SOAP 08/26/2016; 3 John 5-8

Today's reading: Jeremiah 50, 51; 3 John

S) "⁵ Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; ⁶ and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. ⁷ For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. ⁸ Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth."

3 John 5-8 (NASB)

O) John is making the point that supporting missionary work is participating in it. By missionary work, I don't only mean going to a foreign land of some kind, spreading the gospel and doing community work - all of which are very good and need support. However, I also mean that by supporting a brother's mission to do free auto repairs for widows and single moms, we are participating. By raising funds for a Youth Camp trip, we are participating. Whatever is accomplished for the brethren, giving time or money, raising awareness, providing hospitality, all of that support makes us fellow workers. It's noteworthy that John specifically says, "especially when they are strangers;" I think that takes the love-factor up a notch. It's easier to support a brother or sister we know well. Supporting a stranger, although he or she is in Christ with us, does take more faith and trust, sacrifice and love, and that glorifies God all the more.

A) Like so many passages of the New Testament that are instructive, the only way to apply this passage is indeed to do it. The most convicting portion of this passage, is certainly the command to "send them on their way in a manner worthy of God." To be clear, a ministry is not always "on its way" somewhere. Sometimes it's very much local, resident, or longstanding. The real point is that I should support my brothers and sisters in a way that is worthy of God. That means I will view their ministry as my ministry, seeking to help them serve God however I can, and by doing so, I will also be serving God. A lot of times, it can feel a little vague - what it is that God is "calling" us to do. However, many times it may be as simple as supporting others in causes and missions that they are already doing.

P) Father, thank You for the support I have received from the brethren, when I have been seeking to do work for You and they have seen it as opportunity to join me. As I approach this new phase of my life, being here in Montana, I don't want to wait around with nothing to do. How, exactly, my family and I will serve You is not yet clear. However, in the meantime I want to invest myself in the work of brothers and sisters who are already here and doing things for the Name. Help me to see the ministering work of others as opportunity for me to be a fellow worker, at least in supporting their work - whether it's financial, hospitable, volunteering, or otherwise. As we seek to build others up for Your glory, I pray that You do reveal to me and to Kristin, unified in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, what kind of ministry we should take up in Your name. I want to serve You, Lord. I am in fact Your servant. Use me however You wish, Lord. Until I have a clear understanding of what that is, help me to be diligent and faithful, supporting my brothers and sisters in their calling, as they already know. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/25/2016; 2 John 10-11

Today's reading: Jeremiah 37, 38, 39; Psalm 79; 2 John

S) "¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; ¹¹ for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds."

2 John 10-11 (NASB)

O) John was warning about false teachers, antichrist people who deny that Jesus came in the flesh. More broadly, he says in the previous verse that these are those who go too far and do not abide in the teaching of Jesus. Then he immediately followed with a warning not to allow these false teachers to enter your home and not even to greet them, or else we would participate in their evil deeds. These are strong words, but it's hard to misunderstand them because they are fairly plain. There does seem to be something almost spiritual, about having people into the home. When Jesus sent out the seventy disciples, He said to bless and heal the households that received them. However, he said to proclaim against the cities where no one would receive them, that they would even wipe off the dust of the city; but that the kingdom of God is close. Jesus said it will be better for Sodom, than for a city that rejects His disciples. So we see a very strong difference of instruction, based on who allowed the disciples into their homes. Similarly, John is telling us to be very discerning about what kinds of teaching we allow into our homes.

A) There is a part of me that almost laments this warning, because I'm probably too fond of conflict. When Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses come to my door, I want to have them come inside so I can debate them. It doesn't usually last long, and everywhere I've lived, they only come once and never return. So, I can't even say that my discussions with them have been particularly fruitful. Also, those were pretty much before any of my kids were old enough to understand any teaching, let alone Godly things. I don't worry too much about my kids overhearing false teaching (or my wife for that matter), if it's something I can discuss with them and we can keep everything straight according to what the Bible actually says. Then again, there's no reason to let seeds be planted that must be dug out again. Furthermore, I simply am not privy to all of their unspoken doubts or misconceptions. Beyond those kinds of risks, I think John is simply saying, that by allowing false teaching, or a false teacher, into my home, I am endorsing his teaching. That is certainly something I must avoid. So, a new determination I make, that if anyone comes to my door, preaching a different Jesus than the Bible teaches, I must politely but firmly send them on their way.

