“Staying Near the Chariot”: A SOAP Journal Based on Acts 8

S = 8:26-31 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet.

The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

O = This man Phillip was one of the seven men chosen to “wait tables” so that the Hellenist (Greek-speaking Jews) widows got their fair share of the distribution of bread (6:1-7). Is it any surprise that we see this Spirit-filled man sharing the “bread” of the gospel of Jesus Christ with people of other cultures, even at great risk to himself (his co-worker Stephen had just been killed)? Saul’s persecution had scattered the Christians from Jerusalem and Philip went boldly preaching the gospel (lit., good news) not complaining about persecution (the bad news) and people paid attention (8:4-8). It seems that we rarely hear what the Spirit is saying when we are complaining. The Spirit-led witnessing of Phillip happens as he responds in trusting obedience to simple (but incomplete) instructions. Finally, God cared enough about a disabled Ethiopian accountant to send a special messenger to him. Not a stretch for a man who had ministered to both the overlooked (6:1-7) and the overwhelmed (8:4-8) to overtake the perplexed official and open the Word of God to him. Jesus is for everyone, but Jesus is also the only way. Transformational!

A = When the Spirit says “Go” why do I so often over-think and under-obey? If I want to be Spirit-led I must not only be quick to hear and obey what he says to all Christians through the Bible, and also willing to trust those small fragmentary promptings he speaks to my heart. By fragmentary I mean that rarely do we see the second and third steps until we take the first. How long do I need to run alongside this person’s chariot? The Spirit didn’t tell Phillip, so I guess that means as long as it takes. When can I share what I know? When I am asked to do so…until then I need to keep running beside the chariot! So, in my multi-cultural, multi-ethnic context, how willing am I to stay near another’s cultural “chariot”? Will I take the time to learn about them and to enter into authentic conversations concerning their questions about Christ? I hope so.

P = O Lord,  may I be quicker to obey your voice and patient to wait for the right moment to give an answer. May my interest and care for others make them thirsty enough  to ask for a drink and may my words be true to yours so that a cup of kindness grows into the baptism of a transformed life. Start the process in me today so that I have something truly good to share with others. Amen.

The Great Intermission: A SOAP Journal Based on Acts 1

S = Acts 1:4-8

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

O = As Christians we are familiar with the Great Commission where we are commanded to preach the gospel to the whole world (Matthew 28:19-20) but before the disciples could obey that command they had to obey the lesser-known command to wait in Jerusalem…which I call the Great Intermission (between the departure of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit in power). In Jesus' last conversation with his disciples before he ascended into heaven, he told his disciples that they were to wait for “the baptism with the Holy Spirit” (v.5) Jesus was not about to send them out into the world without the power they needed to fulfill their commission. They then had a charts-and-graphs kind of question about the prophesied restoration of Israel, but Jesus said that knowledge was “none of their business.” What they would get to experience was the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and the privilege of witnessing to people around the world about the resurrection of Christ. Note: Baptism (Greek word baptizo) carries the meanings of 1) Complete immersion in X, and 2) Total identification with X. This immersion in, and identification with, the Holy Spirit becomes a defining moment for us like Israel’s passage through the Red Sea.

A = Before I can effectively fulfill my commission to be a witness for Jesus Christ, I have to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. The task is too large, the distance too far, the need too great, the opposition too vehement, the labor too long, and the cost too high for my own limited resources. Moses once told God that he wouldn’t go into the Promised Land if the Lord himself didn’t go with them (Ex. 33:12-16). This passage in Acts 1, is the Lord making sure that his followers had the presence of God with them and in them before they began the journey appointed for them. This is a lesson I need to apply to my own life as well.

P = O Lord, like Moses, I don’t want to go anywhere without you. Certainly, I can’t go where you ask, in the way you ask, without the power of the Holy Spirit upon me. So I thank you for sending your promised Spirit to me and I ask you to fill me afresh each and every day. Holy Spirit I grant you full access to every area of my life. Gift me with what I need to love others well. Please produce visible evidence (fruit—Gal. 5:22-23) of your presence in my life that I might love and glorify you this week.   Amen.

