Tuesday's SOAP - Matthew 1:18-25

¹⁸ This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
 ²⁰ As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. ²¹ And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
 ²² All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
 ²³ “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
      She will give birth to a son,
   and they will call him Immanuel,
      which means ‘God is with us.’”
 ²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

S(cripture) - “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

O(bservation) - A angle (the word means messenger) comes from God to encourage Joseph to not fear marrying Mary, his fiance, after she's found pregnant with a child that is NOT Joseph's. "Don't be afraid . . ." - familiar words if you read yesterday. Mary's child is from God. She will have a son - name him Yeshua (which means God saves). Then the angel quotes Isaiah - bringing to life a text that must have been confusing to all who pondered it. A virgin conceives. Her son will be God with us. Virgin birth? Messiah is God? Don't take for granted the mystery. The prophecy could only be fulfilled in this way.

And that mystery should bring us to our knees - God with us. When it was impossible for us to reach up to heaven, God came to us in the form of a baby, born to a virgin mother, to peasant parents to liberate us from sin, from the chains of death. God with us.

A(pplication) - The breath prayer of God with us becomes even more remarkable - improbable - unimagineable when Paul writes and breaths that the mystery is Christ in us. The Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus, means more than Jesus beside us, but Jesus IN us. Since Jesus came into my heart. You ask me how I know he lives? he lives within my heart. Christ in us. God in us.

In this Christmas season, make this your breath prayer - "Christ is in me." The power that raised Jesus from the dead resides in you, the Spirit of the resurrected Christ dwells in you!

P(rayer) - Abba, it is easy to get distracted in this season. Help us amidst the noise to stay deeply connected to You and Your Son. Help us to realize and expereince the transforming power of Jesus though his Holy Spirit who dwells in us. Guide us into praying without ceasing, breathing the prayer, "Christ in me."     Christ, in me, here my prayer. Amen.

Wednesday's SOAP - Romans 12:1-2

¹ And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

S(cripture) - can't decide - it's all rich

O(bservation) - so much here - "give your bodies to God" - a holy and living sacrifice. why? NOT to EARN God's favor but as a response to what God has already done. what has God done? given his Son as a living sacrifice for our sins.

"this is truly the way to worship Him" - worship - not merely songs from our lips but songs that come from the heart of those who have given themselves completely to God.

This is a passage on obedience - obedience as worship. Giving God our bodies so He can transform us so we will learn (and live out) God's will. And repeat the dance - giving God our allegiance so he can change us into people who live good, perfect, and pleasing lives. . .

A(pplication) - This is the Kingdom life that Jesus spoke of. But Paul interjects the effects of a crucified and resurrected Jesus. Jesus said, "Whoever hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man . . ." Obedience - submission to God's will - is not optional for Christ followers - is essential for the Kingdom life.

As we enter the Advent Conspiracy, our focus needs to be on worship which is so much more than what we do on Sunday - worship is a lifestyle - it is presenting our bodies - our lives to God. If we can get this right, our Sundays and our Christ-masses will be filled with overwhelming joy - joy realized in pleasing God.

Is this your great Christmas wish? to please God? Make this your prayer.

P(rayer) - Abba, it is so simple and yet so difficult - to give ourselves away to you - to trust you with our lives - to be obedient no matter the cost. But joy cannot come without obedience - without seeking to please you - not because of what we have done, but because of what You have already done for us. This is Christmas (incarnation) and Good Friday (sacrifice) and Easter (resurrection transformation). Knowing what You've done causes me to fall on my knees and give my life to you. Amen.

Monday's SOAP - Luke 1:26-38

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. ²⁸ Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

 ²⁹ Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ³⁰ “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³ And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

 ³⁴ Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

 ³⁵ The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. ³⁷ For nothing is impossible with God.”

 ³⁸ Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

S(cripture) - Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

O(bservation) - Have I read this story so many times that it has lost its mystery? an angel, a virgin, a rural brunt-of-jokes hick town, a greeting from the angel to Mary - the highly favored one. Mary is confused and disturbed - this is not a Disney fairy tale story as much as we read it that way. It is a story filled with so many unlikely's and impossibles. Peasant girl is favored one. Virgin is pregnant. God soon to be inside human flesh. The promise of a King born into poverty. Menopausal Elizabeth is pregnant.

Nothing is impossible with God.
And out of this very brief and very unlikely conversation, Mary says, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be as you've said."

These are the words that change the world.

