Sunday, May 26, 2013

Week 22: Pure Motives

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:
  • Sunday: 2 Samuel 9:1-11:27, John 15:1-27, Psalm 119:49-64, Proverbs 16:1-3
  • Monday: 2 Samuel 12:1-31, John 16:1-33, Psalm 119:65-80, Proverbs 16:4-5
  • Tuesday: 2 Samuel 13:1-39, John 17:1-26, Psalm 119:81-96, Proverbs 16:6-7
  • Wednesday: 2 Samuel 14:1-15:22, John 18:1-24, Psalm 119:97-112, Proverbs 16:8-9
  • Thursday: 2 Samuel 15:23-16:23, John 18:25-19:22, Psalm 119:113-128, Proverbs 16:10-11
  • Friday: Samuel 17:1-29, John 19:23-42, Psalm 119:129-152, Proverbs 16:12-13
  • Saturday: 2 Samuel 18:1-19:10, John 20:1-31, Psalm 119:153-176, Proverbs 16:14-15
Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the book of Proverbs and the gospel of John:

Scripture:

Proverbs 16:1-3
1 We can gather our thoughts, but the LORD gives the right answer. 2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives. 3 Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed.
John 15:3
You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you.
Observation:
Today's SOAP from Proverbs 16, written by Solomon, could very well apply to the story of his father David and his mother Bathsheba, as recorded in today's scripture reading from 2 Samuel 11. David had gathered his thoughts, had made a plan to cover up his sins, and may have even thought he was pure in his own eyes. However, the LORD gave him the right answer through the prophet Nathan after examining David's true motives. The end of 2 Samuel 11:27 says:
But the LORD was very displeased with what David had done.
Application:
I can't tell you how many times I thought I had pure motives, but was blind to some of the 'negative side effects' that my motives caused for others. The LORD examines our hearts and checks our true motives, so it's good to ask yourself: "what is my true motive here, and does it line up with God's will?" When I read John 15 versus 1:2 this morning, it made me wonder if God would need to "prune" me. Then I read verse 3, where Jesus says: "You have already been pruned by the message I have given you." What a great comfort! If I listen and obey Jesus' commandments (such as John 15 verse 9 and 10), I don't need extra pruning! How can I check that my motives are pure and aligned with God's will? By following Jesus commandments, the greatest of which is to 'love others'.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that you convict me of any wrong motives through your Holy Spirit. Help to stay pure in thoughts and actions, and that everything I do is aligned with your will, and your Son's commandment of loving one another. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a great week of reading and SOAPing!

In Christ,

Dick

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Week 21: Regcognizing the Right Voice

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:
  • Sunday: 1 Samuel 24:1-25:44, John 10:22-42, Psalm 116:1-19, Proverbs 15:20-21
  • Monday: 1 Samuel 26:1-28:25, John 11:1-54, Psalm 117:1-2, Proverbs 15:22-23
  • Tuesday: 1 Samuel 29:1-31:13, John 11:55-12:19, Psalm 118:1-18, Proverbs 15:24-26
  • Wednesday: 2 Samuel 1:1-2:11, John 12:20-50, Psalm 118:19-29, Proverbs 15:27-28
  • Thursday: 2 Samuel 2:12-3:39, John 13:1-30, Psalm 119:1-16, Proverbs 15:29-30
  • Friday: 2 Samuel 4:1-6:23, John 13:31-14:14, Psalm 119:17-32, Proverbs 15:31-32
  • Saturday: 2 Samuel 7:1-8:18, John 14:15-31, Psalm 119:33-48, Proverbs 15:33
Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the book of 1 Samuel and the gospel of John:

Scripture: 1 Samuel 25:40-41
40 When the messengers arrived at Carmel, they told Abigail, "David has sent us to ask if you will marry him." 41 She bowed low to the ground and responded, "Yes, I am even willing to become a slave to David's servants!"
John 10:26-27 "26 But you don't believe me because you are not part of my flock. 27 My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
Observation:
Nabal was a fool with a beautiful and smart wife (I know what you're thinking here... that could be me at times ;). Even though David has protected him and his servants and flocks, he insults David and his men. David is ready to take vengeance in his own hands, if it wasn't for the sensible Abigail. Today's verse in Proverbs 15:21 says:
"Foolishness brings joy to those who have no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path."
This verse very much applied to Nabal and Abigail! What struck me in this passage is the fact that Abigail is ready to leave all her wealth behind and become the wife of a chased-after ragtag band leader. How can that be? Well, Abigail recognizes that David is God's chosen shepherd. She recognizes that he will lead the LORD's people and become the chief-shepherd of His flock. As Jesus says in John 10: "My sheep recognize my voice", so Abigail recognizes God's voice through David and wants to follow him.

