These are a few of our SOAP notes from today’s reading. We encourage you to read and journal on your own first, then join us in conversation about what God revealed to YOU today. Click HERE to go directly to the daily reading if you wish.
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Sacrifice | Kim Chipman
S~ But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. 2 Samuel 24:24 (NLT)
O~ David had been prideful and sinned by taking a census to revel in the size of his army and in his power. He wasn’t’ going to war so there was no need to know. Actually, even if he was going to war he had seen the Lord deliver them from unbelievable circumstances before! As punishment, God sent a plague. Then David received instructions to build an altar. Araunah was going to give David everything he needed, but David insisted on buying it.
A~ I truly sense that this heart desire pleases You. The desire David had to offer to You only that which cost him something – some self-sacrifice would need to be involved for him to feel right about presenting it to God. I wonder how often I miss the boat here. I offer You what is convenient and without cost to me. Does this please You? Maybe…but likely not as much as an offering that is sacrificial. That really costs me something personally. A give that isn’t just from my excess time, money, whatever…but that requires me to choose YOU instead of ME.
P~ Lord, help me to hear Your voice and obey it. Help me to die to myself and live for You alone. I love You.
Please Forgive Me | Joni Tyner
S~ Then David said to God. “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing.” 1 Chronicles 21:8 (NLT)
O~ Chapter 21 is about Satan tempting David to take a census of Israel. He wanted to do this so he could boast about his military strength. He fell to the temptation and did the census. He was following his own ambitions over God’s plan for his life.
In verse 8, David takes responsibility for his actions and asks for forgiveness to God.
A~ Like David, there are situations where I know what the right thing to do is, yet I do my own thing. This always ends up badly. I hear myself saying to my kids, “there are consequences for your actions.” Hey Joni!!!! Listen to that!! In order to restore intimacy with God and begin to receive blessings again, I need to repent and ask for forgiveness. It is important for all believers to take responsibility for our actions. Sin without remorse is living out of fellowship with the Holy Spirit. It is not a loss of salvation, but believers will experience minimal fruit in his life (including love, joy, peace, and patience, see Galatians 5:22-23).
P~ Dear Lord, living in this world is tough. There is so many confusing distractions, help me to keep my eyes on You and Kingdom work. I desire to be close to You, to receive Your blessings. Please forgive me for sin that has grieved Your heart.
When I don’t measure up | Guest post
S~ …being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
O~ Paul is writing to this church with such joy. This church has partnered with the Gospel and Paul is confident that the work that God started will get done.
A~ I just want Paul’s words to the church to wash over me….Paul is confident that God, who began a good work in me, will carry it on to completion. He will do this until Jesus comes back.
And Paul goes on to pray over me….that my love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so I’m able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. And that I’m filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus – all to the glory and praise of God.
My confidence that I’m walking on the path that God has for me is pretty non-existent. And I often slip into a “do a lot of stuff for Jesus” mindset, which makes me feel like I’m doing good. (Doing a lot for Jesus sounds great and looks great, but is a lie).
Things I prayed for: new job, new school, better health. God has said yes to these things. But these things have distracted me and I’ve often chosen them over spending time with my Father or even being a part of His Kingdom work. The good gifts He has given me have become distractions, and I’m losing confidence that I’m walking where He would have me.
P~ Father, thank You for Your promises!! This promise that You, who began a good work in me, will carry it on until Jesus comes back. You are opening my eyes to see how I behave when I feel like I don’t measure up. I run into my life and don’t emerge. Or I try and “do a lot of stuff” for Jesus. Please grow my confidence that You, who began a good work in me, will carry it on to completion. I just want to believe that and live like I believe that. I love You and pray this in Jesus’ Name!
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