A(pplication) - It's easy to see how Mary's submission to God's will, did change the world. But is it any less for anyone who offers him or herself to God? Sometimes we see these heroes of faith as larger than life. But Mary was a simple peasant girl. She caught God's eye because of her humility and obedient spirit. Nothing extraordinary about Mary until she said, "May it be." Anyone with a servant's heart can change the world.

Have you prayed that prayer? "I am the Lord's servant. I submit to whatever you will for my life." It's a dangerous prayer, but really, is there any other prayer worth praying? God is God and we are not. And nothing is impossible with God. God is looking for people with humility and obedient spirits.

This series, Advent Conspiracy, is about aligning ourselves with God's will. Christmas can change the world. It already has. But the change is not complete. You have been called to be part of the completion of the Kingdom.

P(rayer) - Abba, when we think about submitting to your will, it comes with a little (maybe a lot) of fear. But your words are just like your messenger Gabriel's - "Don't be afraid." What have we to fear? If You are for us, who can be against us? What could be better than living in Your will? Give us courage to pray the most dangerous prayer. I am the Lord's servant. Do with me what You will. Your will be done. In me. Especially in the Christmas season, Your will be done. In the Son of the Most High's name. Amen.

Friday's SOAP - Philippians 3:7-14

⁷ I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. ⁸ Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ⁹and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, ¹¹ so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

S(cripture) - I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

O(bservation) - Paul was fueled by the resurrection of Christ. His first encounter with Jesus was on the road to Damascus. He was on his way to arrest men, women, and children who were followers of Christ. Jesus spoke clearly to Saul (his Jewish name) in a blinding light, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

"ME?" Jesus was intimately connected to and felt the pain of his church so much that he felt their suffering.

Saul's life was forever changed - an encounter with the resurrected Christ. A life so changed that Paul (name changed to relate to Gentiles (non-Jews)) became a church planter for Jesus. And now he writes how his former life was (literally) crap compared to knowing Christ.

And not just knowing Jesus in an intellectual way - the intimacy Paul heard in Jesus' first words "why are you persecuting ME?," he now claims for himself. Paul discarded everything else so he could "become one with him [Christ] (v 9)."

Paul was able to face suffering and death because the resurrection was so real to him because the resurrected Jesus was so real to him. And now Paul is not afraid of death, in fact he seems to invite it - because he recognizes the power of the resurrection. Power - Greek dunomai - dynamite. Contemplate for a moment (a lifetime), the power necessary to raise God from the dead. Paul says he wants to experience that power.

A(pplication) - Have you encountered the resurrected Christ? If so, you're life can never be the same. Everything in your life will be crap (it's biblical) compared to knowing Jesus. You'll be able to live powerfully through suffering. You won't fear death. You'll want to live for him who died (and rose) for you. Are you living a resurrection life? Are you seeking the power of the resurrection?

P(rayer) - Abba, I fear that too few of those in your church have experienced You and your resurrection. We are weak. We live fearful lives, failing to live up the high calling to which Christ has called us heavenward. We prefer the crap of this world and the accompanying stench to the aroma of your resurrection. Lord, Yeshua, have mercy. Come you say, "buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see." Why would we ever want to return to the stench after smelling your sweet perfume - perfume that brings life and power? Abba, may we not go another day without an encounter with Your resurrected Son, our resurrected Savior, Jesus. Come Jesus, show me your power.  Resurrect me from my dead life.  Pour your life-giving Spirit into me.  Amen.

 p.s. how appropriate that this is the lesson on Black Friday - a day set aside for chasing after the crap.  So which is it for you Good Friday or Black Friday?

Thursday's SOAP - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

 ¹² Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. ¹³ Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

 ¹⁴ Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

 ¹⁵ See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

 ¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

 ¹⁹ Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Do not scoff at prophecies, ²¹ but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. ²² Stay away from every kind of evil.

 ²³ Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. ²⁴ God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.


S(cripture) - Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

O(bservation) - It's Thanksgiving Day - a day that should be normative according to Paul. God's will. ALWAYS be joyful. NEVER STOP praying. Be thankful IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

Seems pretty clear that Paul says we can take some time off. Maybe one day of thanks is enough?  (read with oozing satire)

Yesterday, we learned that God often provides His will on the fly - while we are in motion. We talked about God providing the big plan while we work on the "small stuff" - stuff like joy, prayer, and thanksgiving.

