Stones (A Holy Week SOAP Journal from Luke 19)

In addition to regular articles, I will be posting some simple SOAP journals that were produced during a regular gathering of pastors to journal, pray, and encourage one another. These are not exhaustively studied as they are generally the work of 20 minutes of reading, 20 minutes of writing, and 20 minutes of sharing with each other what we have written. Hopefully, these brief devotional posts will be encouraging to the readers of this blog. If you are not familiar with the term, we used the SOAP acronym as a devotional guide... which stands for:

• Scripture—what verse or short section caught my attention today? 
• Observation—what can I briefly notice that the passage specifically says?
• Application—what will I do differently as a result of having read this today?
• Prayer—what will I ask the Triune God to do for, in, and through me today?

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S = Luke 19:40-42, 44b 

Temple stones toppled by the Romans in 70 A.D.

“He answered, ’I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’ And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying,

‘Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes... And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.’”

Chapel of the Tears. Photo: Greg Dueker

O = If they, the human witnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus the Messiah, did not burst into praise, testifying to what they had seen and heard, the very stones would do so. However, while the crowds of disciples rejoiced, the people of Jerusalem didn’t know, didn’t understand, didn't recognize, and ultimately didn't accept what had to happen for them to have peace. On his way into the city, Jesus stopped and wept over their stubborn refusal to be saved. Jesus would do it all for them on the cross, but the inhabitants of Jerusalem could have turned to him long before that as he preached, healed, and even turned over the tables of the oppressive moneychangers. Even after the cross, though many followed Jesus, the city and nation that rejected the chief cornerstone that day continued in their hardness of heart. They didn’t recognize God when he came to them in a visitation of grace. As a result of their rejection of the offer of reconciliation, there was no one to rescue them from themselves on the day, in AD 70, that their empty stone facade would be torn down to speak no longer.

A = It is easy for me to judge their shortsightedness and unbelief...especially since I have read the rest of the story! However, I may not be so different. I have to ask whether I recognize when God graciously comes to me today in his Word (the Bible), in the witness of other Christians, and in “the least of these” I may encounter along the way? How should I respond to these "kingdom of God" visitations? Have I stopped to consider the high cost of my salvation…recently? Will my life praise God and bless others this week? How?

Nazareth Village. Photo: Joshua Mitchell

P = O Lord, help me to get a clue! Open my eyes to see you as you really are! Open my heart to believe you and bless you enthusiastically! You are the Cornerstone of my life…may I build my house on that solid foundation, on the Rock, as a result of hearing and obeying your Word today (Matt. 7:24-27), rather than trusting in my own sandy efforts and the sticky clay-like accomplishments of man. Amen.

“If These Were Silent…” (A Holy Week SOAP Journal from Luke 19)

In addition to regular articles, I will be posting some simple SOAP journals that were produced during a regular gathering of pastors to journal, pray, and encourage one another. These are not exhaustively studied as they are generally the work of 20 minutes of reading, 20 minutes of writing, and 20 minutes of sharing with each other what we have written. Hopefully, these brief devotional posts will be encouraging to the readers of this blog. If you are not familiar with the term, we used the SOAP acronym as a devotional guide... which stands for:

• Scripture—what verse or short section caught my attention today? 
• Observation—what can I briefly notice that the passage specifically says?
• Application—what will I do differently as a result of having read this today?
• Prayer—what will I ask the Triune God to do for, in, and through me today?

S = Luke 19:37-40 “As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives— the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying,

‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’

 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples.’

He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’”

Jerusalem Wall, Photo by Greg Dueker

O = The great crowd of disciples, the whole multitude, was filled with joy that spilled out in praise—loud voices raised to testify of what mighty works they had seen—announcing the kingship of the coming Messiah. They almost certainly misunderstood his mission but they offered praise nonetheless. He was not just “the king who was coming in the name of the Lord,” he was the king who was the name of the Lord incarnate. 

Another interesting and unusual phrase they used was “Peace in heaven...” Perhaps they realized that any true peace on earth must flow from peace with God in heaven. Here at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the people were in solidarity with the whole creation in praising Christ! If the people didn’t do it Jesus’s said the very stones would! (More on this in my next journal later this week)

"Come, follow me!"

A = How enthusiastic am I in testifying to what God has done in my life? Do I praise Christ with all my heart? Or, like the Pharisees, do I see such displays as unseemly? Do I seek the blessedness of Christ and the glory of God or my own position and power? Do I generally show gratitude for his plans or only when they agree with my own? If I am silent about the goodness of Christ today, then who will speak of the gospel of Jesus to those I know? If I don't speak of the great things that I have seen God do then how will others be encouraged, and how will I be encouraged?

P = O Lord, you are blessed, and you make me share in your blessing, your peace, and your glory by means of your love poured out in my heart! You are the King, my king, and my Lord. You are God and I am not, and I desire to live with that knowledge, that awareness, rather than being a self-proclaimed prince in the kingdom of my own heart.    Amen.

No King in Gondor! (A Holy Week SOAP Journal from Luke 19)

In addition to regular articles, I will be posting some simple SOAP journals that were produced during a regular gathering of pastors to journal, pray, and encourage one another. These are not exhaustively studied as they are generally the work of 20 minutes of reading, 20 minutes of writing, and 20 minutes of sharing with each other what we have written. Hopefully, these brief devotional posts will be encouraging to the readers of this blog. If you are not familiar with the term, we used the SOAP acronym as a devotional guide... which stands for:

• Scripture—what verse or short section caught my attention today? 
• Observation—what can I briefly notice that the passage specifically says?
• Application—what will I do differently as a result of having read this today?
• Prayer—what will I ask the Triune God to do for, in, and through me today?