P) Father, thank You for giving me the truth. Thank You for opening my eyes and ears, to know Your words even as well as I do, but I pray that I continue to learn them better. Help me to be bold and firm, against false teachers. Please protect my family, my wife, my children and their children, against false teaching and deceptive false-gospels. Let Your will be done, in who we invite into our home. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/24/2016; 1 John 5:14-15

Today's reading: Jeremiah 33, 34; Psalm 74; 1 John 5

S) "¹⁴ This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him."

1 John 5:14-15 (NASB)

O) John closes his letter with some admonishing, but also the great encouragement of the verses above (along with reminders about eternal life). It is important to note that God is omniscient. He does indeed hear everything. However, the idea of God hearing prayers, carries a different connotation of a granting of the request. For example, when the man born blind was asked about Jesus healing him (see John 9), he said, "We know that God does not hear sinners," So this is almost idiomatic, the idea of God "hearing" actually meaning God "granting" the prayer request. So, the real issue is not whether or not God knows we are praying and can audibly hear us or spiritually know the request of our hearts. The real issue, is whether or not those requests are aligned with His will. To that point, there is such a freedom when we surrender to God's will. There is freedom in realizing we don't have to make everything happen ourselves. There is freedom in learning that His commands are for our good. There is freedom in understanding that His will is better than ours, and trusting that the solution He has in mind is the best one. What that means to prayer, is that when we conform our prayers to His will, we are assured they will come to pass.

A) This truth, this promise, should really inform how and what I pray. It is not enough to simply end my prayers with a disclaimer, or a caveat, of a simple "if it's Your will." To be clear, that is indeed very important. I have seen God answer a lot of prayers in my life, and when I have been committed to a humble approach, that I only want my request if my Lord wants it for me, that has born fruit of humility, patience, and wisdom. However, when I think about this promise, that my prayers of things He wills, will be heard and granted, it makes me want to search out His will for me to pray! Specifically, what occurs to me right now, is that I need to be in prayer for my unsaved loved ones. I don't pray nearly enough for them, but I know it's God's will that none would perish but all would come to repentance. How could I have any request more powerful to pray, or more urgent? Second, and this is timely and topical to my life, is for His will over my family right now with our move to Billings. We prayed for this for almost a year, humbly submitting ourselves to His timing, His will, His provision for this move to happen. Now that we're on our way, I need to pray for His will to prevail over the rest of our lives here, and how they transition, and how we flourish, all to His glory.

P) Father, thank You for this promise, God. Thank You for hearing me when I pray for the things that matter to You. Father God, there are so many who need the gospel, who need Yiur truth to set them free. I could pray a never ending list... but for now, let me just say, please soften hearts, and open ears and eyes, especially for my brothers and sisters, my in-laws, my friends, all of whom need Your freedom and healing. I pray that my brothers and sisters in Christ continue to pray for all of the unsaved whose names I don't know, but they do. Save Eric, and Tim and Shonda, and Gabe, and Feleisha. Save Pete and Bev, and their brothers and sisters, and mother. And God bless Mary Gadbaw, Lord. She is a faithful woman who loves her kids and Jesus, and I pray her requests for her kids are heard, Lord. Please save Kara and Vance, Brad and Kayla. Use me however You will in their lives, however I can play a part in their redemption stories. Just let Your will be done for them. Father God, thank You for hearing me and Kristin, in our request to move to Billings. We are so thankful that this is happening. Hasten the day, Lord, that I can go get them to join me here. When we are here, I pray we settle into our church family here. Prepare and establish relationships for us here, God, for Kristin and me as adults who need brothers and sisters here to support us in the absence of family. Please make relationships for our kids, to have godly friends who will challenge them to be better disciples of Jesus, who will encourage and admonish. Prepare our kids that they would engage in church family here, and flourish in Jess Christ, becoming strong disciples themselves. I want to serve You here as a whole family, Lord. Be glorified in us, in Billings, and let Your will be done. 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 08/22/2016; 1 John 3:1

Today's reading: Jeremiah 28, 29, 30; 1 John 3

S) "¹ See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."

