S.O.A.P.

Daily S.O.A.P Blog

Seeing the Unseen

  • November 16, 2021
Scripture
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 
Observation
When everything around me seems to be falling apart, it can be easy to lose heart. When challenges rise, when health fails, when tragedy strikes, discouragement is usually not far behind. Paul however instructs us to “fix our eyes…on what is unseen.” How do we choose to see what is unseen? By choosing to put our faith and our hope in the unseen savior. Though physical and “seen” challenges rise, He is achieving His glory in us as we steadfastly put our trust in Him. 
Application
Seasons keep changing. Some seasons are easy, some are hard. Some feel joyful, other seasons would try to drag me down. If I allow the condition and health of my heart to be dictated by my present circumstance, then I’ll find myself on a never-ending emotional roller coaster. My attention and my heart must be firmly fixed on the solid rock, so that He can accomplish the things that he desires in me. The truth is that the emotional roller coaster will someday end, along with all other things of this world–and all that will remain is the relationship that I have built with my savior.
Prayer
God, thank you for being steadfast and constant no matter the circumstance or present obstacle. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on you and give you my heart, so that I would not lose heart when difficulties rise. 
 
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Reliance

  • November 15, 2021

Scripture
2 Corinthians 1:9
“Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” 
Observation
God desires me to rely on Him. At times in life He will allow me to face impossible circumstances, so that I will be reminded to lean on His strength. His intention is not to crush me or destroy me, but rather to teach me the true magnitude of His strength and power. 
Application
I must choose to rely on God. The inescapable truth is that I must rely on God, so why fight it and pretend that I can make it through on my own strength?
This week, I need to decide daily to rely on Him. Through every circumstance and every decision, He must be my first reaction- not my last resort. 
Prayer
God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for being my source of strength, when my own strength runs out. Teach me daily to rely on You, and thank you for being the Savior who conquered death! 

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Being the Body

  • November 11, 2021

Scripture
1 Corinthians 11:20-22
“So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper you eat. For when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!” 
Observation
Our time together as the Body of Christ is more than just social time, or a chance to get together and hang out with our clique. It is a sacred time for us to “be” the body, and to “function” as a body. It is a time for us to feed those who are hungry, heal those who are hurting, love those who are lonely, and provide for those facing poverty.
We glorify God, by taking care of His body. 
Application
Paul was concerned about those slipping through the cracks in the church at Corinth. It’s easy to show up at church and love on those that I’m closest to, but what about the rest? Do I take the time to show Christ’s love to the whole Body, or merely to those that I’m closest to?
This week, I need to keep my eyes open to see the needs, and meet the needs around me. We are each members of the Body, and I want Christ to be glorified in the way that I treat his Body.  
Prayer
God, thank you for the Body of Christ! Thank you for my church ohana, and the blessing that they are to me. Help me to honor you in the way I treat your Body, so none of your children would slip through the cracks due to my inattention. Thank you for empowering each of us, to be a blessing to those around us. 

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Home Responsibilities

  • November 10, 2021

Scripture
1 Corinthians 7:32-34a
“I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs-how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world-how he can please his wife-and his interests are divided. 
Observation
Paul is dealing in this passage with the urgent danger of the time in which he wrote this letter.  But the lesson he gives here, applies to all seasons and times. God knows that marriage takes work–He created it that way!  It would be un-biblical to interact with ministry with the same level of focus and intensity as an unmarried man, for a man who is married. It is honoring to God, for a husband to exert time and effort in pursuing a healthy marriage-even when that means that boundaries on ministry are required. 
Application
God wants me to take my marriage seriously. God created the family, and he has put the responsibility in my hands of exerting my time and attention to strengthen my marriage. Not merely to “provide for” my wife, but also to “please” my wife. Within the bounds of scripture, my efforts to please my wife…also please God. 
Prayer
God, thank you for my wife! Thank you for the blessing and support that she is to me. Help me to always be faithful to the responsibility of taking care of her and being a blessing to her, and not settle for merely bringing home a paycheck. 

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Right and Responsibilities

  • November 9, 2021

Scripture
1 Corinthians 4:20, 6:19-20
4:20 – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power”
6:19-20 – “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 
Observation
The gospel is more than merely nice and pleasant words. It is the power of God at work in our lives When we say all the “right things” but our lives do not honor God, we put ourselves in opposition against God. We bring honor to God, by walking in the power of the gospel–toward God, and away from sinful desires. 
Application
The power of the gospel gives me the ability and the choice to bring honor to God with my actions-not merely my words. I have the “freedom” to choose however I please…but I do not have the “right” to choose my way instead of God’s. He made me, He bought me, He saved me, He owns me…and He loves me.
This week, I choose to walk in the power of the gospel, and bring honor to my savior with the decisions that I make each day. 
Prayer
God, thank you that your Good News is not mere words–it is your power at work in my life, empowering me to live in a way that is pleasing to You. I choose to live my life with your help, in such a way as to bring You honor. 

