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 heads. We seek to apply it to our lives. Their devotion to the apostles’ teaching led to a community of shared purpose. They 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 do not have the strength, the patience, or 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 lives 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 were to look at my bank statement, what would it say about where my heart and devotion are? If I were 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.

Joy & Peace: A SOAP Journal Based on Philippians 4

S = Phil. 4:4-7 

^“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

O = This is one of the best-known passages from the epistles. This is an amazingly joyful letter that Paul wrote from a dungeon while facing certain execution to a church that began in persecution (Acts 16). Paul knew that it was in the times of suffering that you really experienced the presence of God. He was an expert in facing difficult circumstances (2 Cor. 11:23-28). So when Paul speaks about what to do in hard times, I want to listen, and this passage readily yields several observations:

• Like Paul, we too should rejoice in the Lord, for he is always the same and a valid reason for joy.
• In our stress, we should not treat others unreasonably or unkindly because the Lord is really near.
• Instead of wasting time worrying, it would be a better use of my time to pray about everything.
• The prayer of faith gives thanks by remembering how God has been faithful in the past. It is also thankful in advance for the answers to our current prayers.
• When I choose to trust Jesus with all my concerns, his peace will guard my inmost thoughts and feelings, no matter how crazy my situation.

A = So when I read this passage, its application seems very clear to me. Take what Paul says seriously and lighten up by focusing on what is true about the Lord. Am I rejoicing in the Lord today? Am I treating others as though Jesus were right with us or would enter the room at any moment? Am I choosing to worry or to pray? Am I filled with gratitude to the Lord today? Do I sense his peace, a peace that makes no sense in my situation, but I am experiencing it nonetheless? Today I choose to direct my gaze upon the Lord more than upon my problems, and I am thankful for the peaceful perspective it brings!

P = O Lord, you are and have always been a faithful God! I delight in your nearness and ask you to help me to treat others as if they were a gift from you. Help me to continue to bring all my concerns to you, for you are the one who can change things, and when things don’t change, you change me into one who can trust you in the dark as well as in the light. Thank you for protecting my soul with your peace! Amen.

Let Us Rise Up and Build: A SOAP Journal Based on Nehemiah 2

S = Nehemiah 2:12-13, 17-19

Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire…

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us…”

O = Nehemiah didn’t just feel bad about the condition of Jerusalem; he thought about what to do, then got permission from the king to repair the wall. After traveling from Persia to Jerusalem, he carefully inspected the wall without outside interference and then cast the vision for the rebuilding project. In those days, the wall of a city was very important to the security and liberty of the residents. Without a city wall, even their worship in the rebuilt temple was at the mercy of their hostile neighbors. Also, I observe that they had to “strengthen their hands for the good work.” Good work isn’t usually easy. It involves investigation, planning, vision, community partnership, commitment, skill, vigilance, and endurance. There will often be rubble and rubbish from past failures that need to be cleared away. There will also be seasons of opposition by those who hate the people and purposes of God. Adverse circumstances are no indicator of God’s will. Nehemiah enjoyed both good and bad circumstances in this same project to which he was called.

A = What is it that troubles my heart (in a good way) to want to make a difference? What project is it that the Lord is calling me to do? Where are the Lord’s people being shamed and oppressed? Where are my brothers and sisters feeling insecure, defeated, and discouraged? Perhaps the answer to all these questions is the same. How can I partner with others to better represent the love and truth of God to the world? I need this be a week of investigation and revelation!

P = O Lord, you know what needs to be done to make the world more like it should be. You also know that it is completely outside my strength and ability to even make a dent in the task. I thank you that you do not call us to a life of futility, but give us the power (by the Word and the Holy Spirit) to faithfully do what you have asked. May I trust in your leading and empowering presence this week, and may you be glorified as a result. Help me to clean and build plumb in every area of my life today. Amen.

