Check your pride at the door

My SOAP devotional for 4/9

S - Psalm 5:4-7
4 O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness;
you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.
5 Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence,
for you hate all who do evil.
6 You will destroy those who tell lies.
The Lord detests murderers and deceivers.

7 Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house;
I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.


O - The ultimate sin really is pride. God cannot tolerate ANY sin because it is against His very nature, and when we are too proud to claim we are without sin then that is really where the fault lies. For God is not about punishment, but this is for our own good. Why would we want a God that will pick and choose who He will save? Isn't it simpler to say that even while we are sinners, God in His mercy provided a way? And that way is to put aside our pride and worship Him with our whole heart, mind and spirit. (Luke 7:23 and Romans 5:8)

A - We must check our pride at the door. When we knock on God's door and He says, "Come in", it is because we have accepted that
1. we have sinned in some form or fashion
2. we cannot do life on our own, or become whole, without God
3. we desire to respond to God's gift of salvation in the blood of Jesus by taking a step without pride.

P - You are not a God created by human hands. You are not a God dependent on any mortal man. You are not a God in need of anything we can give, By YOUR plan, that's just the way it is. (Philips, Craig and Dean "You are God alone")

Sin comes back around

My SOAP devotional for Feb. 2

S - Gen 29:25
"Jacob raged at Laban. 'I worked seven years for Rachel. What do you mean by this trickery?"

O - In this part of the story, Laban has tricked Jacob by giving him his oldest daughter Leah instead of the 2nd daughter, Rachel, who Jacob loved. The deceiver who stole his older brother's blessing has become the deceived. Jacob was given this name "one who deceives" and he lived up to it. However, we see that when our sins come back around it doesn't feel very good. We often cannot see our sin and how it hurts others when we are the sinner. But God's way is fair and good because He shows us how sinning for our own benefit is always hurtful to someone. Following God's way is love without pain. Jacob finally saw how deception is not the best way to get what you want.

A - It is important to approach a situation with God's eyes and look for how my choices could potentially hurt others, and not just be for MY benefit.

P - Open my eyes Lord to see clearly how my choices are affecting those around me. Make me aware and give me the guidance to know when I am sinning. I love that your word promises that there is ALWAYS a way out from a temptation. Give me the strength to choose the right path.

Believe/Made Righteous

My SOAP devotional from Jan. 14th

S - Gen. 15:6
"And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord declared him righteous because of his faith."

O - This verse is referenced in Romans 4 as well and discussed by Paul at great length. The debate is about Abram believing God and then being declared righteous because of his faith. Therefore, he is the Father of all believers and we share in the same inheritance that God promised him. Abram obeyed as an act of his faith and relationship with God.

A - I should not be beating myself up when I mess up. The Lord has declared me righteous because of my faith. And when I do mess up I should confess it and get back to the Lord's work, not spending worthless moments pondering my sin. This is only a tactic of the enemy to distract me. God's word is clear and I need to BELIEVE it.

P - Keep the enemy FAR away from me Lord for he tries to deceive me into believing his doubts. YOU are faithful and what a blessing to be in fellowship with you, having confidence in your mercy, grace and forgiveness. May I never be so comfortable in my sin either as to forget WHO you are and who I belong to!! May I cling to the inheritance you have promised even little ole me :) AMEN!