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In Our Midst

  • November 8, 2021

Scripture
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. 
Observation
Heavy words! God not only dwells in each of us, He dwells “in our midst”. Our unity as the Body of Christ invites the presence of God and creates a temple for Him to inhabit. Through disunity and petty squabbling, we destroy that temple and drive away God’s presence. Unity in the family of God is not just a good idea, it is sacred. 
Application
God cares about unity. The church is His body- and when we become agents of discord in that body, we are in truth rejecting God himself. If I want to experience the presence of God, then I need to become a facilitator of unity, not an agent of discord. This week, I need to look for opportunities to protect the unity of the body. 
Prayer
God, thank you for your presence! Thank you for the privilege of being part of your body. Help me this week to promote and protect the unity of your body, so that your holy presence will always feel at home in our midst. 

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Gospel Actions

  • November 5, 2021
Scripture
Galatians 2:9-10
“James, Cephas, and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. 
Observation
Showing Christ’s love in practical ways is a Big Deal. Paul and Barnabas had a completely different focus in ministry than the apostles in Jerusalem, and there were many opportunities for them to have division–indeed, Paul and Peter did have conflicts on various occasions. But they agreed together that despite the difference in mission and focus, they must remain in unity on the subject of showing Christ’s love to the world in practical ways. Cultural differences meant that Paul’s ministry looked very different than the apostles’ ministry–and yet there were hurting people in great need, no matter the place and no matter the culture.
Love is the universal language of the Gospel. 
Application
In ministry today, there are many things we can focus on. We can focus on evangelizing, on teaching, on kids, on men, on women, on students, or on kupuna. We can focus on this culture, or that culture. We can focus on this town, or that region.  But the one thing that remains constant through it all, is that our world is full of hurting people who need to be shown the love of our savior in very practical ways–because truly, they won’t care about what we have to say…until they know that we care about them. 
Today, I need to keep my eyes open to see the opportunities to show Christ’s love to those around me. Sometimes that will be with an encouraging text or a phone call–but sometimes it also means showing love with $20 for gas, and a plate lunch from L&L’s.
Prayer
God, help me to love people like you do. Not only with my words, but also with my actions. Help me to see the opportunities you’ve placed around me, for me to be your hands and feet to a world that needs to know you.  Thank you for loving me enough to express your love with your actions.
 
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Taking Notice

  • November 4, 2021

Scripture
Mark 15:43-44
“Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.”
Observation
Pilate was the one who passed judgement on Jesus, and turned him over to be crucified. It seems like that would have been on Pilate’s radar to keep tabs on the crucifixion as it unfolded, but he apparently didn’t even give it a second thought. To him, Jesus was just another average criminal that deserved to die, and didn’t deserve a second glance. The miracle of salvation was unfolding in front of him, and he never even noticed. 
Application
God is at work in my life, and all around me. He is accomplishing the things He desires, whether or not I am taking the time to notice. If I am not mindful of His presence, I will miss the miracles taking place around me. I want to live in such a way as to see what God is doing! Not disregarding His presence as average or common, but taking the time to notice and recognize what he is doing. 
Prayer
God, thank you for your presence in my life! Help me to see you at work, and not live life so casually that I miss seeing what you are doing right in front of me! 

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Don’t Panic!

  • November 3, 2021

Scripture
Mark 13:3-4
“As Jesus was sitting on the mount of olives, opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” 
Observation
The disciples were alarmed at what Jesus prophesied about the destruction of the temple, and they asked Jesus for more data: “When will this happen?”
Jesus gave them some more information, but more than that his answer also gave them wisdom about what to “do” with the information they’d been given. 
Application
It’s not enough to merely have Godly knowledge. I also need wisdom to apply that knowledge in a Godly way. When God reveals knowledge to me, it is for a purpose. If I apply that knowledge in the wrong way, then the result will not be what God desires.
Perhaps God simply wants me to pray over the situation–or maybe he wants me to confront hidden sin. Perhaps he desires me to get personally involved and be part of the solution to the problem, or maybe he’s simply giving me advance warning of a problem for my own safety.
I need to daily pray for wisdom to apply my knowledge in the right way, so that God would be glorified. 
Prayer
God, thank you for giving me every resource I need! Thank you for revealing the knowledge to me that I need each day–but help me to always apply that knowledge in the right way. Help me today, to walk in your wisdom so that you would be glorified in me. 

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By What Authority

  • November 2, 2021

Scripture
Mark 11:28,32
“By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”
They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet. 
Observation
The Jewish leaders didn’t know what to do with Jesus. He had boldly disrupted their money-making schemes and the status quo at the temple. Though they held a certain place of authority in the temple, they had in reality abdicated their responsibilities and authority, because they were living in a state of fear of what the people would think. Jesus upended their illusion of power because he did not let public opinion sway him from his purpose and calling, given to him by the Father. 
Application
It’s easy to get distracted by the opinions of others When God is not the primary focus, public opinion can become the default replacement. Whether through validation or criticism, people have an effect on us. Instead of chasing the ever-changing target of public opinion, I need to maintain the single-minded focus that Jesus displayed. His submission to the Father gave him confidence instead of fear. His submission to the Father gave him a place of authority. His submission to the Father gave him the ability to boldly influence every person in the crowd around him, because they were not his source of power.
This week, I need to follow my Father. 
Prayer
God, thank you for adopting me as your son! Thank you that you are constant and unchanging. Help me to walk daily in submission to Your authority, as I walk in Your ways. Thank you for fulfilling your plans and purposes in my life, as I follow you. 

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You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/

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