Conviction, Condemnation, & Casting: A SOAP Journal based on John 21

S = John 21:3-7 

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

O = Despite his protests (Matthew 26:33-35), Peter had denied Jesus three times on the night Jesus was arrested. This betrayal was sealed with the eye contact of Luke 22:60-62. Peter went outside and wept bitterly. But now that Jesus was risen, how would Peter respond in light of his great failure—in conviction or condemnation?

Would he give in to the temptation to flee from his Lord and his calling like Jonah had done centuries earlier, or would he draw near and share breakfast with the risen Jesus? Jonah had given up on God, but God hadn't given up on him...and restored him to his office of prophet. Peter may have given up on Christ, but Christ Jesus had not given up on Peter. Our sin does not disqualify us from coming to Jesus. We have all sinned and need Jesus, but the devil tries to use our past to keep us from the future that Jesus has for us.

• Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit and drives us to Jesus in confession and repentance.
• Condemnation comes from the devil and drives us away from Jesus in hopelessness and cynicism.

To which voice are we listening? To what experience are we yielding? The answer is revealed by the direction we are moving...towards Jesus, or away from Jesus.

Here on a fishing trip, Jesus met Peter and restored him to his original calling (fisher of men) with a miracle amazingly similar to the first (Luke 5:1-11). But something had changed with Peter. He no longer tried to withdraw from Jesus (Luke 5:8) but cast himself (ironically) into the water—like he would have cast a net—in an effort to get to Jesus more quickly.

A = Do I think that Jesus needs to hang back from me because of my weakness, failures, and even the intentional sins of my past, or do I hear his voice of love calling me to come and share breakfast with him? My job is not to clean myself, but having been cleaned and fed by Jesus, I am—like Peter—to feed Jesus sheep. I am saved by grace and restored by the love of God poured out in my heart by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). This week, I need to do all I can to spend time with my risen Lord!

P = O Lord, may I learn to follow your plan for my life without debating what I will and will not do. You know me better than I know myself, and yet you love me still—I am humbled by the magnitude of your love. I pray that the light of your love and acceptance dawn in my life each morning. May I be strengthened to face the future as a faithful servant…even unto death should that be the valley through which we will pass, for in your resurrection I can see that there is life on the other side as long as I am with you! May your resurrection power remake my life each day as I follow you! Amen.        

Hung Up Over Bitterness: A SOAP Journal Based on Esther 5

S = Esther 5:9-11, 13-14 

And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him … Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.” Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made…to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made. 

O = Haman had all the wealth, power, and honor one could ever hope to receive in Persia, but he allowed bitterness towards Mordecai to get the better of him. His statement in v.13 seems ludicrous, but it was true. If he couldn’t force Mordecai to fear him and honor him, then life was not worth living. It was such a powerful personal bitterness that Haman could not enjoy all of his many blessings. It was the audacity of Mordecai’s failure to treat Haman like a god that perhaps opened the door of Haman’s memory to a deeper, centuries-old bitterness that of the Amalekites and the Israelites (1 Samuel 15). Haman was descended from an Amalekite king, and Mordecai was related to King Saul. Because of Saul’s failure, Haman was now, 400-500 years later, in a position to wipe out the whole Jewish race. However, by God’s providence and Mordecai and Esther’s humility and courage, Haman was hanged from his own gallows—truly hung up on bitterness.

A = Are there certain areas of frustration that prevent me from enjoying my friends, family, possessions, and reputation in the community with which God has blessed me? Or do I somehow think I am owed something more? Something that I can’t let go of and must deal with my own way—badda-bing, badda-boom! Are there times when I am too quick to listen to bad advice from others or from my own ambition? This week, I choose to forgive rather than fester, to confess rather than complain, and give honor rather than seek it.

P = O Lord, you know my every failure and yet in your love, you forgive me. Help me this week to forgive others in your name. Do not give me up to the fires of bitterness, but enable me to humbly bless even those who love me not. I cannot do it on my own, my love is too small—but yours is not. May you be glorified in how I think of and treat others this week. Amen.