SOAP: leaving behind the things of men

S - And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said,“Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” — Mark 8:32-33 (ESV)

O - Jesus spoke plainly to those who recognized him as God's promised rescuer and ruler. Even then, they did not see clearly what God was up to. They still thought in human terms about 'the good life' and 'how to get it.' The sacrifice and loss of life was unthinkable, ungodly, in their perspective. But completely necessary for their salvation. If they clung to the 'things of man' they would end up REALLY dead. But, if they willfully and deliberately died to the things of man they would REALLY live.

A - What would I have sought to rebuke Jesus about? "Surely not this my Lord!" "You've got it all wrong Jesus!" "This isn't how its suppossed to be!" How am I saying that to him now?

P - Lord you have bigger purposes than I have in mind. You are, and know, the way to life. You help us with each step of our healing and growth. You guard us from totally derailing your purposes. Help me submit to you and your way. I want to learn from you how to steward my life and leave behind the thinking and things of men.

SOAP: deliberate belief

S - While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue,“Do not fear, only believe." — Mark 5:35-36 (ESV)

O - In the eyes of the people Jairus' situation was 'over.' There wasn't anything Jesus/God could do. Best to not bother him with something so final. Yet, Jesus is bigger than death. From the perspective of God the finality of death is just sleep. Jesus invites Jairus and his disciples to have this heavenly perspective, believing God is not finished when things are way beyond us and our finite expectations.

I also notice how everything in Mark happens 'immediately.' I notice that this happens 'with haste' with Herod's daughter (Mark 6:25). There is something deliberate about Jesus and the Spirit. Including 'leisure,' 'solitude,' eating and 'prayer' (Mark 6:31, 46) There is something rushed, hurried, and foolish about earthly 'kings.' Rushing leads you to decisions and actions you never wanted or believed you would choose. Deliberately living leads to health, compassion, action, concern for others, and a single-mindedness about God's purposes.

A - Perhaps this is a season of "sleep." A time to learn this kind of deliberate living. Deliberate belief that it is God's good pleasure to give us the kingdom (a heavenly reality) in the midst of our circumstances (an earthly perspective). When Jesus leads the disciples into rest (6:31) the word "leisure" can also mean "convenient time." It seems this is a "convenient time" to learn about deliberate belief.

P - Lord, its impossible to ignore how this speaks to my desperation this morning. Bills. Work. Purpose. Health. Life. These things seem to be in a... 'dead' kind of place (not actually dead, but not moving from an earthly perspective). Yet, the sense that I get is that this is a season of "sleep." What would you like to say to about this:

Do not be afraid. Just believe. Believe the promises of your Heavenly Father. He knows what you need and it is his pleasure to give you the kingdom.

SOAP: loving obedience

S - "but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful"... And he said to them,“Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you"... And he said,“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how." — Mark 4:19, 24, 26-27 (ESV)

O - Jesus is framing the Kingdom of God for his new apostles. He speaks to how hearts respond to the good news. He speaks to being attentive to the word. He speaks to the work of spreading the word. There will be a number of obstacles to the fruit of the gospel, your heart is central to them. You cares and affections matter. Pay attention to your receptivity to the word. For this will help you notice whether your cares & affections are for God and his Kingdom. Spread the word faithfully, harvest when its time, and do not get caught up in the rest of the process, this is the Lord's work.

A - I'm nervous about things... Mostly money I guess. Maybe also how others perceive my life. My response to money is to ignore it. My response to others' opinions is to fret about it. I hear a call back to being anxious about God's will. Yet, also a reminder about the grace of God's work in my life. He freely has given, and I can freely obey. This frees me from anxiously obeying God in order to get something I am desiring (or anxious about). Obedience was not why God loved me or freely gave me grace. He loves me as a Beloved Son. I respond with loving obedience to a gracious and good Dad who cares for me well.

P - Lord, thank you for changing my cares and affections so I can lovingly respond in obedience. Keep up the good work. Help me not get caught up in the deceit that money will make my life okay and its all I am missing. I know I have plenty with you as my Father. So thanks for loving me Dad and taking care of me along the way.

SOAP: man of the word

S - Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. — Acts 27:11 (ESV)

Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. — Acts 17:21 (ESV)

O - Bereans and Athenians. These people had different ways of shaping their worldview. Bereans were shaped by daily study of the Scriptures. Athenians were shaped by seeking out what was 'new.'

A - I am struck by the way that I, and other Christians, can be so easily swayed by the 'new' ideas about Christianity and how to read the Bible without actually studying the Bible. This week I have been lax in studying the Bible daily. I have scanned daily reading, but rarely reflected deeply or returned to what God was saying. I want to be a man marked by an eagerness to study the Bible to see if 'these things were so.'

P - Lord, forgive me for treating your word lightly this week. I'm thankful for the multiple opportunities to study the Bible with people each week. Increase my eagerness for your word. Help me return to your word to shape me and my view of the world.

