Author: Larry Soape

Larry Soape is the Associate Pastor for Median & Senior Adults, and Missions at FBCSA.

Living and Enduring

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 1:18-25 (day four)

Verse 23 – “for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”

What does it mean when it says ‘living and enduring’?  Webster’s dictionary defines ‘living’ as active, functioning, full of life and vigor.  ‘Enduring’ is defined as lasting and durable, eternal and imperishable.  We can apply these definitions together to describe the word of God as active, growing, complete in life, unchanging, everlasting and imperishable.  We can always depend on it being there…it has authority to give life…it will never change.

The Bible…God’s Word…was inspired by the Holy Spirit, given to the prophets and biblical writers, protected from heresies, and preserved through the ages.  The Bible has given us everything we are to believe and do.  Everything we need to know for God’s glory is in the Bible. God speaks to us through His Word…since it is living and complete, we do not get to pick and choose what we will obey.  Our God is an awesome God!

Be Holy

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 1:10-17 (day four)

The Holy Spirit was at work in our world long before Pentecost.  The message that the prophets delivered, of salvation, was given to them by the Holy Spirit.  They searched and discovered that it was given for you and me and it comes with a command.

The word, ‘therefore’, in verse 13 is a cause and effect word.  Because of verses 10-12, our response should be…prepare our minds and fix our hope on the grace of Jesus.  The command given is repeated from the book of Leviticus…”You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Holiness is not an option in the Christian life.  We cannot ‘pick and choose’ how we will live our lives.  We are to be like the Holy One who called us.  How then will we live?  We have the call of the Spirit and the example of Christ…Peter tells us not to be conformed or compromised by the world…be HOLY!

A Living Hope

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 1:1-9 (day four)

One of the most difficult doctrines to understand has historically been the doctrine of the Trinity.  In our passage this week, as we set out on a study of 1 Peter, we see a picture of the combined work of each person of the Trinity.  God the Father has established the work of salvation for the redemption of man.  Jesus Christ, the Son, has given His blood as sacrifice for our sin, and we are to follow Him in obedience.  The Holy Spirit provides the sanctifying work so that we can be presented blameless before God.  God in His mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope.  Following our trust in Jesus, we gain an inheritance in heaven that is secured and held by the Holy Spirit.

Love, hope, faith…the inexpressibly valuable gift of salvation is ours through the work of our Trinitarian God.  We must never despair, regardless of the trials, that we serve a mighty God.

He is Holy

Re:Verse passage – Hebrews 10:19-25 (day four)

Our culture today has lost their reverence for God.  Recognition for and respect of the holiness of God seems to be a thing of the past.  There was a day when even non-believers had respect for our holy God.  Those days are gone.

Even for believers in Christ, there is a failure to remember what our salvation has cost.  It was the blood of Christ.  He gave His life so we can have forgiveness of our sin.  When we approach God in prayer…in worship…or in study of Scripture, we should do so in reverence and awe of God’s holiness.  Casual or flippant attitudes disregard the sacredness of the love and work of salvation.

We must never forget the high cost of salvation.  Whether we are in corporate worship or private devotion, always remember that God is a holy God who desires our holiness as well.  Our holiness, rather than our comfort and safety, is the goal!

Better Together

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 18:15-35 (day four)

Our theme this summer has been Better Together.  Now we see the truth of our theme played out in Scripture.  Verse 20 says, “For where two or three have gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst.”  When we join together in prayer, there is power…God is with us.  God inhabits our prayers as an individual, but there is special authority when our prayers are joined with others.  It is for this reason that we have a prayer list at church.  We join in concert to lift up the needs of others to a loving God…knowing that He will hear and answer us.

Isn’t it amazing that we can pray here in Texas, others can pray in Indiana, or in England, or on the other side of the world in Thailand, and God hears us in unison.  Time zones are no barriers to an infinite, omnipresent God.  Our theme is more than just a slogan…we really are Better Together!