A(pplication) - Started your thanks list yet - people and such you are thankful for? Posted someplace where you can see it regularly like your fridge? This list can be a catalyst to prime your thanksgiving pump daily.  Give thanks in ALL circumstance. It's God's will, you know? A life of thanksgiving will change your life.

P(rayer) - Abba on this day of national thanks-giving, may I be prompted to pray and thank you continuously for ALL things. May I discover you want to bless me with good and discipline and grow me with the stuff that's not good. May we as Viners, live a life of thanksgiving in a day and age when there is much to pull us down. Teach us to soar. Amen.

Wednesday's SOAP - Acts 16:6-10

⁶ Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. ⁷ Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. ⁸ So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.

 ⁹ That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” ¹⁰ So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

S(cripture) - That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”

O(bservation) - I want to know God's will for my life. I need to know what direction He wants me to go. So I'm gonna wait. Wait and pray and wait and pray and wait and pray. I'm not going to move forward unless I get a clear signal from God. I'm not moving.

What's that? Paul and Silas moved forward without a clear command from God? The Holy Spirit kept them out of Asia? The Spirit did the same thing as they headed toward Bithynia?

One thing we don't know is HOW the Holy Spirit prevented them from moving toward their intended destinations. Perhaps there was physical blockage. Jesus taught his disciples to stay where welcomed and move on when not. Maybe they were rejected by the populace. Perhaps it was a sense of unease. I've experienced this - a lack of peace usually means that something is not right and it is best to stop and regain bearings - get alone with God. The Holy Spirit brings peace. Paul and Silas had each other to provide discernment - two brains/souls are better than one. Or perhaps Paul and Silas heard the Spirit speak clearly into their souls. This happens too rarely for me (but that's my problem for not listening better). However it happened, I find it amazing that Paul and Silas weren't content to sit idly by waiting for some divine marching orders. They moved out and as they were moving, they gained clarity. It never hurts when you get a clear request for help - whether verbally or in a vision. (like Black Friday, like Arc Christmas, like habitat for Humanity - it's pretty clear when folk as for help - when folk welcome you in)

Paul and Silas got after IT - their mission - to make disciples. Are you getting after it?

A(pplication) - God can't steer parked cars. Get in gear - you just might discover God's plan for your life as you serve in obedience.

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,

and this is what he requires of you:

to do what is right, to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8

Get after it.

P(rayer) - Abba, maybe you will show us the "big picture" when we start working on the small stuff. Unplug our ears, unstop our souls so we can get after your work, your mission, your Kingdom life. We hunger for clarity. Show us the way. Amen.

Tuesday's SOAP - Ephesians 3:14-21

¹⁴ When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, ¹⁵ the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.¹⁶ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

 ²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. ²¹ Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

S(cripture) - all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

O(bservation) - This is the text that has my phone alarm going off at 3:14. (Sometimes it goes off at some inopportune times but I truly try to stop and pray!) I pray that you would experience more and more of God's love. I pray your roots go down deep into God's love. You cannot bear fruit without love. The source of that love is Christ. Oh, you may be able to love for a season or "stay out of trouble" for a period. But in your own efforts, your love will dry up if not grafted onto the Source of love - the True Vine. This will require both private reflection (to let the silt settle) and a public walk that keeps you connected to Christ throughout your day. Are you able to love the unlovable? Do good to those who persecute you? Overcome evil with good?

When Christianity is demoted to the "just trying not to sin" life it falls far short of the hope that God offers us and the vision Paul writes of. Christianity is more than "be good" religion. It is power - the "power to understand love" - the power to love - the power of love.  God's mighty power is at work within us - offering infinitely more than we could dream for ourselves.  Are you living a marginal or victorious Kingdom life?

A(pplication) - What's your motivation for being good? doing good? For living the Kingdom life? Is it fear? John Wesley said there was only one requirement for joining in the Methodist societies: "a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins." But fear is only a starting point. Fear still keeps you at a distance from God. Fear does not invite intimacy. Fear can force us to our knees to repent and seek God's mercy, but it is there that mercy takes over - fear is replaced by love. So rather than running away from wrath, we now are drawn to love. This is what Paul was getting at. Paul should know - he spent his life working hard to earn God's favor, running the legalistic treadmill, but then grace broke through - grace that fueled Paul to write of inexpressible love while in prison - love that brightened his dark prison cell. Are you in prison? Is life dark? Do you live in fear? Perfect love casts out fear.

P(rayer) - Make this your prayer (and read the first few comments).