A Spiritual Life: A SOAP Journal Based on Galatians 5

S = Galatians 5:16-18, 22-25

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

O = Walking is a common and appropriate metaphor for life. If we walk/live by the Spirit—if it is the Spirit that is operating in than through us—we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Here “flesh” is not used in the sense of the physical body but in the sense of the sinful self-will.  This chapter makes it clear that what is in us quickly shows in our attitudes and actions like some kind of spiritual Gatorade ad. The Spirit doesn’t lead us back under the law either (v.18) for there can be no limits placed on what the Spirit produces in us (v.22-23).

A = So what is oozing out of my life today, self or Spirit? Do I process life through the “I’ll-get-mine” or the “I’m his” approaches? Today I want to allow the Holy Spirit to simply do what he does—in me, and through me. I know I can’t produce spiritual fruit on my own. I confess that from the beginning. I simply say no to the sinful nature and say yes to the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:12-14)…but not out of some kind of sanctified self-effort. I desire to let the Spirit operate in me relationally…I want to walk with the Lord in response to his love for me. He is much better company than I can rustle up on my own (5:19-21)!

P = O Lord, you know how strange your ways seem to us as we walk in the midst of a world made toxic by our twisted desire to focus on ourselves. So please turn our hearts to see as you see, to think as you think, and to walk as you walk…together by the Spirit. Today I need to be filled afresh with your presence, not only for my sake but for my family’s sake, and ultimately for the sake of your good name. Lord, please detoxify my system again today and empower me to shape my culture for the sake of your kingdom.  Amen.

“Relational” A SOAP Journal Based on John 14 & Ephesians 4

S = John 14:15-17 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 

Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

O = Jesus, concerned for his followers as his time for death and departure drew near was that they might know that he wasn’t leaving them alone. The Father would at Jesus’ request provide the Holy Spirit (here called the Helper/Counselor; Greek “paraclete”) to dwell with them and in them. They would not be alone, but closer and more relational than ever before. This Spirit would bear witness of Jesus to them (John 15:26) and remind them of all Jesus had said (John 14:26)—think of the blessed memories that would be kindled in their hearts! The disciples were told to wait for the power of the Spirit to come (Acts 1:4) because they would not be able to be relational enough to change the world without God living in them. I include the seemingly negative command of Ephesians 4:30 in this devotional because it addresses this issue of relationship. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we separate ourselves from our relationship with him in our affections, our, thinking, and in our behavior. Such grieving of the Spirit is seen in how we relate to each other (v. 31-32).  

A = I know that there are times that I feel alone but through faith in Jesus Christ, I am not alone. The Father and the Son indwell me by the Holy Spirit! God is relational in his very being and has not pushed me away because of my sin. Instead, as an outpouring of his love, he has taken my sin upon himself so that I might be clothed in his righteousness. He has come to relate to me—yet I need to train myself to listen to his voice. The more I listen, the more I desire to obey in love and the less I desire to speak or do anything that would direct my heart away from his.  

P = O Lord, thanks for inviting me to be a part of your relationship of holy love. Open my ears to hear and believe what the Holy Spirit speaks to me today. Give me discernment to be able to separate your voice of love from the many deceptions and distractions of the world and my own will. May I not grieve the Spirit today, but embrace all that you have taught me and love you with all my heart…living not for myself.  And thank you for being my advocate when I fail (1 John 2:1). Amen.

With Glad & Generous Hearts: A SOAP Journal Based on Acts 2

S = Acts 2:42-47 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

O = When we are devoted to a teaching we do more than agree with it in our head. We seek to apply it to our lives. Their devotion to the apostles’ teaching led to a community of shared purpose. The worshipped together, prayed together, learned together, and ate together. Their sharing wasn’t some kind of hippy commune but what we would call a missional community. Their life was about living out the love of Christ together as witnesses in the world. What did this do to their attitude? They did what they did “with glad and generous hearts” not under compulsion or merely out of duty. Without true relational community they could not have accurately represented their Trinitarian God.

