S.O.A.P. (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) is a way of encountering God through the Bible each day, following a prescribed pattern of reading so you cover the whole Bible over a period of time.
Its a good discipline for a disciple because we need to let God loose on us through this source (written word). Watching for God and listening to God through other sources (like, say, the beauty of the golf course!) has a tendency to allow us to build God into what we think God should be. Paying attention to the bible can do that too, of course, if you are less than honest. But if you are honest and let the wrestling with God commence, blessings occur.
So, a S.O.A.P from Wednesday May 12 2010 and my daily reading of that day.
“Supper is Ready”
Love and Enemies
Scripture
“All were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their hearts. Eagerly they sought after God, and they found him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side”
2 Chronicles 15:15
Observation and Application
Last night at my Diakonia Class I included my “Parable of Salvation” (see below) as part of my lecture. The whole thing about finding God is not that we cannot but that we will not. And when we do see him he forces us to sit down at the table. We will not sit down on our own. We are forced to sit down. It is the force not of violence but of love. We are overcome by the unconditionality of it all – we have nothing to bring to the table, this feast, and our pride on the one hand, is shut down because, no, we are not allowed at this feast to bring any fare. We are served, unconditionally, by Christ. And our despair, on the other hand, is rejected because at this table no one, for any reason, is turned away. We then are forced, against our will, our will being destroyed by the fire of this love. Christ’s heart-melting (or piercing) gaze takes us beyond the choice of sitting down. It is too good not to be true. And so we do sit, we do find him, we do feast, after he has found us out, and we enjoy his presence.
And then there is the “rest from the enemies.” I think of Psalm 23 and the table set in the middle of enemies. Think about that. Our enemy is just as likely to be sitting at the table with us as to be standing on the side causing all kinds of distraction (the “weeping and gnashing of teeth” is noisy and obnoxious) so that it’s a serious challenge to actually enjoy the hospitality of God. Our enemies are everywhere. You could say the Enemy is everywhere: anything and everything that would be bent on keeping us from celebrating this meal – this life of unconditional love by God. No matter, though, where the enemy is or what he does. As Paul exhorts (Romans 8), nothing can separate us from this love of God in and through Christ. The party has started and nothing is going to shut it down.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, today my enemies surround me. Can you bring the food from the kitchen pronto, with lots of wine too please, so that in my hunger I don’t get up and walk away and really, then, be in a fix!
Amen.
A Parable of Salvation
Heaven is like a huge banquet hall in which God has set a table setting for every single person in the world. At each table setting is the name card for each person, signifying their invitation and the desire of the Host of the banquet to have each person join in. The door to the banquet hall is open to all. There is no admission charge. There are no credentials that must be shown in order to enter. The Host has paid for the entire banquet and has posted an open invitation. When guests arrive they are shown their place at the table and invited to be seated. Many do, and thus enjoy the service and hospitality of the Host. But many do not, for many reasons, not the least of which is that they feel there must be something they should offer to help with the festivities. In fact, when they entered the banquet hall they did so with the question if not the objection of an offering of some sort by saying “Is there not something I can bring?” There is an awkwardness, if not a resistance, on the part of the guests to letting the Host be totally responsible for all the fare. No matter that their place is reserved and open for them, they refuse to actually sit down to be a part of the party. Always gracious, the Host does not insist they participate but also is not interested in having “spoil-sports” interfere with the festivities. He asks that those who refuse to sit down and join the fun to then go off into another area of the Banquet Hall, albeit empty of banquet items, where they can commiserate or perhaps rethink their invitation.
© Johan Bergh 2006
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
This Really is a New Day!
My S.O.A.P. (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) for Monday, May 10.
"We've Never Seen Today Before"
What Christ Does
Scripture"And the one sitting on the throne said, 'Look I am making all things new!' "
Revelation 21:5a
Observation/Application
The other day I was in a group and somebody was asked to say a prayer for all there.
The person praying spoke of something simple that caught my attention and opened my heart. He said "Thank you Lord for giving us this day today that we have never seen before." Simple enough. But what blew away some cobwebs for me was the notion that even though I could expect to see alot of what I had seen before on this day, it actually was totally new. Every thing was literally new because it had never been done in that same way before. It had been done before, perhaps, from breakfast to turning on the computer and opening the blinds at the lab to hitting the gym for a workout after work. But never really done before because it was never done in this moment. Today was totally new because all things were being done, even if repeated, in a new day.
These days I need to be reminded that nothing is inevitable and all things are possible.
When Christ says to me that he makes all things new I know it in the freedom from the burden of having to carve out my own destiny. But I also know it in the freedom to be creative with him in making something new explode on the scene today that will lift up and improve not only my life but the lives of all he puts before me.
Jesus Christ is life.....always creating new life!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, let me see this new day for what it is! Amen.
