SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Ezekiel 47; Ezekiel 48; Luke 2 (The Message) 

Scripture-My special verse today:  Ezekiel 48:15-19 ”What’s left of the ’sacred square’—each side measures out at seven miles by a mile and a half—is for ordinary use: the city and its buildings with open country around it, but the city at the center. The north, south, east, and west sides of the city are each about a mile and a half in length. A strip of pasture, one hundred twenty-five yards wide, will border the city on all sides. The remainder of this portion, three miles of countryside to the east and to the west of the sacred precinct, is for farming. It will supply food for the city. Workers from all the tribes of Israel will serve as field hands to farm the land.

 20 ”This dedicated area, set apart for holy purposes, will be a square, seven miles by seven miles, a ‘holy square,’ which includes the part set aside for the city. 

Observation:  The people are settled and the land is divided.  Nothing is accidental.  No, everything has a purpose.  A place is even left in the center for the most holy place, the place where God’s presence will reside.  This place is not accidental either.  No, it is intentionally set aside in the middle of everything so that all the community can be in the close proximity of God.  A dedicated area, set apart for holy purposes is the place to take care of by the people.

 Application:  God intends for us to keep his place holy and special.  He wants it to be special.  He wants is set-apart.  He wants it to be only His place of dwelling.  God’s special place today should remain in the middle of the community or we struggle with feeling his presence.

 Prayer:  Lord, let me keep your place holy and set-apart.

SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Ezekiel 36; Ezekiel 37; Psalm 110; Revelation 19 (The Message) 

Scripture-My special verse today:  Ezekiel 37:24-27 ”‘They’ll follow my laws and keep my statutes. They’ll live in the same land I gave my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their grandchildren will live there forever, and my servant David will be their prince forever. I’ll make a covenant of peace with them that will hold everything together, an everlasting covenant. I’ll make them secure and place my holy place of worship at the center of their lives forever. I’ll live right there with them. I’ll be their God! They’ll be my people! 

Observation:  Then, a word that implies lots of pain and suffering goes before it.  God tells the people that there will be a time when the land will be restored and reunited.  They will no longer be under the rule of others but will become a nation again.  They will not be divided into two pieces but will be one country.  God made a covenant and he will make that covenant true.  He will live with the people and be a God among the people.  He will be their one and true God.

 Application:  Although times are hard, God never forgets his promises.  His promises are always kept.  He does not go back on them and cause others to doubt his ways.  His covenant of peace exists today for those who love him.  He allows them to live in a land in which he dwells if there is room for him there.  I hope we always make room for God in our country and realize that, without his favor on us, we are truly doomed.

 Prayer:  Let me live each day with you and through you as you designed me to live.

SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Ezekiel 33; Ezekiel 34; Ezekiel 35; Revelation 18 (The Message) 

Scripture-My special verse today:  Ezekiel 33:30-32 ”As for you, son of man, you’ve become quite the talk of the town. Your people meet on street corners and in front of their houses and say, ‘Let’s go hear the latest news from God.’ They show up, as people tend to do, and sit in your company. They listen to you speak, but don’t do a thing you say. They flatter you with compliments, but all they care about is making money and getting ahead. To them you’re merely entertainment—a country singer of sad love songs, playing a guitar. They love to hear you talk, but nothing comes of it.

 33 ”But when all this happens—and it is going to happen!—they’ll realize that a prophet was among them.” 

Observation:  Ezekiel is speaking to the people but they are not heeding his warnings or directions.  God tells Ezekiel that they will meet to hear his words and act like they are enjoying them.  However, they will be pure entertainment.  They will not listen attempting to change anything in their lives but will only listen in order to have something fun to do.  The words will not cause them to change and they will only realize he was a prophet after all things that are prophesied will happen.

 Application:  Do people hear me or do they listen?  Mostly with my own children, it seems I speak but they are slow to hear me.  Don’t they realize that I want to keep them from making the same mistakes I have made?  However, they are entertained many times but I don’t think they will understand the directions until bad things happen.  Why is our human nature like that?  It would be so much easier to listen to God myself the first time.  Unfortunately, many times I shake my head and enjoy the talk but don’t really hear what he is saying to me.  I should desire his direction and heed them the first time.

 Prayer:  Let me convicted and not entertained by your words.  Let me listen with a heart that is willing to listen to you completely.

SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Ezekiel 25; Ezekiel 26; Ezekiel 27; Ezekiel 28; Revelation 10 

Scripture-My special verse today:  Ezekiel 28:14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, 

       for so I ordained you. 
       You were on the holy mount of God; 
       you walked among the fiery stones.

 15 You were blameless in your ways 
       from the day you were created 

       till wickedness was found in you. 

Observation:  God declares that his people were made to be perfect and complete.  They were not made to fall away from God in their created state.  However, they lost their blameless ways when wickedness was found in them.  Then, they became a wicked people who did not need God any longer.  They turned away from their annointed ways and turned away from God.

 Application:  Was there ever a point when I was a guardian cherub and what does that even entail?  Am I so far removed that I don’t even remember that state?  At one point I know God created me to be blameless and holy for him but I have strayed so far.  The closer I get to God the harder it is to stay connected to him.  I find myself swayed by other things that want my attention and heart.  I try so hard to remain a part of him but find myself more interested in doing whatever I want to do.  

Being in Pine Ridge only made me more aware of my sin.  I am too quick to judge and rely on God way too little.  It is a sin to feel that the things I have are of my doing, rather they are all from the Lord.

 Prayer:  Help me remember the source of my strength and remain close to you all the time, not just when I need something.

SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Ezekiel 8; Ezekiel 9; Ezekiel 10; Ezekiel 11; Revelation 4 

Scripture-My special verse today:  Ezekiel 11:18 ”They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. 19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. 

Observation:  God promises to restore the people who have chosen to walk away from him.  After years of punishment for their refusal to worship him, he will have mercy on them and restore them to a right relationship with him.  No more punishment if they choose to love him with their whole heart, not just pieces. No, he promises that the ones who truly love him with an undivided heart will be called his people.

 Application:  Isn’t it amazing how much mercy God continues to show the people?  He allows them to return to him over and over again, although they continually disobey his commands. Am I aware of the unlimited mercy God continues to show me.  

In just a few hours, I fly with my family to South Dakota at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to help with a benefit concert.  An impossible thing is now possible.  In all ways, God could have turned his back on his people.  But he has chosen to shine light on the remnant there and pour out his blessings.  Casting Crowns will be performing a benefit concert there and we are part of the volunteer team.  Wow, God is truly incredible.

When Lori, the missionary in Pine Ridge, first told us about this possibility, I began to pray but really felt it was a long shot.   God showed me up.  He made it a reality and now we are getting ready to leave.  I love God.  He continues to shine for me, always doing things in a Big Way.  To underestimate him is to miss a blessing.  I always want to be amazed at his continual blessings poured out for those who will remain faithful. 

 Prayer:  Let me give you a round of applause every day for all your goodness and mercy.  You truly do things God sized.  Let me never miss it!!