July 14, 2015: SOAP #2049: I

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 11:6 Without faith, it isn’t possible to please God. Those who come to God must believe that he exists. And they must believe that he rewards those who look to him.

Observation: This verse reveals several things about God. First, He exists. Astronomers sometimes believe in the existence of stars they cannot see because they see the influence their presence has on the stars that can be seen. How much more visible is God’s presence in the lives of people around us. Second, God hears and third, God is intelligent. God hears our cry for help and understands how to help us! Fourth, God is a responder; He rewards what He appreciates. Fifth, God appreciates being important enough for us to seek Him out. He likes it when we depend on Him.

Application: I need to appreciate God’s presence in my life. I need to depend on him—to seek out His assistance. As God is seen in helping me, others come to recognize His Presence and to depend on Him too.

Prayer: Heavenly Father may what you do in my life be an encouragement for others to trust you to do the same in their lives. Amen

July 13, 2015: SOAP #2048: Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10

Living by Faith

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 10:38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.
Hebrews (KJV) 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Observation: The writer of the book of Hebrews is quoting the Old Testament Habakkuk 2:3. As I was reading this scripture, my mind was drawn to the word “live.” The scripture does not say the just shall have faith or speak his faith. Both are important. But these passages say that the just shall “live” by faith.

Application: Living by faith means that my faith is a major part of every decision I make. My faith can be seen in my everyday life. It is a part of my conversations. It is a part of my choices. It is a part of my Sunday, but also just as important part of Monday through Saturday. It is a part of my being in church, but also just as important part of my being at home and at work.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are pleased when I LIVE by faith. I like pleasing You! It is easy for people to see You living in me when I LIVE by faith. Amen

July 12, 2015: SOAP #2047: Isaiah 11-14; Hebrews 9

One Completed Sacrifice!

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 9:27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people, and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Observation: It devalues Christ’s great sacrifice on the cross to think that something more is needed. The one sacrifice needed has been already been completed! It does not have to be repeated! Christ’s sacrifice was so sufficient that it needed be done only once!

Application: God loved me so much that he provided the sacrifice that was needed. I love Him so much, that I willingly and joyfully present my life as a living sacrifice to do His will.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am humbled and honored that you so loved me. May my love for you be easily seen and well known. Amen

July 11, 2015: SOAP #2046: Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8

Fear vs. Love

Scripture: Isaiah (NIV) 8:11 The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people, He said:
12 “Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.
13 The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread…”

Observation: When people go looking for conspiracies, they are easily convinced that a feather blowing in the wind is proof of some plot. There is a tendency for "leaps of faith," jumping to conclusions that can only be seen by those wanting to see it. (That two men once lived in the same city does not mean that they are in a conspiracy together! Opportunity, in itself does not prove guilt!) If such flimsy evidence were applied to our lives, people would think that we are in a conspiracy with the devil because we once sinned.
-In the verses above, the people were giving to man what should only be given to God, fear. The Hebrew word used in referring to fear is the same Hebrew word used for fearing God.

Application: Fear is a form of worship. When I fear man, I am giving to God what belongs to God. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, (Ps 111:10; Pro 1:7; 9:10) and when we come to God we experience the grand truth that perfect love casts out fear! (1John 4:18) Truly I should greatly fear a holy and all-powerful God. But in receiving His great love into my life, the fear melts away. He is amazing! That is why I sing the words of John Newton: “Amazing Grace…’twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fear relieved…”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are a most wonderful God, both holy and loving! You are amazing! Amen

July 10, 2015: SOAP #2045:

Scripture: Micah (NIV) 6:8 He has showed you, O man what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Observation: If we love someone, we are concerned about them. We always look for ways to bring joy to their heart. We want to please them. We want to make them smile because a smile on the face of one we love is our reward.

Application: Here are three characteristics I can have in my life that will make God smile. First: He is pleased when I act with justice and do right things. Before making a snap judgment, God is pleased that I search out the truth. Second: God is merciful and wants me to “love mercy.” He wants me to enjoy being merciful. In showing mercy to others, I am demonstrating my thankfulness for the mercy He has shown to me. Third: He wants me to walk humbly. Humility is a natural response to the greatness of the One who died for me and is now my Lord!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you do so much for us, thank you for making it clear what pleases you. Amen

July 9, 2015: SOAP #2044

Scripture: Micah (NIV) 4:1 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills and peoples will stream to it.
2 Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths. The law will go out from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sward against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”

Observation: From other passages in the Bible, we understand that this reign of peace will come after a time of great trouble and war over Israel. The preparation for this war is happening even now. At the height of the battle to destroy Israel, the Lord comes down to deliver Israel and to set up His kingdom with its headquarters in Jerusalem. It will be a 1000 year reign of peace. What no dictator could do, God does! What powerful nations could not do, God does! What the League of Nations could not do, God does! What the United Nations cannot do, God does! The Prince of Peace brings true peace.