Amen.

Monday's SOAP - Philippians 1:3-11

 ³ Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. ⁴ Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, ⁵ for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. ⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

 ⁷ So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. ⁸ God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

 ⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

S(cripture) - I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 

O(bservation) - This is a beautiful text.  Paul is praying for the church he started in Ephesus - praying from prison.  His love for them is pure agape love - unconditional - concerned with the other.  In v 9, Paul gets specific about his prayers - that their love will overflow more and more.  The imagery here is striking.  That would KNOW love that flows from God in abundance - more love than they can handle - "abounding" - more than enough - more and more - like a river overflowing it's banks.  Paul doesn't attach an object to this love.  He doesn't say love for others or each other or for him or for God.  I suspect it is because it is "all of the above."  God's abundant love flows - overflows - in all directions!  You might want to contemplate that for a second.  What kind of love is this that empowers us to love beyond our own abilities?

A(pplication) - This is what I pray for you, everyday when the alarm on my phone goes off at 3:14.  I want you to understand what really matters - so that you may live pure and blameless lives.  There is no law against love.  Even if you mess up, if your motivation is love - unconditional love - God will find you pure and blameless.  Love trumps sin.  As Viners, who are connected to The Vine, may you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation.

P(rayer) - Abba, pour love into those that I am shepherding.  Pour it out more and more that they may know and understand grace - love with no conditions - overflowing love.  And living in that love, in that grace - be found pure and blameless.  Keep us connected to Your Son so that we may bear fruit for your Kingdom.  And as we live kingdom lives, pouring the love of Christ into others, my we discover joy, hope, peace in greater and greater measure.  Abundance Abba.  Your goodness is too great to imagine.  Thank you for  the gift of Your Son, who taught us love.  Amen.

Friday's SOAP - Psalm 19:1-14

¹ The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
      The skies display his craftsmanship.
 ² Day after day they continue to speak;
      night after night they make him known.
 ³ They speak without a sound or word;
      their voice is never heard.
 ⁴ Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
      and their words to all the world.

   God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
 ⁵ It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
      It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
 ⁶ The sun rises at one end of the heavens
      and follows its course to the other end.
      Nothing can hide from its heat.

 ⁷ The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
      reviving the soul.
   The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
      making wise the simple.
 ⁸ The commandments of the Lord are right,
      bringing joy to the heart.
   The commands of the Lord are clear,
      giving insight for living.
 ⁹ Reverence for the Lord is pure,
      lasting forever.
   The laws of the Lord are true;
      each one is fair.
 ¹⁰ They are more desirable than gold,
      even the finest gold.
   They are sweeter than honey,
      even honey dripping from the comb.
 ¹¹ They are a warning to your servant,
      a great reward for those who obey them.

 ¹² How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
      Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
 ¹³ Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
      Don’t let them control me.
   Then I will be free of guilt
      and innocent of great sin.

 ¹⁴ May the words of my mouth
      and the meditation of my heart
   be pleasing to you,
      O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

S(cripture) -  They [the heavens] speak without a sound or word;                         their voice is never heard.

                   Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
                             and their words to all the world.

O(bservation) - The Psalmist makes it pretty clear that God has added his signature to all of creation.  Creation is an icon through which we can see God.  How Great Thou Art!  And the Psalmist delights in this.  The Psalmist also delights in God's law.  He delights in the orderliness of both.  Look at the imagery he uses - gold and honey.  These were not common items in Israel.  Gold/money was held by a few.  No cane sugar. No domesticated bee hives.  Honey and gold were rare and thus treasured.  The Laws of the Lord are "more desirable than gold."


A(pplication) - Is your Bible your gold?  Do you crave it more than chocolate?  Or has it become common, gathering dust.  You visit your refrigerator more than you visit your prayer closet?  These are not questions to gloss over.  If you cannot claim the words of the Psalmist, then pray.  If you don't have that desire, pray that God makes you hungry - gives you a craving for a deep relationship hat is satisfied in spending time alone with God and His Word.  


P(rayer) - Abba, Jesus made it clear that humans don't live by bread, but by EVERY WORD that comes from the mouth of God.  Please give us grace to realize we need spiritual nourishment even more than food for our stomachs.  And then give us moments, alone with You, that are sweeter than honey so that we long for more.  In Christ, Amen.


