SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Job 37; Job 38; 1 Corinthians 12 (New International Version) 

Scripture-My special verse today:  Job 38:36 Who endowed the heart ^[g] with wisdom 

       or gave understanding to the mind ^[h] ?

 37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? 
       Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens

 38 when the dust becomes hard 

       and the clods of earth stick together? 

Observation:  Job wants an audience with God and God basically puts him in his place.  He desires for God to answer his questions but God goes beyond that.  He tells him that no one has the same power that God has, in fact, he is able to give the heart wisdom and make the mind understand.

 Application:  How many times have I called myself wise only to think that it is my actions that make me wise?  Without God, I would be incapable of knowing anything.  I would be unable to discern the knowledge that I learn.  My mind would be incapable of understanding.  No, I am only able to understand because of the way God created my mind.  His majesty is declared the loudest when we serve him with our soul, mind, strength, and body – his greatest creation.

 Prayer:  Lord, let me serve you daily and recognize that my power comes from you.

SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Job 20; Mark 3; Mark 4 (New International Version) 

Scripture-My special verse today:  Job 20:11 The youthful vigor that fills his bones 

       will lie with him in the dust.

 12 ”Though evil is sweet in his mouth 
       and he hides it under his tongue,

 13 though he cannot bear to let it go 
       and keeps it in his mouth,

 14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; 
       it will become the venom of serpents within him.

 15 He will spit out the riches he swallowed; 
       God will make his stomach vomit them up.

 16 He will suck the poison of serpents; 
       the fangs of an adder will kill him.

 17 He will not enjoy the streams, 

       the rivers flowing with honey and cream. 

Observation:  According to this passage in Job, no evil is left unpunished.  Those who acquire things by evil gain will never be allowed to enjoy their gains.  The things they received by evil will bring unhappiness and sickness into their lives.  They will be unable to enjoy things received through sin.

 Application:  Let me never enjoy the things received through sinful measures and let my children never get away with sin.  I pray that once sin is found out, I will have wisdom in the issue.  Life is too short to live with the results of sin.

 Prayer:  Give me wisdom every day.

SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Job 6; Job 7; Job 8; Acts 12 (New International Version)

 Scripture-My special verse today:  Job 8:13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; 

       so perishes the hope of the godless.

 14 What he trusts in is fragile ^[a] ; 
       what he relies on is a spider’s web.

 15 He leans on his web, but it gives way; 

       he clings to it, but it does not hold. 

Observation:  Bildad reports that the destiny of those who forget God is not very bright.  Rather, they will hold onto things that give way and break much like a spider’s web does when one leans upon it.  He is urging them to rely on God and not forget Him.

 Application:  What do I rely upon?  Am I leaning upon things that will stand up to weight or am I leaning on things that are easily destroyed?  Only God’s word and his promises are worthy of leaning upon.  They are everlasting from the earliest of days to today.  They will stand forever.  To lean on things that don’t belong to God makes me very fragile to the changing affairs of the world.  If I lean on the world, when things change or hardships come along I fall.  However, to lean upon God’s promises allows me to stand firm when the storms come in my life.

Reading and studying God’s word daily helps me stand firm.  Even though I do not know the future, I know that I can rely on God walking through it with me.

 Prayer:  Lord, help me rely on you and realize it is the only things that stand in the long-term.

SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Job 1; Job 2; Acts 6; Acts 7 (New International Version) 

Scripture-My special verse today:   Job 1:9 ”Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 ”Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 

Observation:  Job was a man who loved God and had everything.  The book opens with God and Satan in a sort of discussion about a person Satan can lure away from God.  God suggests Job, because he feels his heart will stay with him.  Satan accepts the challenge and predicts that Job will turn away as soon as all he has is taken away from him.

 Application:  A hedge provides privacy and comfort.  After just reading about Nehemiah rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, it is easy to see why a hedge or wall is so important.  People feel they are strong but desire a little insurance to make sure it is true.  Satan picks Job because he says God has put a hedge around him and protects him.  Satan feels Job will change when that is taken away.

What happens to my faith when my hedge of protection is removed?  Am I willing to demonstrate more love for God when things are going my way or am I unwavering in my faith?  When there is a difference I should really examine my motives.  To follow God in the good times is easy.  It is following God in the difficult times that makes faith worth anything at all.  To struggle only makes us stronger in the end.

 Prayer:  Lord, let me faith be strong in all circumstances.