickly remember Your will for me, Your love for me. Thank You for receiving me, for wanting me. Thank You for the patience You keep for me. Receive all glory and honor, Father God. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/01/2016; Revelation 6:6

Today's reading: Ezekiel 15, 16; Psalm 70; Revelation 6

S) "⁶ And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, 'A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.'"

Revelation 6:6 (NASB)

O) This chapter shows us the first seals being broken (that is, opened) by the Lamb. The first significance there, is to remember that these judgments are brought about by the sovereignty of the Lord. But, as it goes through them, we see imagery common to judgments given in the Old Testament. In fact, having just recently read through Ezekiel 14, reading about the sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague being used as judgment is not at all unfamiliar. Because this is apocalyptic, prophetic writing, it is hard to know how literally to take some of the details. If the examples given in this verse are literal commodities and literal costs, then it seems strange a famine would touch only the most common crops, and not something so delicate as oil and wine, which grows on vines and aren't exactly known for being easy to grow and harvest; they aren't exactly hearty crops. However, the fact that they do grow on vines brings up an interesting thought. If these details are meant more symbolically, then the first thing that comes to mind about oil and wine, both olives and grapes growing on vines, is that Jesus told us He is the vine and we are the branches. If this is not so literal, but indeed a famine was to come, then it's possible the famine would not damage (i.e., harm) the Christian. The timing of when these opening chapters of Revelation will happen, is a bit controversial. Some consider that they are still to come, while some consider that they apply to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD (understanding, then, that the book was written around 66 AD, as opposed to around 85 or 90 AD). In either case, what becomes especially clear with this rider, and this judgment, is that God's control over such judgments is meticulous. He will judge exactly as He desires. If that means this famine only touches certain types of crops, that is within His power. If this famine only touches certain people, that is also within His power.

A) Like a lot of the book of Revelation, this passage is, more than anything, encouraging me about God's sovereignty. There is nothing that escapes His attention and, even more importantly, there is so much that He is directly involved in doing. Some of it will simply be beyond my understanding, beyond my comprehension, beyond the scope of my ability to observe. Some of it, He may actually reveal to me, whether in advance or after the fact. God has graciously moved in my life, prevailed, sustained, preserved me in various ways. I look back on my life and I see the way He kept me in my childhood, the way He preserved me through my teenage years. Even as I neglected Him in the early years of my adulthood, He was faithful with the wife I have, He was faithful with our first child. In His powerful grace, He drew me back to Himself, and my wife to Him in the first. His hand over us in those early years of seeking Him, the evidence of His finger directing us when we first learned to trust Him, serve Him, walk in faith and obedience. The freedom He brought to dark places, the healing He brought to brokenness. Then, even His hand of discipline upon me throughout this history, makes it clear He has purposes in what He allows me to face, to go through, to test me. Even the way He prepared me to face difficult times ahead of myself, reveals His sovereignty to accomplish His purposes. When it all is put together, I trust that He is going to allow into my life, exactly what testing, discipline, and blessing circumstances will serve His purposes. I trust that what He has in place for my life will be for my good, so long as I am seeking Him first, humbling myself before His throne, asking for His direction, and committed to obedience. I have nothing to fear, when I know that I am in God's will.

P) Father, the mysteries of Your ways are deep. I will never know all that You know. It is not for me to have all the knowledge You have. Your grace is sufficient for me, Your servant. It is enough to know that You know. It is enough to know that You are sovereign over Your creation, and that what You allow to happen doesn't happen without Your knowledge and permission. I know that times of testing will come to me, but I trust that as I seek You first, I will pass the test. I trust that if You want me to face circumstances, to overcome trials, that it will be for Your glory and my good. I don't know if a great, worldwide famine is supposed to come in the future, only affecting certain crops - You know. I don't know if this passage describes the time when You preserved Your church out of great tribulation, persecution, and destruction - You know. However, I do know that nothing will come against me that will surprise You. I do know that nothing will happen to me beyond Your permitting it to happen. Because of that, I trust in Your will over my life, and Your plan for my obedience. Help me to respond in a way that honors Your name and glorifies Jesus Christ. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/30/2016; Revelation 4:8

Today's reading: Ezekiel 8, 9, 10, 11; Revelation 4

S) "⁸ And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,

'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.'"