Extra - Here's an exercise modeled after a priestly ritual in the Orthodox Church.  Gather a plate and a bottle of honey (squeeze bottle).  Take the honey and write a favorite scripture reference on the plate.  Now pour milk onto the plate to cover your writing.  Take a spoon and stir the honey into the milk.  Then lift the plate with both hands and drink . . . while meditating on "You're laws are like honey, even honey dripping from the cone." (I'm serious - try this!)

Thursday's SOAP - 2 Timothy 3:1-17

 ¹ You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. ² For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. ³ They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. ⁴ They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. ⁵ They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

 ⁶ They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. ⁷ (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.)⁸ These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith. ⁹ But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.

 ¹⁰ But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. ¹¹ You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. ¹² Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ¹³ But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

 ¹⁴ But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. ¹⁵You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

S(cripture) - God uses it [Scripture] to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

O(bservation) - There's a lot going on in this text so you may be drawn to another verse or phrase.  On Sunday, I was drawn to the phrase "They will consider nothing sacred."  Paul was speaking of what happens when people turn from God - live life without Him - a life without worship.  This is the opposite of what we've been talking about the last three days - worship in loving the least, worship in our meals, worship in our conversations. . .  The Kingdom life is a life of worship.  

Which calls us back to our private worship - the call to get alone with God and His Word so that we can be prepared and equipped "to do every good work."  Letting God breath His Word into us in quiet so that God can breath into us in the workplace and marketplace - our public worship.  

A(pplication) - Are you SOAPing up?  When you do (spend quiet time with God), do you notice if your day flows different?  Are there other moments of encounter/worship throughout your day? If you don't (spend quiet time with God), what happens?  Anything like v 1-5, even on a lesser scale?  I guess my question is, what spiritual symptoms are in your life? anger? lust? pride? hate? and what is the Rx that will produce, joy, peace, patience . . . ?  

P(rayer) - Abba, do whatever it takes draw us to hunger for time with You.  Don't let us substitute religion for relationship.  Call us to recognize our need for your wisdom and the power that comes from our listening to You  - the power to make us godly (v. 5) - power that produces fruit.  Breathe into me, breath of God.  Amen.

Wednesday's SOAP - Luke 22:14-27

¹⁴ When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.  ¹⁵ Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. ¹⁶ For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”

 ¹⁷ Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. ¹⁸ For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

 ¹⁹ He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

 ²⁰ After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.

 ²¹ “But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. ²² For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.” ²³ The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.

 ²⁴ Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. ²⁵ Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ ²⁶ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. ²⁷ Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.

S(cripture) - After supper he [Jesus] took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.

O(bservation) - In Middle East culture, enemies cannot share a meal together. To break bread meant that one was at peace with everyone at the table.  Judas was at the table - the one who Jesus broke bread with.  The bread he broke was his body.  Every time we break bread in his name, it becomes his body - which mean's Christ is present.  Where do we worship?  Every where Christ is present.  Where is Christ present?  In this meal.  Where two or three are gathered.  With the least and the last and the lost, thirsty, hungry, naked, lonely.  Lonely women at wells. . . .

A(pplication) - Do you say grace at meals? ALL meals? meals at restaurants?  Don't you want to invite Jesus into every meal?  Don't you want to invite your friends into the meals where Jesus is present?  Don't you want them to have peace with Jesus?  Don't you want to bless?

P(rayer) - Abba, why is it so hard for us to take that which is so much a part of our lives - a meal or a cup of coffee - and share it with You and with our neighbors?  Teach us to share our food with your blessing.  Teach us to share our meals to bless others.  Right now, bring to mind those people that you want us to invite to break bread.  Speak names into us.  Imprint faces onto us.  Then give us courage to pray and invite.  Amen.

Tuesday's SOAP - John 4:1-24

 Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John ² (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). ³ So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.

 ⁴ He had to go through Samaria on the way. ⁵ Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. ⁶ Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. ⁷ Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” ⁸ He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

 ⁹ The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

 ¹⁰ Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

 ¹¹ “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? ¹² And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”

 ¹³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. ¹⁴ But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

 ¹⁵ “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”

 ¹⁶ “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.

 ¹⁷ “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.

   Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband—¹⁸ for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

 ¹⁹ “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. ²⁰ So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim,^[c] where our ancestors worshiped?”