SOAP: immediate adaptability

S - And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. — Acts 16:10 (ESV)

O - Immediately. The early church seems so quick to adapt to what God is calling them to. Even when there are 'religious' people who aren't quite ready for the change. The Spirit opens a door, closes a door, blocks a door, leads in a different direction...

A - I sense your call to move quickly... But I don't feel I yet have a team like Paul's where they all reach the same conclusions about where the Spirit is leading. Pray for your team, they are more ready than you know.

P - Lord grant me/us visions that unite us in the same calling. That lead to the growth of your church where others are added to you.

SOAP: bigger grace

S - When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. — Acts 11:23-24 (ESV)

O - Barnabas, as a man of the Spirit, enjoyed the grace of God that went further than anyone expected or was comfortable with. Was it because of this unexpected turn that Barnabas specifically reminded them to be steadfastly faithful? Because of God's grace, and Barnabas' encouragement, a great number of people were added to God. Added to the Lord... As if adding was not adding to the 'church' for its sake, but adding to the Lord for his sake.

A - God's grace is bigger than I expected. More are able to be added to the Lord than I ever thought. And they are added not to a plan, organization, etc... But to the Lord. Even Gentiles, those who are 'surely' out

P - Blow up my vision of you, your grace, and your church.

SOAP: be ready

S - You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. — Acts 7:51 (ESV)

O - There is a pattern of resistance against the Spirit. But in contrast Stephen is a man of the Spirit. Who knows how he is marked as such before he is appointed a Deacon. Afterwards he shares the gospel in word and deed. Outside his 'job description' with the widows. The Spirit works outside our expectations and structures.

A - Lord what do you want me to learn from this?
Be ready in season and out of season for the Spirit to move. I have more in store than any plan, vision, or structure than you can think of.

P - Help me be ready Jesus. Thank you for your patience with me.

SOAP: kingdom rewards

S - And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life." — Luke 18:29-30 (ESV)

O - Entry into the Kingdom of God will cost all that you once held dear. The disciples rightly wonder, "Then who can really be saved?" But what is impossible for men is possible for God. He will work in our lives to remove all our idols.

A - Following Christ is costly. It means giving up all I once held dear...

P - Lord help me know that you are a treasure of far greater worth than anything else that I once looked to for security, purpose, status, or comfort.

SOAP: kingdom duty

S - So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" — Luke 17:10 (ESV)

O - Jesus challenges the love of money, religious performance, and warns of how our lives extend into eternity (resulting in the kind of eternal life which our earthly life naturally leads to). He then turns to his disciples to warn them on temptation, encourage their faith, and foster their humility. The Pharisees loved money and performance. This life led to destruction, and they took many with them. Jesus wants the disciples to acknowledge their tendencies to do the same, and cultivate faith, humility, and obedience. Anything they achieve... money, success, accolades... is simply the product of an unworthy servant following his Master. Besides, how many servants do you know with any amount of money, success, or accolades?

A - I am so tempted by religion, status, accolades, and money right now. It seems like the end of money and healthcare are upon us right now. I am uncomfortable on the "sidelines." I press to be involved. I need to learn the place of a servant. One who loves his Master and his duty in the Master's house. A good Master will care for his servant. Giving him all he needs to be faithful to the Master's will.

P - Lord, grant me faithful duty. Discipline my heart to treasure you, my good Master, above any other praise or rewards. Help me see my unworthiness, the effectiveness and glory of your Son, and graciously bless others as you have blessed me. I renounce the praise of this world and man, and choose to "do what was my duty."

SOAP: kingdom stewardship

S - If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? — Luke 16:11 (ESV)

O - Jesus is crazy. He uses crazy extremes such extremes when leading towards what is good. What do you really want to be good with? Money? Kingdom riches? Start small, but never settle for something that isn't actually that good. Our complete frame of reference needs to be different in the Kingdom. Stewardship in the Kingdom is not about temporal things. There are far greater things in the Kingdom.

A - I am starting small. Its good to start. Its good to be faithful. But I need to not lose focus of the Kingdom goods.

P - Help me Lord. Money. Stuff. These comforts are tempting, and it would be easy to feel good if they were "worked" out. I want to be about bigger things. Help me see bigger things. Help me learn to be faithful in these smaller things. Whatever you give me beyond that, its up to you.

SOAP: eating humility

S - But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. — Luke 14:10-11 (ESV)

O - Jesus has such practical advice for our relationships and souls. He guards us well from foolish behavior as well as an arrogantly corrupt soul. Here is an invitation to the freedom of humility.

A - I am far to envious. Pushing. Wanting. My Shepherd invites me to lay it down. Enjoy the feast he has prepared for me.

P - Thank you Lord for this invitation to humility. Help me take a seat at the end of the table. I'm grateful that you take care of me.