Revelation 4:8 (NASB)

O) There are a few things I notice with this passage. First of all, the four creatures (described in v.7) are all different forms, but share in notable traits. Only one of them should have wings (the one like a flying eagle), and yet all of them have six wings. I suppose also that only one of them should be able to talk (the one with the face like a man), but all four of them speak. Also, in two different ways, John describes that they are full of eyes, in front and behind (v.7) and around and within (v.8). Very different in their carnal or natural representations (lion, calf, man, eagle), but very much the same in their supernatural traits (wings, eyes, speech). Second, the existence of these four creatures seems to serve no other purpose, than the continual worship of God. They are not said to have any other purpose, and they are described as worshiping this way ceaselessly, day and night. Lastly, the actual words they speak of significant. They don't tell of His wisdom. They don't tell of His judgment or righteousness, mercy or love. They tell of His holiness, and of that holiness they describe two character traits that we, as His creations, can never actually share with Him. First, they tell of His power, which is unmatched and cannot be rivaled. He is the Almighty. His power is so complete, so utterly beyond us, so holy is He in His power, that no one even has power that was not given by Him. Second, they tell of His eternal, uncreated, and independently existent being.

A) My initial response to this, and the thing that should be the most constant, is my humility. I must recognize that the holiness of God, and His eternal, independent, and uncreated existence is a part of His being that I cannot really comprehend, I can only apprehend it. I must understand that He is holy in His power beyond anything I can fully grasp. There are many things about His holiness, that I am also commanded to be holy like Him. He is full of grace for His enemies, showing love to traitorous mankind, by sending His Son to die for them while they were still sinners. He is compassionate, taking up the cause of the widow, orphan, and alien, when they have no one else. He judges with righteousness. He is full of lovingkindness. In all of these kinds of traits, He is completely holy and different from humans, and yet we are called to be this way with Him when we are in Christ. However, in the holiness of His very existence, I cannot really share, as I am a created being. In the holiness of His power, I cannot really share, as any power I would ever wield, would only ever come from Him. This kind of holiness, in His power, and in His very existence, this holiness humbles me. That humility is my first application. The second thing is, and this is something a worship leader once pointed out to me years ago, is that I can share in a very special thing. These creatures, even now, must be saying this phrase in the heavenly place. While I am here, it can be a very special, very powerful act of worship, to share in their words for my God. To declare with them, that He is holy, holy, holy. That He is the Almighty, who was and is and who is to come.

P) Father, You are holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty. You are, and were, and are to come. Your holiness is even beyond what I can know. You are deserving of unceasing worship, and I desire to worship You more. Open my eyes and ears, Lord. Help me to be more aware of You, more aware of Your presence and power. Help me to be more mindful of You, to be more sensitive to Your Spirit. Just have Your way with me, God. That's my prayer today. I want to be holy as You are holy, to be set apart for Your purposes. Let Your will be done in my life, and on earth as it is in heaven. Be glorified in every way, by every tongue. You are holy, holy, holy, Lord God, Almighty. You are, and were, and are to come. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/29/2016; Revelation 3:19

Today's reading: Ezekiel 4, 5, 6, 7; Revelation 3

S) "¹⁹ Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent."