"We've Never Seen Today Before"
What Christ Does
Scripture"And the one sitting on the throne said, 'Look I am making all things new!' "
Revelation 21:5a
Observation/Application
The other day I was in a group and somebody was asked to say a prayer for all there.
The person praying spoke of something simple that caught my attention and opened my heart. He said "Thank you Lord for giving us this day today that we have never seen before." Simple enough. But what blew away some cobwebs for me was the notion that even though I could expect to see alot of what I had seen before on this day, it actually was totally new. Every thing was literally new because it had never been done in that same way before. It had been done before, perhaps, from breakfast to turning on the computer and opening the blinds at the lab to hitting the gym for a workout after work. But never really done before because it was never done in this moment. Today was totally new because all things were being done, even if repeated, in a new day.
These days I need to be reminded that nothing is inevitable and all things are possible.
When Christ says to me that he makes all things new I know it in the freedom from the burden of having to carve out my own destiny. But I also know it in the freedom to be creative with him in making something new explode on the scene today that will lift up and improve not only my life but the lives of all he puts before me.
Jesus Christ is life.....always creating new life!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, let me see this new day for what it is! Amen.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
S.O.A.P for Today
My S.O.A.P. (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) for today….
“Earthly Minded”
On Eternal life
Scripture
“Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord”
Leviticus 19:17b
Observation/Application
Luke 10:25-28 has the law teacher ask the eternal question and Jesus answers with this from the law. This is nothing new. This “loving neighbor” is as old as Moses. Why would anyone object on theological grounds? Maybe practical, moral, psychological, or legal grounds. But not theological: there never has been a way to eternal life. Why would Jesus start now by describing a path or formula? No, you and I are to do just what is the only thing we (can) do: pay attention to our neighbor and leave the eternal speculation to God.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, who is my neighbor? Amen.
“Earthly Minded”
On Eternal life
Scripture
“Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord”
Leviticus 19:17b
Observation/Application
Luke 10:25-28 has the law teacher ask the eternal question and Jesus answers with this from the law. This is nothing new. This “loving neighbor” is as old as Moses. Why would anyone object on theological grounds? Maybe practical, moral, psychological, or legal grounds. But not theological: there never has been a way to eternal life. Why would Jesus start now by describing a path or formula? No, you and I are to do just what is the only thing we (can) do: pay attention to our neighbor and leave the eternal speculation to God.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, who is my neighbor? Amen.
Monday, May 3, 2010
This I Believe
Another "S.O.A.P." (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) from daily bible readings. FYI, for bible readings, I'm using the daily lectionary from the worship book called Evangelical Worship).
"This I Believe"
Sharing the Faith
Scripture
“It was there at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.”
Acts 11:26b
Observation/Application
It makes sense that we would bear the brand of the one we follow. Christ. It would be interesting if we never got that label or title. What would we be? “the believers”? That would be interesting since it naturally begs the question – what do you believe? Once identified as one of the believers we would naturally, in the course of any regular conversation, be asked what we believe! Many today assume they know what a “Christian” is. In the U.S., outside of church circles, most understand it by what makes the media (no blame here, no media bashing, just the reality). Often because of the label “Christian” things are assumed and conversation is shut down. But what if I was a “believer”? For one thing, I would be, I’m thinking, better trained and prepared to actually know and speak what I believe! What is your 30 second “elevator speech” about what you believe? Here’s mine: “I believe that I do not have to believe or do anything in order to be right with God – not even believe in God – and it is only Jesus Christ who gives me this freedom.” I would say more, but that’s the “elevator version.” It would be cool if everybody in any given congregation/church would write down what they believe (like the popular book This I Believe, which, by the way, I highly recommend!). It would go a long way in growing and sharing the faith!
Prayer
Lord, Jesus, thank you for setting me free!
Amen
"This I Believe"
Sharing the Faith
Scripture
“It was there at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.”
Acts 11:26b
Observation/Application
It makes sense that we would bear the brand of the one we follow. Christ. It would be interesting if we never got that label or title. What would we be? “the believers”? That would be interesting since it naturally begs the question – what do you believe? Once identified as one of the believers we would naturally, in the course of any regular conversation, be asked what we believe! Many today assume they know what a “Christian” is. In the U.S., outside of church circles, most understand it by what makes the media (no blame here, no media bashing, just the reality). Often because of the label “Christian” things are assumed and conversation is shut down. But what if I was a “believer”? For one thing, I would be, I’m thinking, better trained and prepared to actually know and speak what I believe! What is your 30 second “elevator speech” about what you believe? Here’s mine: “I believe that I do not have to believe or do anything in order to be right with God – not even believe in God – and it is only Jesus Christ who gives me this freedom.” I would say more, but that’s the “elevator version.” It would be cool if everybody in any given congregation/church would write down what they believe (like the popular book This I Believe, which, by the way, I highly recommend!). It would go a long way in growing and sharing the faith!
Prayer
Lord, Jesus, thank you for setting me free!
Amen
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