Application: This Prince of Peace is not only able to set nations in order and establish peace, He is also able and willing to set my life in order and give me peace! His peace is established in my life as I surrender to His loving and holy rule. Surrendering to Him by confessing that I am a sinner and turning control of my life over to His Lordship establishes His loving and holy and peaceful rule!

Prayer: Jesus, what a special blessing is mine to call you Lord! Amen

July 8, 2015: SOAP #2043

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 102:11 My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. 12 But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.

Observation: Our time on this earth is temporary. On the contrary, God has been present in all generations. Long before anyone had any thoughts about my being here, there were people serving and loving God. He was the center of their lives. And should the Lord not come in the next few years, long after I have been forgotten, there will be people still serving and loving God. He will be the center of their lives.

Application: So while I am here, it is my privilege to make the LORD the center of my life. While I am here on this earth, I know that there are many loving and serving God. But as far as I am concerned, there will be at least one person loving and serving God. I will do it joyously for I am convinced that He is worthy! What a day that will be when I join those from the past and those yet to come in worship at His throne!

Prayer: Lord, I love to sing: Jesus I’ll praise You forever; Jesus I’ll praise

You forever. No matter what the cost may be I’ll praise you

eternally. My heart’s made up. I’ll praise You forever! (unknown author) Amen

July 7, 2015: SOAP #2042:

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet without sin.

Observation: We have a Great High Priest! He is great because of what He accomplished. He is High because he is the priest appointed by God to offer the ultimate sacrifice. He is a priest because he was chosen from among men.

Application: My Great High Priest is qualified because he is human. He is qualified because he was tempted in every way I have been tempted. He is qualified because he overcame every temptation and remained without sin. He is qualified because he presents the perfect sacrifice to cover my sins.

So, what does that all mean to me? I need to hold firmly to the faith I profess. My faith is to be a part of every day and every activity in which I participate. With my faith, I can face every opportunity and every difficulty.

Prayer: Lord, living out my faith is possible when I remember that you, the one in whom I have faith, is actually living inside me! Amen

July 6, 2015: SOAP #2041: Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3

If-s and Because-s

Scripture: Hebrews (NIV) 3:14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we has at first…
16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? …
19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Observation: If—probably the biggest little word in the English language. It has the power to change the whole progress of a thought. It provides understanding as to why something did or did not happen. The “if” phrase often provides the basis for the “because” phrase.

Application: God has made promises “if” I obey. God has also made promises “if” I disobey. I must be careful not to think that God will remember His promises for blessing and forget His promises for judgment! God keeps His promises because He is true to Himself.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:9. If I confess my sins and turn from them, He has promised to take the payment Jesus made on the cross as payment for my sins! Wow!

Prayer: Thank you Heavenly Father for clearly laying out your plan for my life in your Holy Word. Thank you for revealing your character. Thank you for the “if-s” and the “because-s.” Amen

July 5, 2015: SOAP #2040

Scripture: Hosea (MSSG) 5:6 When they decide to get their lives together and go off looking for GOD once again, they’ll find it’s too late. I, GOD, will be long gone. 7 They’ve played fast and loose with me for too long…

Observation: Israel had turned away from God. They did not need to be bothered with the LORD’s requirements. But trouble would come to them as it comes to everyone. And in trouble, the Israelites will run to make their sacrifices to the LORD…but the LORD will be gone! People need to come to God when the Holy Spirit emphasizes it in their heart and mind. We come on His time, not on our own time.

Application: I recently saw an advertisement of a young lady sitting in the doctor’s waiting room. She was working on her computer. When her name was called, she commented on the great internet connection available and that she needed to finish her project. The doctor would have to wait. The humor in the ad is that we have all had to wait in the doctor’s waiting room, many times past our assigned time. But we patiently waited because we did not have a choice, and because we highly value the doctor’s evaluation, and because we understand how those before us may have required more time then allotted, and because… When called, we quickly responded.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, it is so important that I respond quickly to your call. I do not want to drag my feet and then find I missed the opportunity to hear what you wanted to tell me. Amen