Revelation 3:19 (NASB)

O) Jesus had just rebuked the church of Laodicea pretty strongly. Verse 16 is pretty famous, about how the church had become lukewarm. Verse 17 actually speaks to me a lot, given my history (I wrote an entry about it back on 12/27/2011). So, in light of the admonishment, the above words from Jesus hold particular value; this reminder of His love and discipline, this command to be zealous and repent, could not have been given in a better context. God wants us in a right relationship with Him, because that is the place where we will have life. He wants this because of His love for us. This is the reason we must repent when we are apathetic about our faith. This is the reason they were told to be zealous, because they had become indifferent about serving the Lord. This is why they needed to repent, to turn back to Him. Over and over, through the Old Testament, God disciplined His people in the hopes that they would repent. He would reprove their infidelity in order that they might become a people zealous for His name again. This didn't happen very often, and only a remnant would repent and remain faithful. We don't know the historic result of the church of Laodicea.

A) Given the way I feel connected to v.17, I also feel a strong connection to v.19, here. I love the Lord, and as His servant I must invite the discipline and reproof of Jesus. This is the only reliable way to be sure that I am walking according to His ways. Certainly, I should seek to be accountable with other Christians; mutual ministry and godly relationships are a wonderful gift for me to be able to recognize where sin has blinded me and a log may be in my eye. Still, even more than trusting godly relationships to help me see straight, I really need God to heal and open my eyes when I need correction (see v.18). The key to this is humility and a willingness to ask God to do whatever it takes to help me be fully obedient and submitted to His lordship over me.

P) Father, You are worthy of my allegiance. Not only did You create me in the first place, but You also redeemed my life when it was lost. You paid a precious price to bring my spirit to life with Christ. Because of that, I submit myself to Your authority, fully. I invite Your discipline, Father God. I trust that Your reproof and discipline are borne from Your love for me. Kindle the fire within me, Lord. Let a zeal come forth in me, that I would repent of my laziness, selfishness, apathy, and indifference. I know that I am easily fooled into thinking I am secure in this world, or even in Your kingdom, to the point that I am lackadaisical. This is an attitude not worthy of Your name. This is not who I want to become ever again. I don't want to slip into a lukewarm faith. So Father God, I ask for this discipline and reproof, and I pray that it brings about zeal and repentance in my life. All of this to Your glory, Lord. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/27/2016; Revelation 1:13-16

Today's reading: Jeremiah 52; Psalm 143, 144; Revelation 1

S) "¹³ and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. ¹⁴ His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. ¹⁶ In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength."

Revelation 1:13-16 (NASB)

O) What astounding glory this is! Even with the descriptors that John gives, it is still very difficult for me to visualize how Jesus looked in His appearing. There is some hope to recapture the image in everything up until the very last verse, though. For example, I can imagine a man with white hair, and a golden sash, etc. I can even, with some effort, imagine how His face must've shone. After all, I know the brightness of the sun, and so I can imagine the brightness of the Son. But, the description of the stars in His hand, and the sword in His mouth, while obviously symbolic, would still have been amazing to see directly. As much as I may want to try and imagine a reproduction of this scene, though, I think to some degree it should be left a mystery. That is, the less detail I know, the more I must simply submit to the fact that the glory of Jesus is actually beyond comprehension, and I must simply look forward to the day when I see Him as He is.

A) I never knew the image of Jesus at all, obviously. As He actually described, I am one who believed without having seen Him (John 20:29), so when I finally see Jesus in His glory, it will be the only time I have ever seen Him. There is a sense in which I am actually very thankful for that. John knew the image of Jesus, having spent more than three years with Him. When He saw Jesus in this revelation, it might actually have been difficult for him to reconcile the two images. For me, though, I am able to come to His glory, never having known the veiled image of God as He was on earth. I will only experience His full, unfiltered glory. There will be no adjustment needed, I will simply be able to behold my Savior, the one whom I have sought all the rest of my days, to finally see the mystery of His image as it is plainly.

P) Father, this mystery is too wonderful for me to comprehend. My imagination fails me, when I try to visualize all of John's descriptions at once, so I give up. Instead, I simply and thankfully look forward to the day, that I am able to behold the glory of Jesus as He is. Thank You for this promise, Lord God. Thank You for giving me eternal life, that I will be able to spend eternity in the presence of my Savior, to know Him fully, with the mystery being solved for all time. Let me ever look forward to that glorious day. Let me seek You continually, daily, to know You more and more here on earth, until I know You in heaven. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/23/2016; 1 John 4:12

Today's reading: Jeremiah 31, 32; 1 John 4

S) "¹² No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us."

