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)
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| 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!
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