SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Ezra 5; Ezra 6; Psalm 138; Luke 16 (New International Version) 

Scripture-My special verse today:  Luke 16:10“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

 13“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

 14The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight. 

Observation:  Jesus was always calling people to a point where they had to make a choice.  He never let people sit on their past, rather he always called them to refocus on their future.  The condition of the heart was a constant struggle in Jesus’ mind and he was constantly challenging others to look at their heart from which everything else in your life flows.

Jesus said everyone must make a choice at some point as to what and whom they are going to follow.  Everyone is following something or someone whether they notice or not.  

 Application:  To decide not to choose is still a choice.  In Jesus’ eyes, the heart’s condition was a major focus of what condition a person was in at the time.  He wants us to examine our heart condition constantly because when our heart strays, our bodies go along.  We must choose one way or the other.  As he said, we cannot serve both because that is impossible.  We must choose wisely the ways of God and not allow our hearts to be sidetracked.  That is probably one of the hardest parts of being a parent.  When I see my children’s hearts going astray, I must do whatever it takes to get their heart back into its right condition.  This is not always easy and rarely met with excitement from my children.  However, I have learned that Jesus is right and once the heart goes a certain way, the body is soon to follow both in speech and action.

 Prayer:  Let me examine my heart daily to make sure I am still in love with the only one that leads to eternal life.  Let me remain strong and keep my children’s hearts focused on you.

SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Jeremiah 26; Jeremiah 35; Jeremiah 36; John 20 

Scripture-My special verse today:  Jeremiah 35:8 We have obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab son of Recab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine 9 or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. 10 We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab commanded us. 

Observation:  A small group that are living in Jerusalem are found obedient.  They were displaced when Nebbie took over the land and they flee.  However, they do not fall into the ways of those around them but remain strong in their convictions.  They follow the ways of their fathers before them, just as they were instructed.  They do not go with the popular vote but stick to the old ways commanded including not drinking wine and living in tents because their forefathers told them to.

Application:  How rare to see someone following the ways instructed instead of the new ways.  There was a reason they stuck with the teachings and they are in the bible because of it.  Obviously, this was rare or they wouldn’t have been singled out.  It is important to follow the ways of God, even when they are in violation of the things of the world.  New teachings are not always from God.  Efficiency at the cost of godliness causes us great strife-I must choose carefully.

Prayer:  Let me choose the things of God.  The new ways may or may not be better.  Teach me the write ways!!

SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Jeremiah 5; Jeremiah 6; John 12 

Scripture-My special verse today:  Jeremiah 6:16 This is what the LORD says: 

       “Stand at the crossroads and look; 
       ask for the ancient paths, 
       ask where the good way is, and walk in it, 
       and you will find rest for your souls. 

       But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 

Observation:  God declares to his people that they must make a choice.  They must stand and decide whether to follow God’s ways of old or the new ways that lead away from God.  He wants his followers to follow the ancient paths but a decision must be made one way or another.  To not decide is to make a decision against the Lord.

Application:  At some point, I must choose to follow God’s way or mine.  Mine equates to the world’s ways.  God’s ways are tried and true, not changing daily.  However, the world offers ways that are efficient and effective, yet they do not draw me closer to God.  Not choosing is essentially choosing the world.  To choose God means to intentionally decide to follow his ways no matter what.  To choose God means to put him first before myself.  To choose God means to dedicate my life to walking the simple path and taking my children along on that journey.

The crossroads are upon me each year as I decide to home educate again.  The old ways of the founding fathers, the old ways of the pioneers, the old ways are surely old. The new ways often seem easier and maybe better.  However, as I fall to my knees I know that God truly calls me to home educate my children, no matter what the world offers.  The old ways are surely the best – for me they are God’s ways.

Prayer:  Let me fall at your feet every morning and choose your ways.  Let me not fall captive to the world’s enticements.  Rather, let me truly follow you each and every day.