S = Luke 19:12-14 

“He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ 

But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying,

‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’”

O = It was in the context of correcting their faulty kingdom suppositions from immediacy to a time of delay Jesus told this parable. Much could be said about the historical allusion to Herod and Archelaus’ previous trips to Rome, but what strikes me is the attitude of the citizens who rejected the man as their king. It reminds me of the scene in Lord of the Rings where Boromir (the son of the Steward of Gondor) rejects the ranger Aragorn (the true heir to the throne) as his king, saying, “Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king.” But later, having learned better, Boromir lay mortally wounded after a heroic effort to obey Aragon’s command, he asked for forgiveness and confessed to Aragorn with his dying breath as “my captain...my king.” It is gripping cinema. But it hits a little too close to home. It is revealing that Jesus told this parable just prior to his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday. A week later Pilate’s court would ring with orchestrated shouts of “No King but Caesar!” (John 19:15)

Photo by Daniel Pascoa on Unsplash

A = How often have I done the same thing as the rebellious citizens in Jesus’ parable? Too often in willfulness and pride, I have as much as said that I don’t want the Lord to rule over me…that I would rather do my own thing—but it always ends badly. God has an absolute claim on the kingship in my life and my rejection of his rightful Lordship only causes pain to me and to those I love. I would much rather be one of the ten servants that were given a place, an opportunity to play a part in the king’s plan. What he is looking for from me is faithfulness. So, what is Jesus asking me to do this week? Will I respond obediently (i.e., immediately, thoroughly, completely, and cheerfully) and hear his commendation, “Well done, good servant”? Or will I be like those “enemies” who stubbornly refuse to participate in the peaceful kingdom? My goal should be humbly living a daily surrendered life rather than a daily selfish life.

P = O Lord, I repent once again of my self-rule and willful independence. May I by your grace be considered a servant that can be trusted until the return of the True King! Thank you that you have lovingly invited me into your kingdom and you judge me not by my success, but affectionately call forth faithfulness. May I not forget that you exist and that you are a rewarder of those that seek you (Heb. 11:6) and may I seek you with all my heart! 

Standing Alone? (A SOAP Journal from 2 Timothy 4)

In addition to regular articles, I will once again be posting highlights of some simple SOAP journals that were produced during a regular gathering of pastors to journal, pray, and encourage one another. These are not exhaustively studied as they are generally the work of 20 minutes of reading, 20 minutes of writing, and 20 minutes of sharing with each other what we have written. These brief devotional journal posts will begin in the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus). Hopefully, they will be encouraging to the readers of this blog.

We used the simple SOAP acronym as a devotional guide... which stands for:

• Scripture—what verse or short section caught my attention today? 
• Observation—what can I briefly notice that the passage specifically says?
• Application—what will I do differently as a result of having read this today?
• Prayer—what will I ask the Triune God to do for, in, and through me today?

S = 2 Timothy 4:16-18

“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me.

May it not be charged against them! 

                                     But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, 

   …So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed 

                 and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. 

  To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

O = Paul knew what it meant to be alone surrounded by enemies. On this occasion, all had deserted him just as the disciples had done to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Paul, following the Lord’s example, forgave those who had abandoned him as Jesus had done before him. Paul also realized that even in being deserted, he was not really alone for Jesus came and stood by him. Paul was spiritually strengthened by his presence in a way that reflects the psalmist’s declaration in Psalm 23:4,

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

    I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

     your rod and your staff,

     they comfort me.”

Paul had experienced “rescue” from, or through, the trials which he faced and also had great faith that he would continue to experience deliverance as certainly Jesus would bring him into the heavenly kingdom and would ultimately be the One to recognize and reward Paul for his faith (v.8). This doesn’t mean that he would avoid suffering and loss (see 2 Cor. 11 for an amazing list of what he suffered), but that such circumstances would not have the final word. He consistently dealt with hardship either by seeing it as purposeful or (when obvious purpose could not be seen) by putting it into the perspective of eternity.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

A = I need to look to Jesus to be my defender, my rescuer, my strength, even when everyone else stops supporting me at the very moment that I think I really need them. I need to make sure that I am not deserting others when it becomes inconvenient for me to remain or when I no longer see how I can benefit from another. Relationships in Christ are not to be selfishly broken...we were meant to journey and minister together. 

Photo by Tobias Mrzyk on Unsplash

This week I need to more consistently function in forgiveness towards others who fail me and in faith towards my God who never does. I need eyes of faith to see the Lord’s presence and power at work on my behalf! He's got this, even (especially) when I don't!

P = O Lord, let me stand for you and stand by others more than I stand up for my own rights. My heart is to serve you in gratitude for the crown of righteousness that you alone provide! May I not be consumed by bitterness or frustration as I navigate this life but freely extend forgiveness to others as you have forgiven me. Fill my heart with gratitude when I perceive you at work and open my eyes regularly to see it! Please bring me safely into your heavenly kingdom for there is no place I would rather be since you have planted a bit of your kingdom in my heart. To you Lord, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be the glory forever and ever! Amen!