Larry Soape – Page 37 – The Everyday Prayer

How Do We Respond?

Re: Verse reading–Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (day four)

Is civil government autonomous from God? Can they do what they want and we are commanded to obey? Government is not equal to God, it is in subjection to Him. If government commands against God’s commands, it has abdicated its authority. The blood of the martyrs, who stood for truth against the tyranny of their nations, speaks in testimony. If the government is autonomous from God, they are exalted to a position equal to or greater than Him…that’s called idolatry. No prayer in school, abortion on demand, redefinition of marriage and the family, or parental rights given over to the state…do we obey God or man? How do we respond? Paul writes to Timothy that first it is a call to prayer. “Prayers are to be made on behalf of all men, for kings and for all in authority…” Have we made and are we continuing to make the first step?

Perspective

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-25; 1 Timothy 6:1-2; Titus 2:9-11 (day four) In each of these letters, Paul drives home the same point…our lives relate directly to God rather than man. In a slave relationship…or, in today’s world, an employer relationship…we are not to resent or argue or deceive our authority. We are reminded that our work is unto the Lord, not to man. We can escape the notice or knowledge of our employer, but God sees our every action and knows our heart and intentions. We get away with nothing. Paul tells us in the Titus passage that when we respond properly to our employers (masters), we adorn the doctrine of God. ‘Adorn’ means to make more pleasing; beautify, embellish, enhance, enrich, and grace. We add glory to God when we serve Him over our petty, worldly desires and passions. Our goals need to change…we should not be seeking what is best for ourselves, we should be seeking to adorn the doctrine of God. Give glory to God by rightly serving your authority!

Day of Reckoning

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:13-17; Leviticus 19:16-18; Zechariah 7:8-10; Matthew 5:13-16 (day four)

From the very beginning of the nation, God had given instructions to Israel on how to treat their neighbors. They were not to covet any of their possessions, they were not to take advantage of their weaknesses, and they were not to share in their sin. For generations, Israel did not obey God. They had not loved their fellow countryman and had taken every advantage of their neighbors for greed and self-gain. At the time of Zechariah, God was pronouncing judgment on His people. His command to “Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another “…had gone unheeded. Their hearts were like flint and they would not hear the law. We often believe we can ‘get away with disobedience’. We ignore God’s commands or seek to reinterpret His truth to suit our needs. There will be a day of judgment though for certain. Ask God to search your heart and restore your relationship with Him.

Unnatural

Re:Verse reading – Luke 6:27-36; Romans 12:17-21 (Day Four)

The Bible is radical! Usually the instructions in Scripture are diametrically opposed to the teachings of the world. Scripture says, “love your enemies”, the world says, “hate your enemies”. Scripture says, “bless those who curse you”, the world says, “curse them back”. If someone hits you, your first inclination is to hit them back…if they steal from you, get it back. Jesus taught a relationship with our enemies that feels almost unnatural…in fact, it is supernatural. We can only respond like Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit living within us. How do you respond when someone does you wrong? Do you obey Scripture or do you follow the ways of the world? It is only by faith that this relationship with our enemies can happen. Choose wisely.

Faithful Friends

Re: Verse reading–Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 1 Samuel 20:1-17, 27-42 (day four)

A friend is one who encourages and enables you to do God’s will for your life. Sometimes it can be costly. Jonathan was a true friend to David. He did everything he could to enable David to fulfill God’s plan for his life…even though it came at great personal cost. When God places a friend in your life and a need arises for them, we must go to God and ask what we can do to help. Instead of looking at the drain on our time, energy, or finances, we need to come alongside them to enable them to accomplish God’s plan. Ask God why He has put you in this place and what He wants you to do. Maybe God has already placed resource in your life to assist. Maybe you have been through circumstances that have given you insight and wisdom to pass along to them. Whatever the cost, we must be faithful and loyal to our friends.

Favor With God

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:12; Luke 2:45-52; John 19:25-27 (day four) When Jesus remained back at the Temple and His parents finally missed Him, they searched and found Him in the middle of the teachers. Jesus’ response was “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” From early in His life, this was His driving goal…to be about His Father’s business. John 4:34 says, “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work’.” John 5:36 says, “…for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish–the very works I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.” Is that our driving goal in life? Are we so concerned with doing God’s work He has for us, that we lose track of things that are going on around us? Do others recognize this goal as a driving force in our lives? The result of a ‘yes’ to these questions just might be favor with God!

Like a Warrior

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (day four)

In the Psalm 127 passage, the analogy is to a warrior. “Children…are like arrows in the hand of a warrior,” A warrior gives the picture of one who is skilled and well-trained. He knows his weapons and how to use them…his arrows are straight and properly fletched so they will fly true to his aim. Likewise, children who are well trained will be true and accurate. Training comes by constantly repeating the message until they have mastered the truth. Deuteronomy says surround your children with God’s truth at home, when traveling, on their hand, on their head, by the door, or by the gate…the picture is to immerse them in his truth. When they are effectively trained, you will not have to worry. They will respond in God’s wisdom and power. We also have the promise that they will not stray from His truth. What a wonderful promise! Shouldn’t we get busy training our kids and grandkids?

Submission to Authority

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 5:21-33 (day four) Our culture does not teach or encourage submission. We prize independence. Nobody can tell me what to do! We even demonize discipline or competition with our children for fear of scratching their psyche. In reality, society must be built on discipline, self-control, and submission. The populace must willingly submit to civil authority or there will be anarchy. The military must exist on discipline and submission to authority or they will dissolve into uselessness. In the marriage relationship, God has given us a model to follow…wives should submit to their husbands, husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the Church. This relationship paints a picture of the heavenly relationship between Christ and His Church. When we distort the relationship from God’s design, we give an inaccurate picture of God’s eternal plan. We are choosing to forego submission to God in favor of our own independent choices. Why should we submit to God? He is our Creator…He paid our price for sin with the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. What does your relationship look like at home and in heaven?

In Relationship

Re: Verse reading–1 Samuel 16:1-7; Psalm 139 (day four) If we have a relationship with someone, we have shared experience, we have inside knowledge of how they think or how they will behave. Psalm 139 describes the intimate relationship we have we our Sovereign, Almighty God. He knows our thoughts even before we think them…He is present before we arrive…He knows our heart, even when we are confused or misguided. God is so intimately aware of everything about us because He is our Creator. He has designed us to be in relationship with Him. When God looked at David’s heart as a boy, He saw a heart after His own heart. He could see David’s thoughts and actions before David ever considered them. What does God see when He looks at our hearts? Does He see faithfulness? Does He see obedience? Does He see reverence? Or does He see pride…selfishness…greed…hatred? “Where can we hide from your Spirit? Lead us in the everlasting way!”

Created…Restored

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 1:26-31; Romans 5:1-11 (day four) “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.” God’s creation was good…for just a short time. It did not take long for sin to enter the world. Then, the rest of history has been God’s working to bring about the redemption of man. We were created in God’s image and only after Christ came to redeem mankind, could we again have a relationship with God. Once God has poured His love into us through the Holy Spirit, we are able now to seek to become more like Christ. A lot of big words describing the character of Christ…perseverance, character, hope, atonement, redemption, reconciliation…we are once more being created into the image of God through His Son Jesus Christ. We could not restore the relationship with God ourselves…it was only through the work of Jesus. He is our only hope. A relationship with our Creator God? Absolutely…but only through Christ!