1 John 3:1 (NASB)

O) John was called the disciple whom Jesus loved, or the beloved disciple, and it's no wonder that so much of his letters focuses on the love of Christ. He really understood the reality of the love of God. To be sure, this is a wonderful promise! It is wondrous, the love God has for us. John himself, wrote the words that God loved the world so much, He sent His only Son to die for us. For a long time, I held a particular appreciation that I am saved, since I was not Jewish, but even the Jews didn't consider themselves sons of God, but sons of Abraham. This is more, though. Being a son of God is the assertion Jesus made, which goes beyond being of Israel. In Christ, we are made fellow heirs of the promises in Christ. He is the firstborn, and we are made His brethren. That is so great a love! That is why John finishes that verse with a reminder, a warning of sorts, that the world didn't know Christ, so they won't know us.

A) As great a promise as this is, and that itself cannot really be overstated, I also noticed that this is in part, an instruction. John says, "See..." Like so many songs from Kids Praise, Psalty the singing psalm book taught me this verse in the KJV. In that song/version, the word is translated "Behold..." I think that word especially, conveys that this is an imperative statement. I need to see it, to set my eyes on it, to behold it. God loves me so, so much, that He has made me His son. How great a love, indeed.

P) Father, my words will never correctly thank You for so great a love. In a way, I know that even that inability is a testament to Your grace. Even if I had the comprehension to fully see this grace, and even if I had the perfect words, it still wouldn't be enough to thank You. The only response, is that I would completely submit my life to You. Help me keep this beautiful promise in mind today. Let me heed the imperative word of John, that I would see the truth of Your love, that I would behold it, that I would keep my eyes focused on the reality, power, and purpose of Your love, in all the grace You have given it. Thank You, Father God. When the world turns against me, let me remember that they were first against Jesus. If I am treated like Him, then I am all the more thankful to walk as He walked, and suffer as He suffered, as long as You are glorified as He glorified You. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/21/2016; 1 John 2:28

Today's reading: Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1 John 2

S) "²⁸ Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming."

1 John 2:28 (NASB)

O) This chapter is a little tough, as John is admonishing the church to overcome, and walk in obedience, and love, and abide in Christ, and not love the world. He uses some strong language throughout, and puts things in very simple but hard and fast contrast. In the end, though, he brings it back to a great encouragement. As Christians, we shouldn't be worried about our standing with God, if we really understand His grace through Jesus. So long as we abide in Christ, we will look forward to His return without any hesitation or dismay. The key, though, is abiding in Him. That phrase is a call back to vv.5-6, when John tells us we can know if we are in Christ, if we walk like Christ. That is, after all, what it means to be His disciple.

A) I really think God wants us to stand before Him with confidence. To be clear, this cannot be arrogance. God clearly opposes the proud. However, when we are in a right relationship with Him, when we are humbly submitted to His sovereignty, I think He wants us to have confidence as His children. Our confidence before Him is based on Christ, who had every perfect reason for confidence. If we are like Him, that is, if we are submitted to a life of following Jesus and seeking to be like Him, and when we are raised at the last coming, we will be like Him, then we share in a confidence now, knowing that we are fellow heirs with Christ, and justified before the Father, and loved by God. I want to walk with that confidence until His second coming. I want to approach the throne of grace with confidence. It can even go beyond (or before that?), because my confidence in who God has made me, and why He has given me the talents and gifts I have, and understanding I live for Him in all that I do, that gives me a confidence for my work, parenting, ministry, relationships - it touches everything. But here is the real crux: that confidence must glorify Jesus Christ. If it doesn't glorify my Lord, then it's not confidence in Him, or in me abiding in Him, but something else, something unjustified, ungodly. So, this is then a sort of a humble confidence.

P) Father, thank You for the grace and mercy I have in Jesus Christ. Thank You for drawing me to Him, that I may have a restored and right relationship with You, as I abide in Him. Let my confidence in Jesus, and in the cross, be a light that attracts others to what I have in You. Let this shine as a light, that my confidence doesn't come from some esoteric belief in myself, but it comes from a very real, very evident belief in Jesus Christ the risen King. I look forward to the day I stand before You, in the fullness of the glory of Christ, when I am finally abiding in Him perfectly and eternally. Until then, let me focus on walking as He walked, with all the confidence that brings, all to Your glory. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/20/2016; 1 John 1:9

Today's reading: Jeremiah 48, 49; Psalm 67; 1 John 1

S) "⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:9 (NASB)