Application:
I want to become sensible like Abigail, to recognize the voice of the Shepherd in the midst of a dire situation. I want to be forward looking to the time when he will come back to earth a second time, to judge the Nabals of this world, and to gather his flock to take part in the wedding feast.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, give me 'sense' like Abigail had, and help me to avoid the foolishness and selfishness that Nabal displayed. I want to hear your voice and follow you alone. In Jesus Name, the chief Shepherd. Amen.

Today Pentecost is celebrated across the world, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I pray that you may be filled with a holy fire that truly transforms your life. Have a great week.

In Christ,

Dick

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Week 20: Staying Tuned

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:
  • Sunday: 1 Samuel 12:1-13:23; John 7:1-30; Psalm 108:1-13; Proverbs 15:4
  • Monday: 1 Samuel 14:1-52; John 7:31-53; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 15:5-7
  • Tuesday: 1 Samuel 15:1-16:23; John 8:1-20; Psalm 110:1-7; Proverbs 15:8-10
  • Wednesday: 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4; John 8:21-30; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 15:11
  • Thursday: 1 Samuel 18:5-19:24; John 8:31-59; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 15:12-14
  • Friday: 1 Samuel 20:1-21:15; John 9:1-41; Psalm 113:1-114:8; Proverbs 15:15-17
  • Saturday: 1 Samuel 22:1-23:29; John 10:1-21; Psalm 115:1-18; Proverbs 15:18-19
Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the Gospel of John:

Scripture: John 7:25-27
"Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, 'Isn't this the man they are trying to kill? But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.'"

Observation:

This is the reasoning of unbelief. The crowd of people gathered in Jerusalem for this feast day had heard much of Jesus' teachings and miracles. But they were applying logic, which was flawed by incorrect assumptions, to determine whether they should accept Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah. Jesus was, they incorrectly assumed, too "ordinary" to be the Messiah.

Application:
Jesus wants to meet us amid the ordinary circumstances of life, but sometimes we don't see him because we are expecting only to encounter him outside our normal routines. When we start our day, we often proceed with our "Jesus Detection System" in the off position because we assume he won't be showing up amid the normal events or our lowly lives. Yet that's exactly where he most often meets us!

My goal this week is to stay tuned when I am about my daily routines...because that's exactly where I should expect to encounter Jesus.

Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for meeting us in the ordinary events of life. Please help me stay tuned in and constantly expectant. I do not want to miss a single instance in which Jesus would be present to me. I pray in his name. Amen!

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Week 19: Unlikely Disciples

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:
  • Sunday: Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22; John 4:4-42; Psalm 105:1-15; Proverbs 14:25
  • Monday: Ruth 2:1-4:22; John 4:43-54; Psalm 105:16-36; Proverbs 14:26-27
  • Tuesday: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21; John 5:1-23; Psalm 105:37-45; Proverbs 14:28-29
  • Wednesday: 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22; John 5:24-47; Psalm 106:1-12; Proverbs 14:30-31
  • Thursday: 1 Samuel 5:1-7:17; John 6:1-21; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 14:32-33
  • Friday: 1 Samuel 8:1-9:27; John 6:22-42; Psalm 106:32-48; Proverbs 14:34-35
  • Saturday: 1 Samuel 10:1-11:15; John 6:43-71; Psalm 107:1-43; Proverbs 15:1-3
Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the Gospel of John:

Scripture: John 4:39-41
"Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, 'He told me everything I ever did!' When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe."

Observation:
It is impossible to overstate the surprise the disciples must have experienced when they witnessed the Samaritans' openness to the Jewish Messiah! The Jews in Jesus’ day had absolutely no regard for this people group. But Jesus saw something his disciples did not...he saw a people with a yearning to walk with God more closely, a people that had the potential to become faithful disciples of the Way.

Application:
I want to make sure that I do not write off anybody when it comes to the Gospel of Jesus Christ! If Jesus was willing to take the time to talk to this unlikely disciple – a woman from an unbelieving people group…and a person who had been divorced and remarried multiple times and was now living with a man outside of marriage – how can I do anything different?

Prayer:
Father in Heaven, please help me to have the same willingness that Jesus displayed when it comes to sharing the Way with others. I want to be your faithful witness and avail myself of every opportunity you place before me to share your message of love and redemption with others. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen!

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck