Friday's SOAP - Mark 10:41-45

⁴¹ When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. ⁴² So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. ⁴³ But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

S(cripture) - For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

O(bservation) - What kind of God is this? A God who comes to serve and give his life? How can this be? God is power. God is authority. God is control. These are the things humans are after. These are the things promised when the serpent promised Adam and Eve that they could be like God with a few bites of forbidden fruit. Even Jesus' disciples - james and John. A request to sit on Jesus right and left - the picture is one of authority, prestige, power in a royal court. And Jesus says, this isn't what God is like. We run around like little gods attaining to the opposite of what Jesus calls us to be about. Want to lead? Serve. Want to be first? Be a slave. Be like God - the Son of Man - who came to serve others and give his life as a ransom of many.

A(pplication) - Think life isn't treating you fair? Think you aren't getting your due? Want to be recognized and applauded? Slaves don't get a curtain call. Jesus is trying to tell the world, tell us, something. The ways of God are not power, prestige, popularity. The ways of God are love, service, and sharing. Love. Serve. Share.

P(rayer) - Abba, the little god in me cried out for control, to be served. The Spirit whispers serve. Oh Spirit, win in me. Amen.

Thursday's SOAP - Philippians 2:5-11

⁵ You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

 ⁶ Though he was God,
      he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
 ⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
      he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
   When he appeared in human form,
 ⁸ he humbled himself in obedience to God
      and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

 ⁹ Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
      and gave him the name above all other names,
 ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father.

S(cripture) - Though he [Jesus] was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

O(bservation) - This is absolutely one of my favorite texts. It centers me by pointing to the magnificent nature of Jesus and Paul's call to emulate him. And it rises in crescendo to Christ being worshiped by all creation.

The verse that goes with this week's readings makes it clear that Jesus was "divine stuff." To be honest, translators have difficulty with this text. The same word "morphe" is used in the phrase "morphe of God" and "morphe of a slave." It literally translates as "form," but this doesn't carry the depth that the context carries. (What is the form of God who is invisible?) In most commentaries, the language shifts to "essence" or "nature" - a state of being. Jesus is more than the outward form of God or a slave. He embodied both God and man. Fully God and fully man.

The awe and mystery in this should not be glossed over here. I just keep hearing over and over - "O Holy Night . . . fall on your knees."

A(pplication) - These are words that need to savored slowly. You may be drawn to another word or phrase. Rest there and revere. The reality of who Jesus was and is and will be is essential to our faith walk. But be warned, an encounter with Christ will change you.

P(rayer) - Abba, the gift of your Son is a great wrestling for our finite minds. We wrestle with how You could put on flesh. We wrestle with how one God can be in three persons. On the surface, these seem impossible, but in experiencing you and knowing Your story we hear its TRUTH. This reality is beyond us and yet you invite us in to believe and trust. There is no other way through the story except the witness of those who saw you and touched you and heard you. We join them in their unending hymn to You. And in this Christmas season, we fall on our knees. And worship. Amen.

Tuesday's SOAP - Matthew 1:19-23

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.’”

S(cripture) - “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. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

O(bservation) - This is the Gospel story that Isaiah was pointing to (yesterday's SOAP). Matthew cited Isaiah to drive home the significance of Mary's conception and the meaning of the Child within her. Immanuel. God is with us. Matthew's "Bible" was what we today call the Septuagint - abbreviated LXX which is Latin for "70" - the number of scholars who translated the Hebrew Scriptures (our Old Testament) from Hebrew into Greek. The common language in Jesus' day and of the early church was koine (common) Greek. This was the Greek that the New Testament was written in and also the language of their Bible. So when Paul writes, "All Scripture is inspired by God (God-breathed)," he was speaking of the LXX. He wrote his letters in koine Greek. And Matthew wrote his Gospel in Greek - the common language of the people.

As I read this text, I'm drawn to the name given the child. Our English translation is Jesus. In Matthew's hand it would look something like "Iesous" where the e sounds like a long a and the I is more an 'h' or breath sound - so something like He-a-sus (said rapidly and very similar to the Spanish' Jesus (Haysoos). The Hebrew (what Jesus would have been called in his native Palestine) is "Yeshua." This is a derivative of Joshua - the Old Testament hero who led Israel into the promised land. It was a common name in Israel. Click the embedded links to read more. Here's a sample . . .

The name Yehoshua has the form of a compound of "Yeho-" and "shua": Yeho- is another form of Yahu, an element standing for the personal name of God - YAHWEH and shua‘ is a noun meaning "a cry for help", "a saving cry",that is to say, a shout given when in need of rescue. Together, the name would then literally mean, "God is a saving-cry," that is to say, shout to God when in need of help.

What a name. You shall name him Jesus, for God has heard his people's cries (like Moses). When Matthew mentions sin (hamratia - missing the mark), he's doing more than suggest that Jesus will rescue people from their moral failures. He's also writing of how Jesus will call people out of their destructive systems - religious, political, and economic as well as their moral sins (like the woman caught in adultery). Matthew in no uncertain terms was not suggesting that Jesus mission was to get people to heaven - rather he came to bring heaven to earth - to save, to deliver, to rescue - all beyond the reality of a Jewish messiah who would sit on King David's (Israel's) earthly throne. His dominion (rule) was to be far greater. Jesus' call for righteousness surpassed that of the Jewish super-religious of Jesus day. A call for love, servanthood, generosity, simplicity . . .

What's in a name? The embodiment of Yeshua's purpose and mission.

A(pplication) - I need rescued. Do you? From my sin. From politics and economics and religiosity. From living in a world that is not very much like the Kingdom. I need a Savior. I need a Liberator. I need a Lord. Do you?

P(rayer) - Abba, thank you for sending Your Son, yeshua to this planet to save us and rescue. Here my cry for help.

Wednesday's SOAP - Luke 2:8-12

 ⁸ That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. ⁹ Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, ¹⁰ but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. ¹¹ The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ¹² And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

S(cripture) - “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.

O(bservation) - Three two word phrases just seemed to pop off the page for me . . . "good news - great joy - all people."

First good news - We live in a world that seems to focus on the bad news - war, catastrophes, murder, fires, famine, (the economy) . . . well you get the picture. This angel announces good news - the Messiah is born - the Savior, Liberator, Rescuer is here! (Like word studies? wikipedia does a great job with the connection between good news, the Gospel, glad tidings and message. Did you know that in Greek, the word for "news" uses the same root word for "angel"? The angel (messenger) announced a good (message).)

Second great joy - The image is pure ecstasy - delight. This is dancing in the streets joy. Celebration happiness. Happiness that bubbles over. Good news - bringing JOY!

Third all people - This is a message for everybody who will receive it. It won't be foisted upon anyone. But it is significant that the message first went out to the local migrant workers first. Shepherds weren't by any stretch middle income wage earners. But God chooses to announce His Son's birth to this crowd. Probably because this crowd would recognize the Good News better than the crowd at Herod's Palace. That all, includes you and me and the question is which crowd are we in?

A(pplication) - What's your joy meter pointing toward? What will it take to fill you up? What brings joy? NEWS. Good News. Jesus' birth. Want joy this Christmas? Turn to the SOURCE. Good News? Your life will never be the same. There will be a call out of comfortable living, a call to give your time away, a call to share your stuff, a call to serve, to consider others better than yourself. And out of that call, that message is JOY! "Well done, good and faithful servant - enter into the JOY of your master."

P(rayer) - Abba, restore to me the joy of my salvation - the marvel at hearing and recognizing and receiving the Good News of Jesus the Christ. In this season, it is easy to get distracted, thrown off task. May I once again revel in You. Help me to find the Babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a feed trough. And may that propel me to dance in the streets - like the shepherds. Amen.

(couldn't find a single black choir on you tube singing this spiritual . . . ironic that a song about Good News for the poor and marginalized  has been claimed by folk in tuxedos and ball gowns.)

Monday's SOAP - Isaiah 7:13-15

 ¹³ Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? ¹⁴ All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). ¹⁵ By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey.

S(cripture) - All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

O(bservation) - Going off on a tangent here for a second . . . The word in Hebrew for "virgin" is better translated "young woman." Skeptics have brought this forward to suggest that this was not a prophecy that supported the Gospel story or that because Matthew references it, Mary was not a virgin (and therefore Jesus was not God's son). First, the "magic word" is context. From Isaiah's perspective what kind of "sign" would have a young girl getting pregnant? That sounds pretty common. Like to understand the Hebrew (and Greek) behind the word for young maiden? Here's a link to an excellent site. Secondly, the context in Luke and Matthew is quite clear across the breath of both conception narratives. Here's a well done blog on this if you want to read more.

But the heart of this text is in the words "God is with us." Could the readers of Isaiah even conceive of what this really meant? Could they possibly understand God's great plan? Hey, after the fact, we still find it hard for our brains to wrap around! This week, we'll begin to explore the Truth that we cannot fully understand - that Jesus was fully God and fully man. And that he was uniquely God incarnate (God in the flesh) - no other sons of God - no way for mere humans to become divine. Jesus - God's ONE and ONLY BEGOTTEN SON.  This is the central tenant of the Christian faith. A Mystery. A Stumbling Block. I won't hesistate to state that this mere blog can not do this Truth justice (then again what mere words can describe the grandeur, awe, and beauty of Jesus Christ? How can words ever be enough to explain the Word (John 1:1-14)?  But one of the best books for any reader is Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola's Jesus Manifesto. As I have read this book, I've found myself immersed in worship of Jesus.

A(pplication) - I want moments this season to be immersed in worship. Yesterday at the Vine was one of those days. So was LIFEgroup. Now I sense it in my soul - in my quiet time - enough time to get alone, get still with God - to marvel at the incarnation.

If Jesus really is "the reason for the season," then He deserves more than a passing thought as I decorate (mostly Michelle!), buy presents, and bake cookies (mostly Becca!). The Advent Conspiracy has helped keep me on point, but if not careful, I can just as easily get caught up in "conspiring" and miss out on worshiping the Christ Child. Are you making time to worship - truly worship this season?

P(rayer) - Abba, I just sense a call to fall on my knees. My favorite carol is running through my thoughts. Chains shall he break. Chains shall he break. And in his name, all oppression shall cease. Maranatha. Come quickly, Lord. God be with us again.

Friday's SOAP - 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

 ⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

   “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
   their righteousness endures forever.”

 ¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

S(cripture) - Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

O(bservation) - This is such a critical part of stewardship and I think it often gets overlooked. There are a myriad of motivations to give . . Institution building, loyalty, guilt, trying to earn heavenly frequent flyer points, seeking to impress others, tax write-offs, compulsion, belief in the vision of the person or organization, trust that the gift will be used wisely . . . What's your motivation?

A(pplication) - Paul writes that it shouldn't be guilt or compulsion. Giving should be done with joy. Is that a picture of your giving? (smiling when the collection basket goes by?) The mark of a Christ follower's maturity can be found in his or her attitude when giving. Take your spiritual pulse. (I will too.) When presented with the opportunity to give, do you . . .

a) calculate the minimum amount you can give and save face
b) calculate how much you can afford to give, while worrying how the giving will impact your budget
c) cheerfully calculate how much you can afford to give, while wishing you could give more!
c) empty your wallet with joy because you know that what's in your wallet is "me money" that will bless others if you give it away.

I'm listening to the little drummer boy now, reminding me of that incredible story of a calloused boy who encounters the baby Jesus and finds healing for his lamb but more importantly for his soul. He offers the only gift he has - "I'll play my drum for him."  Cheerfully.

P(rayer) - Abba, work deep into my soul and make me a cheerful giver. And with it, teach me discipline with my resources (spend less) so that I can give more. I need Your grace. You gave yourself freely. May I freely give, cheerfully give, joyfully give. And in so doing, experience your love because You LOVE a cheerful giver. Love me. Amen.

Thursday's SOAP - 1 Timothy 6:9-10

  ⁶ Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. ⁷ After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. ⁸ So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

 ⁹ But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

S(cripture) - true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth

O(bservation) - Contentment. That word just pops off the page for me. I am often not a content person. The perfectionist in me says, "it can be done better." The greed in me reminds me, "if I only had more . . ." The world I live in constantly admonishes me that I haven't arrived. TV and radio advises me that I won't be fulfilled unless I obtain "X."

Contentment. Being satisfied with what i have and my lot in life is great wealth. I think this why I like It's a Wonderful Life so much. George Bailey was not content. It took the reality of the town folk who rallied around him to let him know how rich he was. Watched "The Emporer's Club" last night - same theme. (All teachers should watch that movie by the way.)

Contentment. Maybe I need to watch more of these movies. You have a favorite?

A(pplication) - The forces that pull against contentment are strong. First is that internal pull - I am a fallen human being who craves the physical to fill what is missing spiritually. Second, I live in a world of fallen human beings who are are all singing that same refrain in order to sell product. Everyone seeking love, joy, hope, peace, contentment and seeking to find it in stuff. Anyone who has an eternal perspective sees how silly this is - chasing after wealth and popularity and power. Still the pull of this world is strong.

Smell that cheddar? Don't worry about that spring loaded wire it's sitting on. "People who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction."

P(rayer) - Abba, in this season when the message to consume gets louder, may I hear You clearly. Truly, You say there is a place for celebration. Guide me into true celebration and contentment today and through this season. Amen.

Wednesday's SOAP - 2 Corinithians 8:13-15

¹³ Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. ¹⁴ Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. ¹⁵ As the Scriptures say,

   “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,
      and those who gathered only a little had enough.” (Exodus 16:18)

S(cripture) - I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.

O(bservation) - There is so much wisdom in what Paul is writing here. He's writing to a group of Christ followers who are already poor. But they are wealthier ("have plenty") than Christ followers in Jerusalem who have been facing extreme persecution - so Paul is appealing to them to give generously. He speaks that he doesn't want to over-burden them, but to share out of what is more than they need. It is an amazing glimpse into the early church and its priorities.

These poor churches with no resources other than each other and the power of the Holy Spirit, soon over-ran an empire - like mustard seeds in a garden, like dandelions in an untreated lawn, like tribbles on the Starship Enterprise.  I believe a great part of that multiplication is that they offered an alternative culture (not just beliefs) that was especially appealing to those on the margins.

A(pplication) - The call to share with our brothers and sisters around the world is no less strong today. There are places where the Kingdom is growing incredibly. Usually among the poor. The Kingdom message is Good News for the poor.

The Church (and by extension the Kingdom) does its best work in the places cast off by society. It grows in difficult places like dandelions grow in sidewalk cracks. And sadly, the church doesn't grow well in "manicured lawns" (places of affluence) because the demands of the kingdom are too great - give, share, rely on God - why Jesus could say it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom. We want to make Christianity a religion with a bars that we can reach (don't murder, don't steal, honor father and mother . . .) when the Kingdom ethic requires so much more. SO MUCH MORE. And when we live into this life of sharing and generosity, we too can be part of a movement to change the world. The other option is to continue to make Christianity a low-bar religion that will be lost in irrelevancy.

P(rayer) - Abba, how I long for the church in America to wake-up to its potential - a radical sold-out call to live for Jesus and His Kingdom. And call me and guide me into this kingdom movement. I don't want to go through the motions. Holy, heavenly Father, your Kingdom COME, Your WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give me this day my daily bread, and if I have extra, prompt me to give it away. Amen.

Tuesday's SOAP - Luke 12:15-21

¹⁵ Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

 ¹⁶ And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

   ¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

   ²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

   ²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

S(cripture) - “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

O(bservation) - This is a scary story but one worth pondering. On Sunday, we explored that God is not anti-wealth - but anti-hoarding and pro-generosity. Here is a man who God has blessed who forgot that God was the reason for his wealth. He decided to hoard his abundance and in so doing, God took his life. The concluding words are a warning for his listeners and for us all - this is what hoarders should expect - those who are not rich toward God.

That phrase "rich toward God" has captured my attention and just like yesterday it raises questions. How can one be "rich toward God?" I mean I know it means give to God, but the connection here is to material things - what the rich farmer failed to give. Since these belong to God already, how can they be given to Him? More basic, if we can't "physically" give God our material stuff, then who do we give to on this planet that stands in for God or receives on his behalf?

Intuitively most of us have already made the jump as soon as we read the text - we've read other passages where Jesus strongly encourages his followers to give to the poor. There are other texts where Jesus acknowledges the necessity of supporting the temple (in our case, the church) - the story of the poor widow who gave two coins into the Temple treasury.

Luke - the writer of this text - especially was engaged with the plight of the poor and their place in the Kingdom. He's the author who captured Jesus' story about the rich man and Lazarus - a similar story of judgment that does not turn out well for the rich man who ignored the homeless beggar, Lazarus, camped on his door step.

I'm making a jump here, without doing the full research (see yesterday), but I think being rich toward God carries a call to support the priests/pastors/leaders of the faith community (the purview of tithing) AND sharing with the poor (the purview of alms). In either case, the call is to SHARE and out our blessings.

A(pplication) - So the question is - am I sharing? Is my giving in line, with God's expectations? Am I "rich toward God?" (and by extension, storing up "treasures in heaven.") What am I doing with my abundance? my excess? It's time for examination. How about you?

P(rayer) - Abba, I am blessed. Show me ways today and throughout my life that I can be generous toward You. Amen.

Monday's SOAP - Matthew 6:19-24

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

   ²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

   ²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

S(cripture) - store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

O(bservation) - the question needs to be asked, how does one store up treasures in heaven? I could give my summary answer - the commentary that i heard for years, add in my assumptions and biases, but at the moment, I am really interested in seeing what Jesus has to say about HOW?

First - I look at the context - did Jesus say anything immediately before or after that would provide answers. This is Jesus' sermon on the mount so I should look at anything in his talk that talks about heaven and treasure. Jesus doesn't use the word treasure anywhere else in this sermon. He does repeatedly use the word heaven in the context of the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 5, Jesus talks about God blessing the poor - that the KoH is theirs. He tells his listeners that if they are persecuted for being righteous and just, they will inherit the KoH. He goes on to say that those who are persecuted for following Jesus (and thus living his way of life) will gain a great reward in heaven. That sounds like treasure!

Ah - this last one - might be our first clue - being righteous and just means you stand up for the poor and marginalized - to side with the have-nots. Often the "haves" aren't pleased when others challenge their comfort and security - they might even fight back - persecution physical, economic, political, verbal can be expected. Jesus says when you are righteous (dikaios in Greek has both a moral goodness and a justice component), you get the Kingdom. And when you follow Jesus (this is his own commentary/explanation on what he just said) - follow his teachings and his way of life, you will receive a reward in heaven.

I think - honestly I have enough here to give me my answer. But if not, I would follow this path . . .

2 - I would look at other texts in Matthew (use Biblegateway to search for treasure and heaven.)
3 - I would look at other Gospels to see if one of the other writers elaborates or has another story where Jesus talked about treasures in heaven (or the Kingdom).
4 - I would explore the rest of the New Testament. Did Paul have anything to say on the subject? Or James or John? These are sources very close to Jesus and his culture. (Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 talks about fire revealing the quality of each man's work (heavenly building) - this might be a clue - he talks about building on Christ as the foundation)
5 - Was Jesus quoting or paraphrasing the Hebrew (Old) Testament? I can search Biblegateway.com for treasure and heaven.
6 - Do I have access to primary sources at or around the time of Jesus that talk about heavenly treasure?
7 - Who can I talk to that could add insight? Are there commentaries that will clarify what I have discovered?

A(pplication) - I share what looks like a cumbersome process (but those who like to be detectives might find this an exciting way to study your Bible), to show you the proper way to come at the meaning of a text. One of the things that concerns me most in Bible study is when people go around the room and and say, "I think it means this." I do trust the Holy Spirit to bring clarity to any text, but I also know we do a "great" job of bring our biases and pre-conceptions to any text. We are excellent at justifying our actions (just read about Adam and Eve to see how good we are at it, even when faced with the truth.) Be careful of this!

So today, when Jesus says to store up treasures in heaven, he's saying live this righteous and just life. Stand up for and associate with the poor and marginalized. And so it is vital to study and live out the teachings of Christ. Treasure comes from a life well lived - following Jesus - and the more I follow Jesus - the more I see clearly the treasures that await me there. This is where my heart is (or where it should be).

P(rayer) - Abba, first may we revere your Word and not treat it like "Hints from Heloise." Abba, give us a deep hunger for knowing your TRUTH - removing the baggage from our lives, the scales from our eyes to see clearly. Help us see clearly what is being placed in our eternal bank account and may that fuel us to greater righteous and just actions. May our heart's desire reside in one place and one place alone. We can't serve two masters. Abba, teach us the ways of your Son. In Jesus' name. Amen.

the texts in Matthew 5

 ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
   for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
   for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
   for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

   ¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Friday's SOAP - Luke 2:8-20

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

S(cripture) - The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.

O(bservation) - If God was going to follow the same modus operandi today that He did 2000 years ago, I can picture God sending His angel army to migrant apple pickers, or Eastern Shore immigrant crab pickers or residents of one of the homeless shelters in Baltimore.  These are the kind of people to whom God chose to announce the birth of his Son.  The lowest of the lower class - shepherds or migrant workers - the first to see and worship the Baby - the ones chosen to announce his birth to the rest of humanity.  Migrant workers worshiping the Son of homeless peasant parents.  What does this teach us about God?  about ourselves?  

A(pplication) - If we're going to get in on the first wave of birth announcements, it might be good to hang out with the folk who will get the first word.  After all, this baby Jesus grew up and said, "Whatever you did for the least of these kin of mine - YOU'VE DONE FOR ME."  Awesomely, God hangs out with the poor.  We should to.  

P(rayer) - Abba,  how can we experience anything but shock and awe that You, creator of all the universe chooses the weak, and the foolish and the least on this planet to elevate and lift up and honor!?!  What an honor to be be among the first to worship You.  Abba, may I not be afraid to take my place among the homeless, the migrant workers, the marginalized in order to be first to worship You. Amen.

Thursday's SOAP - Daniel 3:8-18

⁸ But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews. ⁹ They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! ¹⁰ You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. ¹¹ That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace.¹² But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”

 ¹³ Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, ¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? ¹⁵ I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments.^[b] But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”

 ¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. ¹⁸ But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

S(cripture) - O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.

O(bservation) - Feeling pressure to conform to our culture's expectation of Christmas? Think about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. For these guys, failure to conform (worship a gold statue whenever the Babylonian national anthem was played) meant death, not by lethal injection, but by baking. Death by baking. This would be very low on my list of ways I would hope to die. And the three told the most powerful man on the planet - "sorry, we just can't do it. God first. We can only worship God." The king on hearing this told them to get the furnace going seven times hotter (quick death better than slow burn?)

You can read the rest of the story here.

So when the culture pressures you to spend money you don't have or family pressures you to spend on people who don't need it, think about these guys. Who do you want to answer to - God or Aunt Hazel? Who do you want to please - God or Cousin Bennie?

A(pplication) - The power and pull to conform is strong in all of us. But Paul reminded us yesterday to not be conformed to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. How can we renew? by meditating on God's Word - SOAPing it up. By memorizing a scripture (like Romans 12:1-2) - and pulling it out when tempted. Our temptations to conform are subtle and require vigilance. It's hard when what everyone considers normal is not in alignment with God's will. But this is what it means to be a witness. Your faith calls for transformation.

P(rayer) - Abba, renew us. renew me. May we find comfort in conforming together to Your standards of giving and sharing. Lead us to your Words that point to how we should live and give in this Advent season. Amen.