*Sunday: Isaiah 60:1-62:5; Philippians 1:27-2:18; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 24:11-12
*Monday: Isaiah 62:6-65:25; Philippians 2:19-3:3; Psalm 73:1-28; Proverbs 24:13-14
*Tuesday: Isaiah 66:1-24; Philippians 3:4-21; Psalm 74:1-23; Proverbs 24:15-16
*Wednesday: Jeremiah 1:1-2:30; Philippians 4:1-23; Psalm 75:1-10; Proverbs 24:17-20
*Thursday: Jeremiah 2:31-4:18; Colossians 1:1-17; Psalm 76:1-12; Proverbs 24:21-22
*Friday: Jeremiah 4:19-6:15; Colossians 1:18-2:7; Psalm 77:1-20; Proverbs 24:23-25
*Saturday: Jeremiah 6:16-8:7; Colossians 2:8-23; Psalm 78:1-31; Proverbs 24:26
This week's S.O.A.P. reflection is taken from Philippians:
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."
Observation:
When Jesus emptied himself of the privileges and prerogatives of Deity to become a human being and when he followed through on the Father's plan to give himself as a sacrifice for human sin on the cross, he achieved what theologians call "atonement"—a word whose meaning, at least in part, is suggested by its three components: "at-one-ment." When Jesus became a human being, lived a sinless life, and then took upon himself the punishment for sin by dying a sinner’s death, he achieved forgiveness for all who embrace him in saving faith. But there’s more to the atonement than forgiveness…
The atonement has as much to do with how we live now as it does about "going to heaven when we die."
In 2:6-11, the Apostle Paul quoted a hymn that the early church sang. It is one of the richest pieces of theology in the New Testament. (As a side note, I would point out that this passage shows us that deep theology can be taught through our songs and hymns…if we are intentional enough to use our music that way…a point that writers of sacred music in previous generations understood better than many of today's popular song writers.) After citing this rich reflection on Jesus' incarnation, life, death, and resurrection, Paul begins the next phrase with the word “therefore.”
In other words, everything Paul says in verses 12 and 13 about living a godly life is based on the atonement, which he expressed in the previous verses.
Application:
We are to live atonement lives. Our lives are to be living, breathing instances of at-one-ment with God. Paul explains how we do that. We "work out our salvation with fear and trembling," which does not mean that we are trying to earn salvation through our works. There is a world of difference between "working for" and "working out."
What does it mean to work out our salvation? It means that we learn to live our lives in union with God. Paul says in this passage that God is in us…willing and acting in ways to fulfill his good purpose. That's why there is "fear and trembling!" It is an awesome thing to be in union with the Living God!
The atonement of Jesus puts us at one with the God of the universe! When a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, he or she is filled with the Holy Spirit, which means that God takes up residence in that person…and he or she is never alone again!
Today I want to sit with the reality of the atonement and realize afresh that being "at one" with God makes all the difference in the world as to how I live.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, it is an awesome thing to be union with you, the Living God! Please help me not take that lightly. Teach me what you want of me as I seek to work out my salvation in harmony with you. Thank you so much that Jesus' atonement achieves the forgiveness of sin, for without that, I could not exist in your presence at all! But now that you have brought me into union with you, please help me to be sensitive to your promptings and to live a life of obedience and joy. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen!
Have a wonderful week in God's word!
Faithfully,
Chuck