1 John 4:12 (NASB)

O) The topic of love runs strong throughout this letter, and especially in this chapter. In this verse, John is alluding to one of the strong purposes of love, but from a little bit of a different angle. In John 13:35, he recorded the words of Jesus explaining that the love the disciples shared would be confirmation to the world that they are His disciples. That is a matter of our love glorifying God. Similarly, John says in this passage that no one has seen God, but if they see us loving one another - especially as Jesus does - then God abides in us, and people can see that. It is that recognition of God's presence in us, that recognition that the love we bear is from Him, that's what makes it perfected. It is because His love is on display in us, people can see the reality of Jesus through our love, and that stands in proxy of seeing God. In other words, people don't have to see God to understand He exists, if they see Christians who are loving others as Jesus loved.

A) It occurs to me now, that this verse may be giving a new light to 1 John 4:19. I always took that verse to mean I could only love because God loves me first. While I don't think that's wrong fundamentally, per se, I think it's maybe not John's point. I think he's speaking more about the motivation of the Christian to love. Many people can claim many causes for their desire to love someone, but the Christian should only ever need one reason: because He first loved us. Similarly, I am motivated to share that love God gave me, by loving others in His stead (so to speak). I think this is at the root of what it means when people say things like, "We are His hands and feet." or something like, "You may be the only Bible someone ever sees." These can feel like tired clichés, but there is certainly some truth in them. People will never see God to believe, but they may see His love in me and believe. That motivates me, almost like a responsibility, to love others because He first loved me, and o want to show them His love.

P) Father, thank You for loving me first. Thank You for revealing Your love for me, through the people who loved me before I knew You. Bless those men and women, Lord. Reward them for their faithfulness in loving me, in showing me the reality of who You are, by loving me as Jesus loved the disciples. Help me pass that legacy on to others, too. Let me be fully motivated to share your love with others, that they may come to understand You are there and love them. Let Your love be perfected in how I love others, all to Your glory. I pray that Your grace covers my failures, and that others can see Your grace when I am not loving as I should. Please forgive me for not loving as I am commanded to love. Help me be a more faithful steward of Your love, and let Your will be done in it. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/19/2016; John 21:25

Today's reading: Jeremiah 45, 46, 47; Psalm 105; John 21

S) "²⁵ And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they *were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself *would not contain the books that *would be written."

John 21:25 (NASB)

O) The last two verses of this gospel break from the historical narrative. Verse 24 is ascribing this gospel to John, and the above verse comes as sort of a brief commentary. There is some amount of hyperbole at work in this, or else we should maybe understand that there simply were not that many books at the time, and/or, the understanding of the size of the world was simply limited. The important thing to remember from this, is that even with four gospels having been written, these are still not comprehensively describing everything Jesus did. The things left unwritten are, therefore, things we can only speculate. There is little point in that kind of speculation, and it usually leads to misconceptions, but there is an important lesson to remember from this. Because the gospels we have are not exhaustive, the writers had to be discerning about the things they recorded. They had to be judicious with their resources, imparting the most important elements of His life. This is why, I think, we don't really have any records of the life of Jesus before His ministry, except as a baby being born, and the one story of Him visiting Jerusalem and staying behind in the temple (which are witness to the fulfillment of prophecies). Even at their most interesting, and satisfying to the most itching curiosity, that kind of account would still pale in comparison to the importance of His ministry on earth.

A) Conspiracy theories about Jesus have existed since His ministry began. At the root of this, are hearts of people who do not want to acknowledge His lordship because they want to remain in their sins. I am speaking from firsthand experience as much as anecdotal evidence. Even since submitting myself to Jesus Christ as my King, I am still prone to wonder about His life aside from what is recorded in the gospels. While some of that wonder is innocent, childlike curiosity, the problem is that the enemy will certainly still use that to distract me from what I do know about Jesus Christ. To put it another way, I could say that if I am going to contemplate the life of Jesus Christ, I should not be wondering about what could never be known, instead of letting what I do know fill me with wonder. If the Gospel writers knew that what they recorded were the most important parts of His life, the most important data to pass on to others, the most important stories, experiences, and words of Jesus, who am I to consider that there could have been more important things about Him for me to dwell on? This is not to say that there is no room for thoughts aside from the majesty of Jesus, but if I am already thinking of Him, already talking about Him, already setting my mind on Him, it should then be thoughts that are going to be the most fruitful, and those will always be based on what the Bible tells me about Jesus, for sure.

P) Father, the wonder of Your recorded word is more than enough for me. The grace at work, when I really slow down and consider its epic conception and preservation, is astounding. Thank You for this grace. Thank You for giving us the Gospel accounts that we have. Thank You for opening my eyes and ears, that I would understand the reality of who Jesus is, based on Scripture. Let me dwell on His life, ministry, words, death, burial, resurrection, appearance, and ascension. When I think of my Lord and Savior, I want those thoughts to be fruitful and honor You. Let it all be done to Your glory, Father God. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/17/2016; John 19:10-11

Today's reading: Jeremiah 23, 24, 25; John 19

S) "¹⁰ So Pilate *said to Him, 'You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?' ¹¹ Jesus answered, 'You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given to you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.'"

John 19:10-11 (NASB)

O) By his own admission, Pilate had the authority to release Jesus. Regardless of what the mob outside was crying, he held the authority. The thing about authority is, that person bears responsibility for their actions done with that authority. Jesus confirms the culpability of Pilate, when he said the "one who delivered" (referring to Judas, or else possibly Caiaphas) had the greater sin. That is to say, Pilate would indeed be guilty of a sin in his refusal to release Jesus, even if it was a lesser sin by comparison. Now, about the authority given to Pilate, it is a little unclear exactly who Jesus means had given that to Pilate. On the one hand, God is certainly above, and He sets rulers over people (see Romans 13:1). On the other hand Pilate was a kind of regent of Caesar, given political authority of the area by a higher ruler, with others above him in a heirarchy. In either case, I think Jesus was humbling Pilate, asserting that he wasn't as able as he maybe thought himself to be.

A) While I'm surely never going to have a hand such a dramatic display of authority or power, the temptation to think I am more able than I truly am, creeps up more often than I like. Specific to authority, I must remember that I am not sovereign in any arena. In my family, my authority is given, really, solely by God's ordination of family. I am the head of my wife, and I have authority over my children. That authority is not mine to wield however it pleases me. I am still an agent of Jesus Christ, who is my head, to lead, serve, protect, teach, and love my family. My authority is not something that allows me to make choices on my whim, but it puts me at crossroads to take responsibility in leading them, and to some degree as testing me. In virtually any other area where I may have authority, it would first of all still be from God, but also with other people involved. In those instances, my authority is very much like over my family, in that it's still not about me or my achieving. Authority at work, or in ministry, or any other way, is still going to be about glorifying Jesus Christ as my Lord. I've often said about work, that I want to make my boss look good. That has never been more true, than it is about my Authority, Jesus Christ. I want to exercise any authority I have, to make my Superior, my Savior, look good.

P) Father, You are mighty and wise. You alone are truly sovereign, God. Whatever authority I am ever given, let me fill that role with proper respect to the responsibility I bear. Above all else, let me be focused on my responsibility to glorify my Lord, Jesus Christ. Let Your will be done in me, and through me. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/16/2016; John 18:36-38

Today's reading: 2 Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18

S) "³⁶ Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.' ³⁷ Therefore Pilate said to Him, 'So You are a king?' Jesus answered, 'You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.' ³⁸ Pilate *said to Him, 'What is truth?'
And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and *said to them, 'I find no guilt in Him.'"

