Showing posts with label mercy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mercy. Show all posts

Sunday, April 19, 2009

SOAP: How Great Is Our God!

SOAPSOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE | ABOUT SOAP

SCRIPTURE
5:6-8 Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

18-19 Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right.

6:3-5 That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country.

12-14 That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you've been raised from the dead!—into God's way of doing things. Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.

22-23 But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master. Romans 5-6 (excerpts) [MSG]

OBSERVATION
Christ's gift of Salvation, when we least deserve it.

APPLICATION
Adam condemned us to death. Literally. By partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (or, in the vernacular, eating the apple), Adam condemned us to death for eternity. But some two thousand years ago, One Man came along to reverse Adam's act. One Man came along to save us from the evil that had plagued us since the very first man. To save us from the evil that continues to plague us even now. To save us from sin.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, stepped up in our defense when we didn't even deserve to be defended. When we were guilty of sin, He came forward when we deserved nothing short of eternal condemnation and paid the price for our evil ways, so that we don't have to. To us, He gave the ultimate gift by paying the ultimate price. And all that we have to do is accept that glorious gift.

But so much more than just accepting this glorious, undeserved gift, we should then live the kind of life that God would have us live. We should never again give sin the time of day. We should resist the temptation to return to those sinful ways that Our Lord saved us from. But we are human, aren't we, and incapable of never sinning. That's right, as much as we might hope to live right, we just aren't capable of completely eliminating sin from our lives. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We aren't capable of deserving the wonderful grace of God.

But our God is merciful, and willing to forgive us, just for the asking. Oh, what a wonderful God we serve!


Direct video link.



PRAYER
Father, I know that I'm not worthy of Your wonderful grace. And that I have let You down more times than I could possibly count. But I also know that You are merciful, and gracious, and that Your love is never ending. Thank You, Father, for the wonderful gift of salvation!

Joe

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

SOAP: Grace, Mercy, and Justice

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE | ABOUT SOAP
Moses
SCRIPTURE
1-3 Moses climbed from the Plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, the peak of Pisgah facing Jericho. God showed him all the land from Gilead to Dan, all Naphtali, Ephraim, and Manasseh; all Judah reaching to the Mediterranean Sea; the Negev and the plains which encircle Jericho, City of Palms, as far south as Zoar. 4 Then and there God said to him, "This is the land I promised to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with the words 'I will give it to your descendants.' I've let you see it with your own eyes. There it is. But you're not going to go in." 5-6 Moses died there in the land of Moab, Moses the servant of God, just as God said. God buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor. No one knows his burial site to this very day. 7-8 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyesight was sharp; he still walked with a spring in his step. The People of Israel wept for Moses in the Plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end. 9 Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. The People of Israel listened obediently to him and did the same as when God had commanded Moses. 10-12 No prophet has risen since in Israel like Moses, whom God knew face-to-face. Never since has there been anything like the signs and miracle-wonders that God sent him to do in Egypt, to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to all his land—nothing to compare with that all-powerful hand of his and all the great and terrible things Moses did as every eye in Israel watched. Deuteronomy 34 [MSG]

OBSERVATION
God's justice and grace know no limits.

APPLICATION
He was arguably the most Godly man in the history of Creation. Born of a pauper and raised by a princess, Moses was used by God to confront Pharoah when all of Israel was held slave to the Egyptians. God did many great and wondrous things through Moses. Moses -- a soft-spoken, ill-prepared stutterer -- was used by God to lead His chosen people out of Egypt into the Promised Land. He was chosen by God to present His Ten Commandments to the people. He was appointed by God to preside as judge over Israel, solving disputes and ensuring that the order was kept. God knew Moses face to face. God appeared to Moses in many forms -- as a cloud over the Tent of Meeting, as the famed Burning Bush -- He even allowed Moses to see Him pass by, though Moses was not permitted to look upon the face of God as the sight would have killed him. But Moses, like many of us, was not a perfect man, and the country he led was imperfect as well. As Israel repeatedly rebelled against God, even Moses at one point questioned God. It was a moment of lost faith that cost Moses his chance to enter the Promised Land. Through Moses, God led Israel to the Promised Land, but he denied Moses the privelege of actually entering the city. God took Moses to a high hill and allowed him to look into the Promised Land -- to see what he was missing. An act of justice? Or grace? I say both. God took Moses to the very gates of the Promised Land, but refused to let him enter, paying the price for his moment of lost faith. Justice, certainly. But at the same time, God had the grace to allow Moses a peek at the great city, to see that His chosen people had actually reached the land of their inheritance. He showed Moses high on that hill that He was a God of His Word, and that Israel would receive her Promised Land. Unmatchable grace. Then Moses died and was buried by God.

