April 26: 2Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

…like sucking on a straw.

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 13:58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Observation: Jesus was in his hometown. The people had watched him grow. They knew Joseph, the carpenter. They knew his mother, Mary. They knew his brothers, James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. They knew his sisters. Now he was teaching them and they heard of the miracles he had done. But to them he was just the boy down the street. To them there was nothing special about Jesus.
Many times when Jesus healed someone he commented that it was because of their faith. In this verse it is noted that lack of faith made the difference.

Application: Faith is like sucking on a straw. It will not quench my thirst, but it will bring the refreshing liquid into my mouth. My faith puts a demand on God’s ability. It draws the reality of His ability to my need. I know that faith is only as good as its foundation; in this case it is only as good as the liquid into which the straw is inserted.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may the end of my straw always be immersed deeply in you! Amen

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 12:6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
12:8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.
12:41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
12:42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.

Observation: “…one greater than the temple…” “…Lord of the Sabbath.” “…one greater than Jonah…” “…one greater than Solomon…” In chapter twelve of Matthew, Jesus, the Great Truth-speaker, refers to himself in these four ways.

Application: This is the One who loves me! This is the One who died in my place! This is the one who forgave my sins! This is the one who accepts me! This is the one who lives in me by His Spirit! Is it any wonder that I have made Him the Lord of my life!

Prayer: Jesus, I am so undeserving of all you have done for me. You are my Savior and Lord! Amen

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 109:25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.
26 Help me, O LORD my God; save me in accordance with your love.
27 Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O LORD have done it.

Observation: David was going through troubled times. His enemies were laughing at him. David calls out to the LORD for salvation. He does not appeal to his own righteousness, or the wickedness of his enemies. He does not appeal to God’s great power or wisdom. He appeals to God’s love. “Save me in accordance with your love,” he prays. David wants his enemies to recognize that the LORD was his helper.

Application: There are many things to which I can appeal when needing God’s help but none as powerful as His love for me. How appropriate that one of the first songs I learned: “Jesus loves me, this I know; For the Bible tells me so.” I desire that those around me come to see how much God loves me through the things He does for me. Then may they be open to hear how much God loves them.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you so loved the world that you sent Your only Begotton Son to die for our sins! It would be surprising to me if you did not help me in many other ways also! On behalf of my SOAP-reading friend who needs healing, I appeal according to Your love for him. Amen

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 10:32 Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Observation: It is an honor to be recognized by people we consider important on earth. But what a High Honor it is to be recognized by God the Son before the Throne of God the Father!!! There can be no greater honor! It is an honor available for all who serve Jesus during their life on earth.

Application: It is my desire to live my life in such a way that the presence of Jesus is easily recognized. I do not want people to be surprised when they hear that God, by His Holy Spirit lives in me.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, as you lived in Jesus during his earth ministry, so live in me. May those nearby easily see Jesus in me. Amen

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 My soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 63:8 (KJV) My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

Observation: Verse 8 brings to mind the toddler just learning to walk. He stays close to mom. He clings to her clothes. Where she goes, he goes. He is alarmed when he cannot see her. He is under mom’s feet and she almost stumbles over him. He is following hard after his mother. It is his work to stay close.

Application: That is the way I should be with God. I should cling to Him. I should follow hard after Him. In His presence I have protection, provision, and fellowship.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to stay close where I can enjoy your presence. I want to be close enough where it is easy for you to speak to me. May you always know where I am—right next to you! Amen

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 57:7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.

Observation: David’s life was not trouble-free. Even previously in this Psalm, David mentions some of the troubles he is experiencing. Yet here he testifies that in spite of his troubles, his heart remains steadfast in praising God in music and song.

Application: The praise to God that flows from my heart should come from Who He is rather than what is happening to me and around me. Trouble may surround me, but that does not change God’s character. In the midst of trouble, God remains loving and holy.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, who you have been in the past you are now, and will be in the future. You never change. You were worthy; you are worthy; you will always be worthy of my praise. My heart is steadfast in you! Amen

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 31:22 In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.

Observation: Here the Psalmist, David, is saying that he spoke too soon. He allowed circumstances rather than faith direct his words. He was frightened and felt there was no one to help. But a merciful God saw his heart and did not respond according to his confession. This psalm is written in appreciation for God’s help in time of trouble.

Application: I too am thankful that God, in His kindness, love and mercy, has often overlooked my foolish confessions that my situations were hopeless. Think, Leon! How can any situation be hopeless when I am walking in the will of God with His Holy Spirit living inside!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for not holding to my foolish confessions. Holy Spirit set a watch on my mouth that I speak only words of faith that honor my Father. My confession is to be of your Presence, your power, your love, and your willingness to help me. Amen

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 6:1 Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. … 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Observation: This passage reveals two sources of rewards. Two things should be noted. First: one source is temporary and the other eternal. Obviously the eternal is much more desirable! Second: one source can cancel out the other. If my goal for doing good works is to be noticed in this life I need not expect a reward in Heaven.

I am thinking that ministries who entice people to give by offering a reward might be robbing the givers of their eternal reward???

Application: I have so many good motives for giving: loving God, loving His people, loving the world, compassion for those hurting, thanksgiving for what I have received, following the leading of the Holy Spirit, becoming a giver like God, recognizing that all I have really belongs to Him. And yes, giving can be like sowing a seed and expecting a harvest. But so much about the harvest depends on Him!

And when no one knows that I am giving or what I am giving, I have discovered that God takes the responsibility to repay or reward! I am blest when I know the reward came from Him!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are the greatest Giver who gave the greatest Gift to the greatest need. You so loved the world that you gave your only Son! Help me learn the joy of giving. Amen

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 34:1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD:
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Observation: The psalmist, David, was making sure that God got the credit when he spoke of his victories. His boasting would not be of his own strength or wisdom, but of what God had accomplished through him.

Application: Boasting in myself can be prideful or lead to becoming prideful. When people hear me boast in myself, they can admire me, but they cannot depend on me to help them. When I boast in the Lord, people admire the Lord and they are encouraged to depend on Him to help them too!

I need to listen to myself talk. It is not good to use to many “I’s” when talking about what I have done. It was really God working though me. He deserves the credit. I should boast in the Lord!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you alone deserve all the credit and all the glory! I depend on you and your strength. My soul will boast in you, Oh LORD! Amen

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Observation: A kingdom is a structure of authority with a king at the top. God’s kingdom is the structure of authority with God at the top. Jesus did not preach a kingdom off somewhere in the sky, but a kingdom that was among them. He did not just preach the kingdom; he demonstrated the power of the kingdom. He healed their diseases and sicknesses. The kingdom Jesus preached made a difference in their lives. The people could see the authority of this kingdom. Jesus even taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Application: God’s kingdom is just as close to people today as it was in the day Jesus was walking on the earth. It is just as close because the King lives in me. My life is to be an expression of God’s authority. People should be able to see God’s kingdom in me.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want my life to be an expression of your wise and loving rule. Amen