John 18:36-38 (NASB)

O) Pilate had asked Jesus if He was king of the Jews, and Jesus asked if this was something Pilate wondered himself, or if he was asking on behalf of someone else (vv.33-34). After this, the response Pilate gave (v.35), almost gives the impression that he is already trying to keep himself out of this conflict. We know that his wife actually warned him not to get involved (see Matthew 27:19), and at the end of his involvement, Pilate tried to claim no fault of his own (see Matthew 27:24). However, Pilate certainly had the authority to release Jesus (see John 19:10), and yet his fear of men overwhelmed his better judgment. What really compels me about this particular section of verses, though, is the veiled confession of Pilate, when he voiced his, seemingly, rhetorical question, "What is truth?" This is a confession, at its core, that Pilate is struggling to understand life at its most basic level. When confronted with an absolute claim about truth, he is utterly lost. This is a deeply tragic glimpse into a man, whose confusion about truth has become all too familiar to my culture, today. And ultimately, Pilate was experiencing exactly what Jesus warned, that if we do not build upon the solid foundation, then when the storms of life come, our house will wash away.

A) Jesus is the Rock, the foundation that was laid, and Jesus is the Truth. If I am not built on Him, if I do not know Him, if I do not hear His voice, if I am not of His truth, then I will crumble in the face the storms of life, and I certainly will not be able to resist the crowds yelling at me to have their way with the things, for which, I am myself responsible. God has given me a sphere of responsibility, talents, authority. He expects me to do His will with those things, within that sphere. Contrastly, the world wants their way with my responsibilities. If I am not able to recognize the absolute truth, as God describes it, then I will be hopeless in my desire to fulfill God's purposes in my life. Without purpose, life loses meaning. Without meaning, life loses value. Without value, life loses life. It must begin somewhere, and in order to make sense of anything,  it must start with truth itself. I must acknowledge that truth, by definition, can never be relative or subjective. More than anything else, the deepest, most dependable, solid, and unchanging truth, is found in the holy Bible. What He had done, what He has said, and who He is. Starting with that, and using Jesus as my foundation for what is true, unalterable, and firm, only then will I be able to move outward to view the rest of the world with a frame of reference that keeps making sense, because I hold certain truths to be absolute.

P) Father, I know that my understanding, my ability to reason, my eyes being opened to the truth, this is only because of Your grace. Thank You, Lord God, for the dependable, unchanging, and absolute truth of who You are, and for revealing Yourself to creation. Help me, God, to better understand truth. Give me wisdom, to answer the question I hear unspoken in the words of people around me, when they are pleading to know, "What is truth?" Let me be compassionate and loving, and bold and firm, to explain that Jesus Christ is Truth. In Him alone, will they find the way and light, and the truth they so desperately seek. To You be all glory and praise and power, forever. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/15/2016; John 17:22-23

Today's reading: Jeremiah 18, 19, 20; Psalm 93; John 17

S) "²² The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; ²³ I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me."

John 17:22-23 (NASB)

O) Jesus was praying a finally blessing for His disciples, and not only the eleven that were with Him, but those who would later believe (v.20). A huge point of emphasis is made about unity. This shouldn't really be a surprise, as unity between believers is brought up throughout the New Testament. But, in this particular passage, Jesus compares that unity with the same unity He shares with the Father. This is no light comparison. And, to almost further His point, He actually gives us at least one reason this is so important. Just as His unity with the Father was central to the gospel message, Jesus says this unity between believers is so that the world will know that Jesus was sent by the Father.

A) This passage, like John 13:35, is another illustration of two important things I must keep in mind. First, is that evangelism is less often about a convincing speech or canvassing a neighborhood. More often than not, being an effective witness for Christ is about relationship. As a person gets to know me, that person will see me loving others as Christ loved them. Likewise, as a person gets to know me, that person will see my unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and that will show them the truth that the Father sent Jesus, and the Father loves His children, even as He loved Christ. Second, this passage reminds me (again, just as John 13:35 and others), that my love, my unity, my life, it's all about the glory of God. Furthermore, that is not an abstract concept, but a practical and purposeful plan. Effectively glorifying God means more people will recognize Him, and more people will come to know Him. Living my life to the glory of God means that I am actively promoting His will, which is that none should perish, but all would come to repentance.