PRAYER
Father, You have always shown grace and mercy greater than I deserve, just as you did for Moses. I can't imagine how a sinner like I can be worthy of the kind of love and grace You once showed to one so great as Moses. Thank You, Lord, for not making me earn your grace.

Your comments?

Joe

Friday, January 16, 2009

For the Glory of God

SOAPSOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE | ABOUT SOAP

Joseph's CoatSCRIPTURE
1-2 Joseph couldn't hold himself in any longer, keeping up a front before all his attendants. He cried out, "Leave! Clear out—everyone leave!" So there was no one with Joseph when he identified himself to his brothers. But his sobbing was so violent that the Egyptians couldn't help but hear him. The news was soon reported to Pharaoh's palace.

3 Joseph spoke to his brothers: "I am Joseph. Is my father really still alive?" But his brothers couldn't say a word. They were speechless—they couldn't believe what they were hearing and seeing.

4-8 "Come closer to me," Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. "I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives. There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years—neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance. So you see, it wasn't you who sent me here but God. He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh, put me in charge of his personal affairs, and made me ruler of all Egypt.

OBSERVATION
As God uses all things for His glory, those who serve Him will give Him all the glory.

APPLICATION
In a fit of jealousy, the son's of Israel (Jacob) sold their brother Joseph into slavery because he was his father's favorite. After several years in captivity, Joseph was elevated to the highest office in all of Egypt, second only to Pharoah, the king.

When Joseph's brothers, who thought he was probably dead, came to him in need of food, they didn't recognize him. When Joseph finally revealed himself to his brothers, he did so with forgiveness. Rather than accusing them of selling him into slavery, he forgave them and gave God the glory for delivering him into such a position of great authority that he could be used to save lives -- even the lives of his own brothers and father.

Joseph had the authority to have his brothers locked up forever for what they had done to him, but instead he was gracious and forgiving and used his experience to glorify God.

Have I been so forgiving in my life that I would do such a thing? Have I used trying events in my life to glorify God?

PRAYER
Father, You have been very gracious to me all of my life. You have provided and protected all of my life. Lord, I am grateful for Your love and mercy. May I do all that I can to bring glory to Your name for all that You've done for me.

Your comments?

Joe

Saturday, January 3, 2009

God of Promise

SOAP
Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.


SCRIPTURE:

18-19 Noah disembarked with his sons and wife and his sons' wives. Then all the animals, crawling creatures, birds—every creature on the face of the Earth—left the ship family by family. 
20-21 Noah built an altar to God. He selected clean animals and birds from every species and offered them as burnt offerings on the altar. God smelled the sweet fragrance and thought to himself, "I'll never again curse the ground because of people. I know they have this bent toward evil from an early age, but I'll never again kill off everything living as I've just done.
22 For as long as Earth lasts, planting and harvest, cold and heat, Summer and winter, day and night will never stop." GENESIS 8:18-22 [MSG]



OBSERVATION:
He is a God of provision, a God of protection, and a God of promise.


APPLICATION:
Throughout the earliest history of man, we must have been such a disappointment to God. Like disobedient children, we constantly failed to please our Heavenly Father. Adam and Eve and the first sin. Cain and Abel and the first murder. Eventually, the entire human race, but for one man and his family.


God chose to save Noah and his family from the mass punishment he would deal upon the planet. Eight people, seven of every breed of clean animal, and two of every breed of unclean animal were to be spared. Everything and everyone else would perish.


For nearly 350 days, the Earth was uninhabitable -- buried under the waters of the Great Flood. After the water receded and the Earth dried, Noah and his companions -- human and animal alike -- were tasked to repopulate the world. But first, Noah built an altar and worshipped God, sacrificing the seventh of every clean animal breed to the God who had spared him.


God was happy. After generations of disappointment with His children, God was happy with Noah. So happy that He gave them a promise to never destroy the world again.


Again God dealt out justice, and delivered mercy. Again he practiced discipline, and showed grace. Again we were undeserving, but he loved us anyway.


PRAYER:
Father, Thank You for Your love, Your mercy, Your grace. Thank You for never holding a grudge. Thank You for Your provision, Your protection, and Your promise. May Your rainbow be a symbol not only of Your promise, but of Your undying and undeserved love for us.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Unending Grace

SOAP
Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.


