Matthew 18 "Who is the Greatest?"

SOAP Journal based on Matthew 18 “Who is the Greatest?” 

S = Matthew 18:1- 5 “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying,

“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

² And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³ and said,

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me…”

O = The disciples were jockeying for a better pole position, trying to determine by what metrics greatness was measured in the Heavenly Kingdom.  Why? Not to help others but to achieve greatness. They, like people today, know what needs to be done to be seen as great in the world. They were wondering if Jesus’ kingdom would be the same. It most certainly was not, is not, and will not be like the kingdoms of the world. First, children were considered a gift from God but by they no means were considered “great” in the sense of leadership, power, and prestige. This would have given them theological whip-lash. Secondly, the appeal to hospitality would culturally have been very powerful. Yet it turned their values on its head. Instead of receiving kings, judges, politically connected people, or religious leaders in Jesus' name Jesus told them to receive a child. Could it be that children are emissaries from Christ himself? Sometimes what our kids say is a message from God to us!

A = Am I striving to be great by the world’s metrics—money, power, popularity, influence, Google searches, Facebook friends/Twitter followers, etc.? Why does greatness matter to me? I think it doesn’t matter to me, but it probably matters more than I am aware of. I wonder if a desire to be great in the kingdom comes because people want to please themselves or because they desire to please God? God doesn’t want us to approach him on a performance basis so we are to come humbly and openly in love like a child that has not yet been taught by a fallen world to stop trusting and stop loving. Verse 6 is a powerful reminder to us of how much God values those children.

(1) How can I humble myself like a little child?

• I can live more dependently upon my Heavenly Father, trusting him enough to honestly bring my cares and concerns to him in humbly expectant prayer.
• I can live with less disbelief in God’s nearness and power.
• I can approach Jesus without reservation, for his desire is to bless me.

(2) How do I make room in my life to “receive” a child in Jesus’ name?

To receive a child “In Jesus’ name” means to receive a child in the way that Jesus would. If I am going to do this then I will be determined…

• I can learn how Jesus treated and related to children…and do the same.
• I can take time to honor and respect children instead of dismissing them or acting like they are an inconvenience.
• I can look for others, the voiceless, the powerless, the marginalized ones in our culture, and “welcome them to my table.”

P = O Lord, your love for the little children is a window into your love for us all—thank you for that example. May I see that my efforts are not very effective without your help, but that you desire for me to come to you, to be blessed by you, and to walk with you. This week may I not allow anything to distract me from your loving care for me and may I always leave the assigning of greatness to you…and content myself to trust you as the psalmist did in writing Psalm 131:

¹O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
    my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
    too great and too marvelous for me.
² But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
    like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child is my soul within me.

³ O Israel, hope in the Lord
    from this time forth and forevermore.

Amen.

Mark 4-5 "Out of the Tombs"

S = Mark 4:35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”

Mark 5:2-9 “And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. ³ He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, ⁴ for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. ⁵ Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

⁶ And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. ⁷ And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

⁸ For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

⁹ And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.””

O = In this multi-faceted narrative from the ministry of Jesus, I find it interesting to notice the directional statements in the text. Starting with Jesus’ shocking statement that they would leave their growing ministry in Galilee where Jesus had been teaching through parables and miracles and cross the lake to the “other side.” The southeast side of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Gennesaret) to which they headed was the gentile region of Decapolis (lit., “ten cities”). It was not only the other side of the lake, but culturally and spiritually the “other side.” Jesus modeled the cross-cultural mission of the gospel for his disciples. “Other” is not something to be avoided for Jesus. Secondly there is the demonized man who came out of the tombs. The uncontrollable, unrestrainable, unreasonable, and inconsolable man, fell down at the feet of Jesus, with the legion of tormenting spirits begging not to be tormented.  Jesus sent the demons away out of the man into the pigs. It is as if Jesus came all that way just to free that man! The Good Shepherd seeking out the lost sheep, no matter how far he has to go! The man had come out of the tombs in more ways than one. He is no longer the living wretch that he once was. Now he is clothed, in his right mind and asking to follow Jesus. This gentile man once shunned by his people is now the one who will open their fearful eyes to the goodness of God. The next time Jesus would come to Decapolis crowds would come to listen to his teaching for days and he would miraculously feed the 4,000 (Mark 8 and Matthew 15).

A = How willing am I to cross over to “the other side” with Jesus? When circumstances are stormy beyond my control do I doubt Jesus or trust him to deliver me? Who do I allow to tell me who I really me…the unclean spirits, the fearful townspeople, or Jesus? This week I will fall before Jesus and allow him to deliver me from whatever has me in bondage, from whatever is causing my life to be out of control. And I will pray for opportunities to tell others what good things God has done for me! 

