Genesis 17:1 to 28:19
About once a week, my more spiritual Facebook friends will make some type of spiritual statement:
Some thank the Lord for taking them out of a trial.
Some thank the Lord for answered prayer.
Some praise Him, because He is worthy to be praised.
Some quote a Bible scripture because it gave them encouragement and they want to spread the love.
Then, there are those who get frustrated with their salvation. I rank highly among the latter. I do most of the right things, pray, read my Bible albeit sporadically, and attend church. I grit my teeth when I feel like cussing someone out, and I TRY to replace my favorite four letter words with ones that won’t offend. The Good Reverend Doctor told me that I was in a bargaining position with God. As usual, he’s 100 percent correct. I have to remind myself that God isn’t a genie in a Bible, and that His time is His time, not mine.
After he talks me off the proverbial ledge, The GRD usually asks about my devotional time. It’s amazing how the tap shoes come out and I dance around the issue of how much I read my Bible. It’s not that I don’t read, it’s that reading sometimes most of the time always takes a back seat to whatever else I want to do. As a book of stories with some wisdom, the Bible is fascinating. Once I start reading my Bible, I can’t put it down. The Old Testament is full of colorful stories, shady people, and outrageous situations. You couldn’t find better storytelling in one place in another source.
But to sit down and read it DISCIPLINED, with a method and a plan? Pssh Whatever.
When I have my monthly crisis of faith, I wonder LOUDLY that while I realize that God has a plan, can a sister get a cheat sheet, crib notes, a hint, a clue, SOMETHING. Of course someone always jumps in with the statement that I have the blueprint, the Bible.
Pssh, whatever.
I say this because it feels and sounds like a rehearsed typical answer. Church tells us to READ the Bible, but not HOW. More mature saints will spit out a Bible verse, but get deer in the headlights looks when you press them for more meaning. And let’s not forget those who regurgitate what they heard someone else say. This can make for a frustrating road to salvation.
My new favorite radio broadcast, Back to the Bible says that the most miserable people are not those who are saved, but those who don’t know their purpose in God.
Cue the 90 day reading plan. Once again, I plan to dive into God’s word and find out what is the point.
A friend in knit who also loves her Apple product began to post to her Facebook streams that she was reading the Bible in 90 days. Not to be outdone, I began again to read but still get stuck in Sodom. KnittyLawyer decided that we should have an incentive (in addition to reading God’s Word and drawing closer to the Lord) that each day the person who doesn’t read, will pay a dollar. The one who reads the less will have to buy the other yarn of their choice. To keep ourselves hones, we have to do the S.O.A.P. method of reflection.
Read the Scriptue
Write any Observations about the scripture
See how it Applies to you.
Complete a Prayer that is honest and heartfelt.
My SOAP:
S. Genesis 17:5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
O. When we began a relationship with Christ, we must become new creatures.
A. This can be looked at figuratively. As a new creature in Christ, we have to shed or change some of our old ways. Adopting a new name will show that we are serious in our walk.
P. Dear Lord, please allow me to draw closer to you. Make me a new creature in your eyes and allow my light to shine through for all to see. Let it be Your will, not mine, Amen.
S. Genesis 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
O. Although being led to safety and God’s salvation, Lot’s wife wanted to look back one last time to the life she was leaving behind. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, there is no way to shift from spiritual to secular without causing some harm.
A. Before I was saved, and sometimes now, I think what looks like fun is the better choice. Fun is fleeting. God’s sovereign promise is forever.
P. Father God in Heaven, please keep my sights on Your Will.
One last observation:
Lot and Abraham were of the same make and background. However, as adults Lot was worldly where Abraham was spiritual. A comparison of the two I never really noticed.
I already have plans for my Lorna Laces in pink that KnittyLawyer will be buying me.
Thanks for being my partner in this reading adventure. I like the SOAP method.
P.S. I don’t know what color I want my wool/silk blend, but Rosie’s Cellar has it on sale.