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 12/11/2016; Jeremiah 38:19

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOAP 12/10/2016; Jeremiah 36:23-24

Today's reading: 2 Timothy 1, 2, 3, 4*
S) "²³ When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe's knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier. ²⁴ Yet the king and all his servants who heard all these words were not afraid, nor did the rend their garments."

Jeremiah 36:23-24 (NASB)
*This verse was highlighted before I kept these entries online, so I wrote a new entry

O) God had directed Jeremiah to write down everything He had told the prophet, from the time of King Josiah until this time (the fourth year of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah). When the scribe wrote it all down, because Jeremiah was still under a sort of political house arrest, he told the scribe to take the scroll and read it in the temple of the LORD. Then, in v.9, we see the narrative skip forward as much as a year, but we don't know if Baruch the scribe had been reading the scroll repeatedly that whole span. However, at this later time some officials heard the words, and they were appropriately alarmed, and carried word to the king. Despite trying to hide the actual scroll, the king fetched it (although Baruch and Jeremiah were hidden). When the king heard the words of the scroll, not only was he unafraid, but he didn't even seem exactly angry. His action to destroy the scroll (and trying to seize the scribe and prophet) almost seems like an afterthought. What this really came down to, was that this king wanted to continue in his own sovereignty. Rather than rending his clothes in repentance, he chose to rend the scroll which condemned him. Obviously, though, this was not like the edict of an earthly king. Destroying the physical message wouldn't eliminate the danger, any more than killing the messenger would.

A) This is a strong reminder for me. When confronted with the truth and sovereignty of God, my choice is to submit or rebel. There is no middle ground, there. God requires obedience and submission to His lordship. The instinct, though, is to just tear up the message and try to ignore the things God says when they don't align with my own will. Like a little kid with a note from the teacher, I want to destroy the evidence of my guilt, rather than confess it and submit to the authorities over me. But, this is the beauty of the gospel. I don't have to be afraid of the punishment, if I am truly repentant when I confess my sins. God has already promised to justify me in the blood of Christ, when I repent and submit myself under His sovereign authority again. So, when I read the Bible, and there are Scriptures which convict me of a sinful behavior or attitude, my reaction must be to accept the truth and authority of my King, as well as His mercy and grace. Something's gotta give, and I will either rend my heart in repentance, or rend His words in denial.

P) Father God, the grace You have shown Your servant is overwhelming. Indeed, You had overwhelmed me with Your mercy and grace, Your lovingkindness in pursuit of my heart, even when I was in denial of Your words. I am so thankful, Lord, that You never give up on me. Even when I choose to rend Your words, rather than rend my heart, You are always willing to receive me again. Let me walk in an attitude of willing and quick repentance. I invite the convictions of the Holy Spirit in my life. Open my eyes and ears, to recognize the sinful areas of my heart that need to be submitted to Your authority, God. May I choose to rend my heart, and never Your words, because I am so aware of Your grace and mercy, Your lovingkindness and compassion, which saved me from my self-inflicted ruin. Let Your praise be ever on my lips, and be glorified in my life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/07/2016; Jeremiah 8:10b-11

Today's reading: Colossians 1, 2, 3, 4*

S) "¹⁰ '... From the prophet even to the priest
Everyone practices deceit.
¹¹ 'They heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially,
Saying, "Peace, peace,"
But there is no peace.'"

Jeremiah 8:10b-11 (NASB)
*This verse was highlighted before I kept these entries online, so I wrote a new entry

O) This chapter is part of a long discourse, where the LORD is exposing just how far His people have gone away from His ways. In a sense, these two verses really summarize the depth of their fall. Of all of God's people, the prophets and priests had always remained the most faithful. From the very beginning, Moses (himself a prophet) and Aaron (the first of the Levitical priests) were clearly the most faithful of that generation (although they themselves were disqualified from entering the promised land). Then into the judges, we see the prophetess Deborah rebuking the judge Barak (Judges 4). Even with the very first king of Israel, Samuel had to rebuke Saul. Nathan had to rebuke King David. Even after the split of the kingdom, when Jeroboam erected golden calves in Israel, all the Levites left their lands behind, to go to Judah so they could remain faithful to the LORD (2 Chronicles 11:14-16). So, we see example after example, throughout the checkered history of Israel, and even Judah, that the priests and prophets had, for the most part, remained faithful to God even if the kings and people had become unfaithful. However, here in the final days of Judah, after the kingdom of Israel had already been taken into exile for their unfaithfulness, even the priests and prophets (Jeremiah excluded, I think) had become deceitful. They were charged with ministering to the people, with speaking the truth of God to them, and bringing reconciliation between God and His people, but they weren't doing it. They were saying there is peace, but there was no peace. They were saying that the people were healed (spiritually, that is), but they were not.

