S.O.A.P.

Daily S.O.A.P Blog

4/3/2021

  • April 3, 2021

Scripture
‘You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. ‘
1 Corinthians 16:15-16  

Observation
The newly planted church in Achaia was young, but healthy. Paul is excitedly sharing the news about them with the church in Corinth, and he specifically mentions the very first converts at Achaia–those of the household of Stephanas.  The interesting thing is that Paul is not just writing to tell about a new convert that he won…rather, he is excited to share the news about the very first convert in Achaia…and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. They have ‘joined in the work’, and were ‘laboring at it’.  This tells me something about Paul’s approach in sharing the gospel. He wasn’t presenting the gospel in a begging, pleading way, hoping that someone would finally accept Jesus into their heart. Rather, he was sharing the gospel as the life-changing, transformative, earth-shaking, ‘big-deal’ that it truly is, in such a way that those who received it were also inspired to get in the game and share it with others. Paul was not just making new fans for ‘Team God’: he was training teammates.

Application
How do I present the gospel? Do I share God with people in a way that leaves them comfortably sitting on the sidelines, watching the game happen on the field in front of them? Do I share Christ in such a way that people stand and cheer at the right moments, then sit down with a plate of nachos to watch the action unfold?  Or do I instead share Christ in such a way that draws people off the sidelines and onto the field where we can dump a jug of Gatorade over their head in celebration, and then link arms together with them for the next play? Do I present our Lord as the life-altering, awesome Savior, who has transformed my life, will transform your life too, and deserves to be shared with those in your circle also?
I want to share God that second way, with urgency and with energy. 


Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder of the power of your gospel. Not just power to get people to grudgingly admit to your existence, but rather power to radically transform lives and set people on fire for you. Help me to not just be a marketing manager who creates new fans for your team, but instead that I would be a recruiter who draws people into the team to join forces with us in sharing your Good News with the world!  Help me this week to share your gospel with the urgency that it deserves. Help me to be watchful for opportunities and conversations where you are giving me an open door to share your good news with others.

-Trenton Johnson

3/13/2021

  • March 13, 2021

Scripture

‘However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.

 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. ‘

Deuteronomy 15:4-5,7-8

https://my.bible.com/bible/111/DEU.15.4-5,7-8

Observation

God promised the Israelites that He would bless them so richly, that no one among them would have reason to be poor. His blessings were not going to be adequate, they would be abundant. Immediately after this promise though, He says ‘If anyone is poor…be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need’.

God’s supply was abundant, as long as his distribution chain kept flowing.

Application

God’s love for me is without limit, and without expectation. While ‘I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me’. God has called me to love with the same measure, and without qualification or expectation of return. His supply is infinite, but I can become the limiting factor in God’s supply of blessing to those around me if I don’t keep my heart aligned with His.

God’s command to the Israelites to ‘be openhanded and freely lend’, implies that they had already received something abundantly into their hands, with which to bless others.

What has God given me? In my life, there are specific areas in which I can see abundance. It has been said that God asks us to give of our time, our talent, and our treasure. I may not be blessed equally in each of these areas, but God’s abundance is present in my life if I take the time to notice it. God has not given me these things for me to just sit on them like a dragon jealously guarding his pile of gold. Rather, God has entrusted them to me so that He can bless others through me. When the body of Christ is operating in health and in love, there is no reason for lack.

Prayer

God, thank you for your abundant supply in my life! Thank you that your resources are without measure, and your love for me is without limit. Help me to keep my heart aligned with yours, so that I can be a free-flowing conduit of your blessing instead of a stagnant catchment tank. Help me to notice those around me that you wish to bless through me, so that your abundance can flow in their life also. When I am on the receiving end of that same blessing from others, Help me to be humble so that my pride would cost me the blessings that you wish to give me.

-Trenton Johnson

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