Accountability

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 18:5-14 (day four)

There are at least two lessons to be learned in our Re:Verse passage this week.  First: to cause an innocent one to stumble will bring dire consequences.  Death by drowning would be more desirable than the fiery consequences of hell.  Second:  when someone inevitably stumbles, we are to pursue them with all of our being to restore them.  This is known as accountability.  We leave the ninety and nine and search for the one who is lost!  The inter-connectivity of a church family leaves no room for isolationism or island living.  If a fellow believer is straying or has lost their way, we are accountable to seek to lead them back to fellowship with God.

How many times have we said, “It’s none of my business”?  Our culture has convinced us not to judge.  Judgment though may be obvious when biblical commands are broken and are evident to all, but we don’t want to say it out loud.  The standard is God’s…we need to encourage those around us to hold to that standard.

A Humble Approach

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 18:1-4 (day four)

The disciples, like us, were trying to superimpose their understanding of how things work here on earth with how things will be in heaven.  On earth, we tend to always seek something better.  If we can get more possessions, or more power, or more influence, we can get greater status or authority…it is a constant drive in life to yearn for more.  In our passage, the disciples are asking Jesus what they need to do to get ahead in heaven.

Contentment is sometimes an elusive character quality.  To be satisfied with what God has provided, rather than always seeking more, is known as humility. To see life through the humble eyes of a child, allows us to approach God in a heart attitude that sees Him for who He really is…Almighty God!  Isn’t it just backward to our thinking that the more we do to impress God does not get us more.  The more we rest in God and are steadfast in our seeking Him, the more pleasing we are in our faith!

Joining God

Re:Verse passage – Luke 19:1-10 (day four)

Henry Blackaby taught in Experiencing God, to watch and see where God is at work already, and join Him in that work.  He also taught that there were several things only God could do…so if you saw those things happening, you knew it was God’s handiwork.  One of those things God does is to cause people to seek after Him.  Jesus saw Zaccheus seeking after Him and knew it was God at work.  “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”  Once again, Jesus is setting an example of how to live and to serve.

Many times we invest our witness in random places that have a very low potential for fruit to be produced.  Any witness is good, but learning to join God’s work in the life of another can produce a very rewarding crop of fruit.  Watch for the six things only God can do and orient your witness around God’s activity.  (Ask for the other five if you do not know them!)

How Are We Doing?

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:18-20 (day four)

Our passage this week is a very familiar passage…the Great Commission.  As we have been studying this summer how we are Better Together, we have also been putting forth what our New Testament church should look like.  Evangelism, discipleship, baptism, and obedience to the Word of God…these are the characteristics that we need to be involved in until Jesus returns.  The beauty of Jesus’ final command to us on this earth is that we do not have to depend on ourselves to accomplish the assignments.  Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us…it is by His power that we are able to carry out such a huge command. (Acts 1:8)

Every time we read this passage, we should self-evaluate (or let God evaluate) how we are doing, personally, in these areas of our life.  Are we growing in our discipleship?  Are we discipling others?  Are we being obedient to God’s Word?  Are we leading others to faith in Christ?  Remember…we do the work, the Holy Spirit brings the results!

Follow My Example

ReVerse passage – John 13:3-17 (day four)

“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” ― Albert Schweitzer

Schweitzer had obviously read John 13 and recognized the truth of Jesus’ words.  Even though Jesus fully comprehended all that God had given Him, He was willing to give up all of His authority and glory to serve others.  He said it was to be an example to us!  That means that we should do the same…serve others.

How might ‘serving others’ look in our lives?  It could mean a gentleman rising to give his seat to a lady or elderly adult.  It could mean letting the person behind you in line at the grocery store, with only a few items, to go ahead of you when you have a full basket.  Or, it could mean helping with the dishes after a meal at another’s home.  Eyes up and look for ways to follow Jesus’ example!