A) There is a sense in which all believers are called into the royal priesthood (1 Peter 2), because we are ministering to the world, trying to share the gospel and facilitate that reconciliation between God and His creation. And, in a smaller scale, there is a sense in which I operate as a priest over my family, in that I am leading them to serve God, to worship Him. In that role, I have a responsibility to lead them in truth. I cannot call something acceptable that is not acceptable to God. I cannot mislead them into a false sense of security. I must hold firmly to the truth of God's standard for righteousness, carefully observing His holiness, and openly leading by example in confession and repentance. I have a duty to lovingly care for my family when I see there is sin or brokenness. It is not up to me to heal them, though. That is the role of God alone. But, I should be leading them back to the presence of Jesus, that He may do what He does as our merciful and faithful high priest.

P) Father God, thank You for the mercy and healing that You are so quick to give. Thank You for the promise to sanctify me in Christ Jesus. Thank You for leading me, to conform to the truth as You have declared it, and for opening my eyes and ears to know Your standard of righteousness. I know that the culture of this world would rather redefine what is good, than to submit to the only One who is good, but that is not what I want. I don't want the false promises of the world, I want peace with You. Help me to lead my family in truth. Help me to be bold, in confessing the truth according to Scripture. Let me be unwavering in my commitment to this. I know that this must be done in love, or else it will become a fruitless endeavor, so please keep my heart soft. Let me always seek the good of my wife and children, according to what You define as good. I know that You can, and will, heal every spiritual hurt that we have. Every wound we endure can be healed when we are reconciled in peace with You. Even our physical hurts are only temporary, until we are raised in glory with Jesus. So, let me lead my family in love, so they may be healed in truth, and have peace with You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/16/2016; Psalm 119:71-72

Today's reading: Malachi 3, 4; Psalm 148; Acts 5

S) "⁷¹ It is good for me that I was afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
⁷² The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces."

Psalm 119:71-72 (NASB)
*This verse was highlighted before I kept these entries online, so I wrote a new entry

O) This is the end of the "Teth" portion of this psalm (because Psalm 119 has a sort of verse for each letter in the Hebrew alphabet, almost like an acrostic poem). Because these verses are sort of a conclusion for vv.65-70, working backward through them helps shed some light on the context. David concludes that the law of God is better than gold and silver to the extreme. Gold and silver, obviously being some of the most valuable things available for him to compare, he is essentially saying that God's law, His very words (because it says, "of Your mouth") is priceless, invaluable, irreplaceable. He wouldn't trade them for anything. With that attitude as a starting point, when reflecting on v.71, it's easier to see how he concluded that his afflictions were good. If the most valuable thing in the world to him is the law of God's mouth, then anything that brings him more awareness, more knowledge, a deeper understanding of that same thing, that law of God's mouth, anything to bring that more to light, that would also be valued by David. His ability to see his circumstances this way, though, was predicated on the value he placed on the law of God's mouth. If he didn't have such a high regard for God's words, then he probably would not have seen his affliction as anything so good, either.

A) The very direct application for me, is first for me to determine the value of God's words, the law of His mouth, in my life. That is really just a determination I have to make (and, I have been making it over the last several years). Values are always defined internally. If I had a baseball signed by my favorite player, and someone wanted to trade me a baseball signed by Babe Ruth, I might not want to do it because my favorite is still my favorite. Even though I could sell the Babe Ruth for more (because other people would value it more), that doesn't mean that I value it more. In the same way, I can make the determination that God's words, the law of His mouth, are indeed more valuable to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. That's the price I can set on it, by my own valuation. Once I'm there, once I've determined that knowing God's words is so valuable to me, then I will begin to see circumstances differently, especially afflictions. If financial stresses are causing me to dive into Scriptures for hope and trust in God, then my financial stress will be seen as a good thing - because I so value God's words. If relationship issues, difficulties with my kids, problems at work, failing health; if anything causes me to learn God's statues better, to learn what He has said more, then those afflictions will be seen as good, when I value the law of God's mouth so much. I'll be able to say it's a good thing I went through X, Y, and Z, because it brought me closer to God, and I understand Him better, having gone through that while leaning into Him. Because of this view, and seeing my afflictions as a discipline rather than a punishment, I should be warned that in a way that could be inviting God to allow afflictions in my life, though. I'll pray that I deliberately value God's words more, but at the same time, I'll expect afflictions may help me prove my prayers.

P) Father God, the law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. I declare that, I confess it. Help me to live that out, and prove it by my actions and lifestyle. Let me hunger and thirst for Your words, each day. When I face afflictions, when I am tested in this, let those circumstances drive me into communion with You, Father God. Let me run to the refuge of Your words. Let me spend more and more time in the Scriptures, that I would know Your words better and better, and know You more and more. In every thing, on earth as it is in heaven, let Your will be done. Be glorified in my afflictions. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.