P = O Lord, I am slow to cross to the other side, to reach out to those different from me. Help me to see that you are working mighty things in them as well as in me. May we come to share the testimony of how we all have been changed by your powerful love! Help me to trust you through the stretching process of getting beyond my comfort zone for the sake of others!  And Lord, will you please give me the opportunity today to share something good that you have done for me with someone else. Amen.

Hebrews 2 "Drifting Away...from so great a salvation"

This SOAP Journal is based on the text of Sunday’s sermon by guest speaker, Pastor Keith Jenkins.

S = Hebrews 2:1-4 “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. ² For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, ³ how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, ⁴ while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

O = Two messages are being compared here: the Mosaic law and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This comparison takes place within a larger treatise showing the superiority of Jesus Christ over angels, which is now extended to our responsibility to keep/obey/believe the messages that they delivered. It is an argument from the lesser to the greater. If the lesser message delivered through angels was reliable and binding, the message now delivered by God incarnate in the Son is even more so. The author exclaims, “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” In other words, what could be worse than rejecting Jesus’ death for our sins with the indifference of a “Whatever.” What had they heard to which they needed to pay closer attention? The words of the Lord (Jesus Christ) and the testimony of the apostles and disciples who had listened to Jesus in person, the miraculous signs, wonders, and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

A = This idea of drifting comes when I no longer think there is any need to paddle when I no longer feel the need to get somewhere, or perhaps when I think I have “arrived” and there is nothing left for me to learn. I know that this is an attitude that pops up in me more than I am comfortable admitting and of which I repent again today. The other phrase I need to apply in my life is “We must pay much closer attention to…” I know that over the years I have paid close attention to the gospel message found in the Bible, but am I paying closer attention now than I did then? If I am not then I have started to drift. I shouldn’t think I can spiritually coast across the finish line of life. In the next chapter in Hebrews we twice read the command, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion…” (Heb. 3:7-8, & 15). And in between these two reminders to not harden our hearts is this central warning,

“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end…” (3:12-14)

P = O Lord, deliver me from the deceitfulness of sin that would make me think that I am immune to sinning. Keep my heart that is prone to wander, from departing from your presence. May I encourage others to press in and keep paddling and may my Christian brothers and sisters love me enough to do the same for me. Lord Jesus, in your strong love draw me to pay closer attention to you than ever and less attention to worldly distractions day by day. Amen.

In his sermon, Pastor Jenkins shared these thoughts about “Drifting” (v.1)

1.    Drifting requires no effort—it just happens.

2.    Drifting is an unconscious process.

3.    We never drift upstream (1 Kings 11:1-4)

4.    The speed increases as we drift farther and farther downstream.

5.    There is always collateral damage as we drift.

6.    Drifting results in shipwreck.

 

John 2 "Do Whatever He Tells You"

S = John 2:2-5 

“On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

O = This is the beginning of the account of the first miracle of Jesus Christ after he began his public ministry. So much could be written about the cultural background and theological significance of this miracle... but not today. In my consideration of this passage, I notice four simple things...

1. Jesus cares enough about these people and this wedding to walk many miles to attend.
2. Despite their wedding plans, the couple ran out of wine. Stuff happens in life that we can’t plan for.
3. Jesus, while speaking more kindly that it appears in English makes it clear that He was no longer under Mary’s parental authority and that she was not the “manager” for his ministry. Jesus only says what he hears the Father say and only does what he sees the Father doing (John 5:19). Mary was not offended as we can see from her response.
4. “Do whatever he tells you.” Her statement is one of complete faith in Jesus doing and speaking the right thing!

A = How can I apply these four simple observations this week? As a follower of Jesus, I should have the same attitude that was in Jesus (Philippians 2).

(1) How far out of my way am I willing to go for the sake of others? Not far enough! This week I will look for a way that I can be inconvenienced for others at least once a day.

(2) I will strive to be mindful of the needs of others this week and take those needs first to the Lord Jesus.

(3) I will spend time with Jesus in Bible reading and prayer, each day, even for just a few minutes in order to allow him to direct my days and give me my “marching orders”!

(4) I will take Mary’s faith-filled advice and do what Jesus tells me to do—whether picking up someone else’s litter or sharing my testimony.

P = O Lord, may I have the faith to trust you as Mary did that day…and may I have the wisdom to obey you completely as the servants did that day…and Lord, might I be able to see your miraculous power at work!  Amen.