S. O. A. P.
Here’s your 90 second AM devotional!
S-cripture:
Matthew 11:18, 19
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “he has a demon.” The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they say, “here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.
O-bservation:
Jesus presents the dilemma that all true “Followers of Jesus” face. Religious Judgment! He said His cousin John came and he didn’t eat or drink and the religious folks claimed he had a demon. Jesus on the other hand did it all, and the same religious people said, “he’s a drunkard and a friend of sinners.” Jesus was saying “you can’t live to please people. At the end of the day one’s life will bear out whether they were on the right track or not. But until then don’t quit.”
A-pplication:
It’s obvious to most of us that you cannot live to please people (The Religious Spirit), but rather our lives must be lived to please the Lord. When you begin following the pollsters to see the best path to take, it only means you have forsaken the “ANCIENT PATHS” (Jer. 6:16) which have already been proven. Convenience has never been the mission of “Jesus People.” As “Followers of Jesus,” we are called to live on purpose, not by accident. People will reject you, judge you, slander you, and even hate you. But are you living for the accolades of many, or the applause of just One … Jesus? If you haven’t already, you will soon learn that we live our lives according to the Word of God … “In Spite of The Religious Spirit.”
P-rayer:
Let me be purposeful in all of my decisions today. May I not be swayed by public opinion, but by the “Ancient Paths” You established long ago. Amen
Comments (2)
Thanks for the reminder, Rich. I’m living & serving for the applause of One!
Just awesome,yet another brilliant morsel of your never-ending wisdom of scriptures!Indeed we should live our lives according to GOD’s word as you so rightfully point out!thank you so much for this word today!blessings, Brigitte PS how do I remember all these S>O>A>P”S?