 ²¹ Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. ²² You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. ²³ But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. ²⁴ For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

S(cripture) - But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 

O(bservation) - Picture this entire conversation as worship.  Jesus said that the time is coming when worship won't be about sacred space/place but will be about spirit and truth.  But he re-framed that thought - it's not future - indeed it's HERE NOW!  Worshiping in spirit and truth is here now - present in the conversation with this outcast woman - a divorce' - multiple divorces in an age when one meant you were "done."  She's now living with a guy outside of marriage - gathering water at mid-day to avoid the town crowd - the looks and strained conversations.  And Jesus has "church" with this woman.  Water to living water. Worship here and now.

A(pplication) - Where do you worship?  Where do you find God?  Have spiritual conversations?  Who are the people in your neighborhood? in your neighborhood? in your neighborhood?  Oh who are the people in your neighborhood?  The people that you meet each day? (Sorry - too much Sesame Street).  Do you see the people that you meet each day as potential worshipers - and that DOES NOT MEAN that your task is to get them into church or to a worship service.  It DOES MEAN that you worship where you are (here - now).  "Worship in spirit and in truth" equals spiritual conversations in the midst of life.  Conversations NOT conversions.  Be honest - are there some people you don't think you can worship with?  How does this text change your bias?  Where do you worship?  

P(rayer) - Abba, When will we realize that you want worship to happen anywhere and everywhere?  When will we begin to see every conversation as an opportunity for spiritual seasoning?  not forced, but a natural out-flowing of our relationship with You.  Pour your Living Water into us and have it flow out and into those around us - in the workplace, the grocery store, the soccer field, the swimming pool . . .  Teach us to worship you in spirit and truth.  Amen

Monday's SOAP - Matthew 25:31-46

³¹ “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

 ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶ I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

 ³⁷ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

 ⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,^[c] you were doing it to me!’

 ⁴¹ “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. ⁴² For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. ⁴³ I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

 ⁴⁴ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

 ⁴⁵ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

 ⁴⁶ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

S(cripture) - “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

O(bservation) - All of life is sacred.  Every moment is an opportunity to worship the life-giving living God.  Jesus' parable speaks clearly about those who will inherit the Kingdom - a final judgement.  The kingdom will be give to those who love the least, the last and the lost because, Jesus identifies himself with them.  And so we can find Jesus in the places cast off by society.  And perhaps he is more there - with the marginalized -  than in our safe sanctuaries?

There is in all of us a great desire to make Scripture palatable to our situation or to look at it through a lens from another piece of Scripture.  In this case, Jesus isn't saying the kingdom is reserved for those who believe in him.  He says it is reserved for those who show mercy and compassion.  I am tempted to overlay Paul's beautiful words to the church in Ephesus onto this text -  "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

Clearly I cannot be good enough or do enough to earn my way into the Kingdom.  But just as clearly, I can't sit around on my duff holding onto my "I believe in Jesus card" either.  We start with grace - salvation is a free gift of God, but we shouldn't cheapen it, by living less than righteous lives.  Here's the kicker - why shouldn't we want to hang out with the poor and imprisoned and sick IF THAT'S WHERE JESUS IS?  And why wouldn't we open our homes to strangers if there is an opportunity to commune with Christ?

A(pplication) - We're talking about the Simple Life that is anything but simple in terms couched by the world.  The Kingdom Life is a life of simplicity not simpleness.  It is the opposite of duplicity - being pulled in more than one direction.  From texts like this one, it is pretty clear where God wants to pull us.  The tension, the duplicity, is in our own selfish desire for our time and to not enter into relationships which could get messy.  I mean who invites strangers into their home?!?  And this is the rub - the one we all need to wrestle with.  Simplicity will cost you.

On Saturday mornings, I deliver food to some guys living in a home - all with varying disabilities, but all some of the gentlest guys I know.  To be honest, there is a selfish part of me that wants to stay home and get work done in my own home or recreate with my family.  But more often than not, when I am faithful, God shows up in that house.  There are too many stories to share here.  One young man especially is waiting for me every Saturday and we talk and I try to help him figure out life.  We're friends - an unlikely pair.  God smiles with us and laughs with us when another resident tries to leave the house with his pants on backwards!  It's good stuff - good stuff for the soul.  Time slows down.  I feel God's good pleasure.

P(rayer) - Abba, show each of us where to serve in this world.  We can't save it all or love it all or serve it all - that's Your job.  But You are calling each of us to somewhere and someone where You are already present.  Are we to be a tummy filler, a thirst quencher, a hospitality giver, a clothing provider, a prison or hospital or nursing home visitor?  It is Your call, help us to listen.  In Jesus' name, Amen.