O) In the verse immediately before this, and immediately after this, John uses the phrase, "If we say," similar to the way the verse above starts, "If we confess..." All three of these verses are very closely linked, but I highlighted only this verse, because it carries with it the clear instruction. In all three verses, the first thing to do, is to identify who "we" are, as John identifies them. He uses the word "we" throughout this first chapter, and it's even in the very first verse. He identifies that "we" are the ones who have heard, and seen, and touched Jesus (understanding that John identifies Jesus as the Word of God made flesh in John 1, or in this case, the Word of Life made manifest). Three times he says "we proclaim" or, "we announce" and all three times he says, "to you," and he says, "we write," The reason it is so important to see all of these instances, is that when we get down to vv.8-10, it makes it clear that the "we" he means is Christians! In fact, it could even be understood, that the "we" he means, is actually the apostles themselves! So, it's understood to be a much more powerful statement in v.8 and 10, seeing that the apostles still have sinned in their past, and had sin as a present struggle or affliction, if we can call it that. The reason it's so important, is because in the middle of those verses, John says, "If we confess," and he means Christians, the disciples of Jesus, even the apostles themselves. We must understand what confess means, too. To confess really means, to tell it like it really is. Specific to our submission to God, to confess is to plainly describe something like God would describe it. "Con-" meaning "with or like" and "-fess" meaning tell. So, we are telling it like or with someone, and that someone is God, who knows and speaks and reveals all truth. Now, John uses a present tense form of that verb. He does not say, "Since we confessed," as if it was a one-and-done occurrence. He means that it is something Christians still do, even after they have heard, and seen, and touched Jesus, and believed on Him, and wrote to the churches planted all around the known world. They had sinned, and they have sin, and if they confess their sins, the rest of the promise comes to pass. Confession is not meant to be a one time occurrence, but a lifestyle of truth-telling, and in this case, about our sins. The reality is that sin persists in the life of a believer, even after they have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Even after they have planted churches and pastured thousands of Christians. But, the beauty is that Jesus died once for all. He was raised and sits at the right hand of the Father, and still makes intercession on our behalf. That is why God is righteous (or justified, or just) to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness. It is because our debt has been paid, and Jesus was the propitiation, the atonement, the ransom for our sins.

A) Confession is hard. How's that for confession? I confess that it's hard to confess. It shouldn't be, but it is. Setting aside all of the lies and fears that come with confession to other people (see James 5:16), at times it's difficult to confess my sins to God, to vocalize, acknowledge, and look at my mistakes. It's hard to admit that I still need the mercy of Christ. The blood of Jesus is still something I need to cleanse me. Part of it, I think, is because I want to be perfect. I want to be mature enough to not fall for the same temptations I have in the past. I want to be disciplined enough to do the right thing every time. There's a part of me that feels like I should have arrived by now. But the reality is, I won't arrive until I'm dead. I won't arrive until the glory of Christ is manifested in my resurrection with Him. But, after I've sinned with something I really hate, the lie comes. The lie is usually something like, "I know what I did, and God knows what I did, and I'm sorry, and He knows it. So, why do we need to talk about it?" (we, meaning me and God).  The reality is, confessing to God brings cleansing and justification before Him. The truth is, when I confess to Him, and He cleanses me, it's more than just a legal justification, it's a restored relationship. When I've sinned, I feel the separation from Him. I can sense the wedge between us, the wedge of my actions, and I begin to miss Him of that separation persists. When I confess and He cleanses, He brings me back into His fold. I usually cry, and I grieve my mistakes, and then He comforts me. The more I remember His grace, His promise of mercy, His character as my compassionate Father God, who is full of lovingkindness, the quicker I'll confess my sins, to be drawn close to Him again. I don't confess because I "have to confess," but genuinely because I get to confess. I am blessed to lay it bare before Him, and allow Him to mend my brokenness again.

P) Father, thank You for the dependable, unchanging character You have. Thank You for the lovingkindness and compassion You keep for Your children. Thank You for restoring me, even today, when I confess my sins and You forgive me. Let me be quicker the next time; we both know there will be a next time. I want to spend as little time apart from You, as I can ever manage. Let me be quick to repent and confess, and remember the sweetness of Your forgiveness and comfort. Thank You for being such a good Father to me, so undeserving that I am. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Be glorified in me, that I would honor Yoyr name with a life of repentance and confession. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.