SCRIPTURE:
8 Cain had words with his brother. They were out in the field; Cain came at Abel his brother and killed him. 


9 God said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" 


He said, "How should I know? Am I his babysitter?" 


10-12 God said, "What have you done! The voice of your brother's blood is calling to me from the ground. From now on you'll get nothing but curses from this ground; you'll be driven from this ground that has opened its arms to receive the blood of your murdered brother. You'll farm this ground, but it will no longer give you its best. You'll be a homeless wanderer on Earth." 


13-14 Cain said to God, "My punishment is too much. I can't take it! You've thrown me off the land and I can never again face you. I'm a homeless wanderer on Earth and whoever finds me will kill me." 


15 God told him, "No. Anyone who kills Cain will pay for it seven times over." God put a mark on Cain to protect him so that no one who met him would kill him. GENESIS 4:8-15 [MSG]



OBSERVATION:
God protects us, even when we cause harm to others.


APPLICATION:
It was the first murder in history. Cain slew his brother Abel over jealousy: jealous that Abel had offered a more pleasing sacrifice to God than he could.


After their parents had ruined paradise for all mankind , Cain and Abel were forced to work the fields and raise livestock. One would think that a lesson had been learned.


But the "blindness" that had been erased when Adam and Eve disobeyed God opened Cain's eyes to jealousy. And Cain responded with evil: murder.


Cain, like his parents, then hid from God. Like the broad side of a barn, Cain hid from God. Yeah, right.


God punished Cain by banishing him forever. He sent him to No-man's land, told him that the earth would no longer yield its best crops to Cain. But benevolent and forgiving as our God is, He protected Cain -- history's first murderer. God marked Cain so that no one would kill him, and promised to punish anyone who did kill him. To punish them severely.


Our God is truly an awesome God. He clothes us. He protects us. And yet, we continue to fail him.


PRAYER:
I want to serve You, Father. I want to praise and worship You all of my days. Though I'm unworthy by own merit, I know that You will always protect and provide for me, just as You always have. Thank You, Father.



Thursday, January 1, 2009

Justice and Mercy

SOAP
Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

SCRIPTURE:
9 God called to the Man: "Where are you?"
10He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid."
11 God said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?"
12 The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it."
God said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?"
13 "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate."
14-15 God told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, Cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel."
16 He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you."
17-19 He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree That I commanded you not to eat from, 'Don't eat from this tree,' The very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground Will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, Planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, Until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt."
20The Man, known as Adam, named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living.
21 God made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them.
GENESIS 3:9-21 [MSG]
OBSERVATION: God provides, even when we forsake what He has already given us.

APPLICATION:
It was the dawn of time, and man had everything -- complete dominion over the earth and all that inhabit it. A wife. Food. Comfort. And only one restriction: "Don't eat from this tree." How simple is that? To have anything and everything you want in all the world, with only one simple restriction -- not to eat from one tree. It's not like it was the only tree in the world, either. Just one tree. Everything else that man and his wife needed were provided for him by God with no limitations.

But man blew it, didn't he? The woman fell to the temptation of Satan, then man fell to the temptation of his wife, and they ate from the forbidden tree. And their eyes were opened. They could see. They could see their own nakedness, and felt shame. They could see the difference between good and evil (which, up to this time, was very basic -- as the serpent was evil, and everything else was good). They hid from God.

As if! He's all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful, and all-present -- as if you can ever hide from God anywhere (though many of us still try it today). But God found them, of course, cowering in clothes they had fashioned together from fig leaves. God found them, heard their case, and passed judgement, punishing all three of them.

Because man couldn't leave well enough alone -- because being blind to evil and having everything good in the world just wasn't good enough -- man has been cursed to toil his entire life to provide for his family (I think of this today as I write this from work on New Years Day, when so many are enjoying a holiday off). But even after passing judgement and punishment upon His greatest creation, God still provided. God, who had every right to be fuming mad over the disobedience of His children, made clothing for them from leather that was more durable and more comfortable than their fig leaves, and clothed them. He punished them, but still provided for them.

Justice and mercy. Grace and discipline. Do I show such love for my own children that I can punish them in one breath and, moments later, move on with life, loving and providing for them? Or do I hold a grudge against them (even for a very short time) for refusing to obey me? Can I be more like my Father in Heaven?
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to follow the example you have modeled so many times throughout eternity -- the example you modeled with Adam and Eve. Help me to be a better father to my children. To love them, provide for them, and correct them. To balance the scales of justice and mercy.

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