S.O.A.P. 30 Day challenge Day #22 November 22, 2022 "Displaying New Treasures"

S. Matthew 13:52 (NIV) 52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

O. Jesus has been teaching on the Kingdom of heaven. The disciples have said they now understand what He has been teaching them. Jesus then shares that disciples are like owners of a house who have new treasures to display as well as old.

This passage, which is part of the parables, is not the easiest to know for sure what Jesus is actually saying. As I observe though, his disciples are like house owners and they are now to manage well what they have and are to produce new treasures (perhaps new converts to the faith, perhaps new Kingdom values and principles) as well as old (possibly what they already knew from God’s word in the Old Testament).

A. As a disciple who serves as a pastor-teacher (Eph. 4:11) I deisre to manage well what the Lord has placed in my hands. I desire to grow, learn and share new things and to produce new converts to the faith.

P. Thank you Father for calling me to follow you. I pray that you will guide me to be a faithful and wise pastor-teacher - bringing out new and refreshing principles from your word to help develop new disciples for the Kingdom. In Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge Day #21 November 21, 2022 "Living a Christo-centric Life."

S. Matthew 10:37-39 (NIV) 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

O. Jesus teaches and uses a figurative language to describe how much He desires our love and trust. Jesus desires that He (as God) should be at the center of our lives. Often we place ourselves, our family or our special interests at the center of our life. But Jesus deisres for His disciples to live, what I would call a Christo-centric life (others might use the term “theocentric”) -meaning that Jesus (as God) should have first place in our life. He should be at the center of our life.

A. When Jesus is at the center of my life then all my relationships improve. My own interests in life are better prioritized and do not take over my life. I realize that I don’t need to have a bunch of proverbial “irons in the fire” and I’m no longer “burning the candle at both ends” (i.e., trying to do a lot of things and not doing anything well). Jesus at center of my life helps me to know what to say yes to and what to let go.

P. Thank you Jesus for coming into my life. I desire you to be at the center of my life. When you are then my relationships with others have an improved quality to them. My schedule is less hectic as you guide me in what to say yes to and what to let go of. Thank you Lord Jesus!

S.O.A.P. 30 Day challenge Day #20 November 20, 2022 "Focus On Kingdom Living."

S. Matthew 6:27, 33-34 (NIV) 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

O. Jesus teaches us not to worry, but to FIRST place our efforts into advancing His Kingdom. He shares how he takes care of the birds and reminds us how much more valuable we are. He (later in the passage) says how much God the Fahter wants to give us good gifts and all we need to do is to ask, seek and find. Therefore, we do not need to worry.

A. I have said many times that we should do all we can but once we’ve done our part, doing only what we can, we should not worry but to leave the rest in God’s hands. Good advice - yet I always seem to have moments when I worry. When we find ourselves worrying, we - I need to remember and pray back to our Father this passage of truth. He’s has the situation under control and desires to bless us so we can continue with Kingdom matters.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Forgive me for the times that I allow worry a foothold into my heart and mind. I know you are ready to bless me and will. You desire me to be about your work. When worry comes into my mind, I will hold onto this truth and pray it back to you, Father. knowing you will provide for that which I need. Thank you Father for your abundant provision. In Jesus’ name.