P) Father, to You be all glory, God. You are worthy of devotion, worship, and servitude. Let me be more conscious, more deliberate with my life, that I would be intent on glorifying You with my actions, with my words, with my lifestyle. Forgive me, because far too often I am living my life without acknowledging Your glory. I confess that too often, I am doing what pleases me, without giving consideration to whether or not my choice is glorifying You. Help me to be more aware, and quite frankly, to be more bold in order that You would receive more glory. Help me effectively lead my wife, and lead my kids, to keep our family culture about Your glory. You are the best thing that ever happened to me, God. I am fully convinced that there is nothing better than to be in a growing relationship with You. To that end, I want my life to reflect Your glory, that more people would come to know You as I do, or else to know You even better. Let that be my happy goal. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/11/2016; John 13:34-35

Today's reading: Jeremiah 7, 8, 9; John 13

S) "³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 13:34-35 (NASB)

O) When Jesus was asked which commandment was the greatest of the Law, He replied that it was to love the LORD with all that we are. Then He said the second was like it, to love our neighbor as ourselves. As famous as it is that Jesus said this (even the world will quote the second part as the "Golden Rule," Those were not at all new commandments (although Jesus clarified the broader definition of neighbor). However, here in the upper room, during the Passover before His crucifixion, He does give a new commandment. It's new, primarily, because the world had never seen an example of love like that which Jesus had for His disciples. Put simply, Jesus is better at loving us, than we are at loving ourselves. This is how the world will know that we are His disciples, if we love each other, not just as we love us, but as Jesus loves us.

A) The real focus here, is for me to be like Jesus. The first place my mind went with this verse, in applying it to my life, was the passage in Ephesians, where husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loves the church. I don't want to just love Kristin as I love myself, I want to love Kristin as Jesus loves Kristin. The same is true for my children. The same is true for my extended family, or my friends, or brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, or even strangers and enemies. The focus here, is to strive to see others the way Jesus sees them. That's what it means to be a disciple, anyway. I want to emulate the manners, discipline, behaviors, habits, practices, and lifestyle of my Master. In order to do that, I must study the way He loves, the way He walked and talked. I must know His heart for people. In order to do that, I must be attentive when I read my Bible. It's not enough to just read it by routine. I must approach it with intent. A perfect example is in this same chapter. Jesus spoke these words just after He had washed the feet of His disciples. And, it's notable that there is no mention He avoided the feet of Judas Iscariot. I must love, even those who betray me, like Jesus did (understanding that there are still boundaries and issues of trust). That's certainly not always easy, but if I am already submitting myself as is disciple, then it's not up to me anymore.

P) Father, Your love for me is really beyond my comprehension. However, there is a great deal about it that I can still apprehend from Scripture, and some I can even comprehend from my love for my children. But, I want to know it more because I want to be a better disciple of Jesus. You are holy, and so I want to make myself holy, devoted and separated for Your purposes and not my own. Open my eyes and ears, that I may better follow the guiding of the Holy Spirit. Help me to be sensitive to His lead, and also give me the strength and will to heed those convictions, and not just recognize them. Let Your will be done, not mine, as I try to focus more and more on loving others as Jesus loves them, and not simply as I love myself. Thank You, Lord, that Jesus is better at loving me than I am at loving myself. That has never been so clear, as it is shown in the truth and reality of the cross. Let me be vocal about my need for the gospel, and plainly tell people that Jesus is better at loving them, than they are at loving themselves. Let me teach that to my kids, and encourage my wife with it. I pray that when others hear me call myself a Christian, that it resonates within them, because they see the love of Jesus through me. All this to Your glory alone. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.