A = In our culture, we over-value individualism and self-effort. In other cultures there is more emphasis on the group and collective mission of the community. Such was the culture of the New Testament church. It seems that we need to think, feel, and function more as a community, a family, a whole body, rather than as a voluntary association of individuals. Perhaps we could even begin to look for collective applications of our Bible teachings, “What should we do as a result”, rather than just, “What will I do?” So collectively are we devoted to following Christ, and sharing life with glad and generous hearts? If so then our witness in the world will draw many to Christ.

P = O Lord, may I hear you speak through the teaching of the Bible and through the true community of your people. May I have the courage to be authentic and honest with you, and the wisdom to stay connected with a growing community of believers who are devoted to following you together. May you fill my heart with gladness and may your generous love overflow from my heart to others as we share life, learning, and the table in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

“Wait For It…” A SOAP Journal Based on Acts 1

S = Acts 1:4-5, 8 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

O = After the resurrection, during the forty days when Jesus appeared physically to the disciples, there was one meal where Jesus told them to wait…not for their food but for the coming of the Holy Spirit which would happen about a week after his ascension into heaven. They were specifically instructed to stay in Jerusalem until they had received the Holy Spirit in power.

Ironically, it was Pentecost, the feast celebrating the firstfruits (beginning of the early grain harvest), that God gave them the Holy Spirit as they became the firstfruits (Romans 8:23; 2 Thess. 2:13-14) of the Kingdom of God.

A = This passage forces me to consider how many times I go about my business, or even attempt to do the Lord’s work, in my own knowledge and power instead of that of the Holy Spirit. It can be very frustrating! However, God has not called us to frustration, but empowers us (Acts 1:8, Ch. 2), equips us (John 14:26; Eph. 3:16), and encourages us (Acts 9:31; Romans 8:6 & 16) in the promised Holy Spirit. However, I must “wait for it” but not in the same way they did. The Holy Spirit has been given, but I must “wait” in the sense of seeking the baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit in prayer and in humble confession of my need to the Lord each day. I can too easily be deceived into thinking I can do what I need to do on my own and miss out on the blessing of participating in God’s plan and power for the day.

P = O Lord, thank you for giving me your Spirit to me as a guarantee, a sign that you are in me as 1 John 4:13 reminds me. Thank you that you have provided the power I need to do the work and live the life to which you call me. I confess I can’t live up to it. In myself I have not the strength, the patience, nor the love I need and my family needs from me. I desperately need your mercies to be new every morning and for your Spirit to lead and empower me to follow in faith today that I might wait on you! Let me walk with you today in the Spirit! Amen.

“Worry Free”: A SOAP Journal Based on Matthew 6

S = Matthew 6:24-25 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

O = When people consider this well-known passage about not worrying or being anxious they usually start in verse 25. However, it is a good idea to take our clue from the first word of v. 25 “Therefore” and track back to the previous section to which it is referring (v.19-24). The passage that addresses our worries and anxiety is the result of the section that talks about the place of our investment and the person of our devotion. Having invested our life and our love wisely goes a long way towards reducing our circumstantial anxiety. The reader is encouraged to invest in heaven and be devoted to God not money because heaven is a sure deal and God values you, knows your needs, and will provide for you day by day as you seek him.

A = So I have to ask myself, what am I living for? Can it be taken away or is it beyond the reach of all grabbers, gobblers, and grunge? My heart will be where my treasure is. If it is in my hands then it is my job to protect it, preserve it, and polish it. That makes me a bit nervous. But if I realize that my true treasure, value, and legacy are in Christ then my devotion impacts the concerns that come my way. So if someone was to look at my bank statement what would it say about where my heart and devotion is? If I was to ask my friends what I am passionate about what would they say? My life doesn't consist of the things I have collected but of the love I have given.

P = O Lord, thank-you that when I trust you I have nothing to worry about. I know that I may face hard circumstances but it doesn't change who I am as your child. You love me more than I deserve and offer me a life and a future better than I can imagine. This week, show me how to love you more fully, to trust you more completely, and to walk patiently with you—taking this life one day at a time. Amen.