My S.O.A.P. Journal

Born Free

SCRIPTURE

(Galatians 4:30-31 NLT) "'Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.' So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman."

APPLICATION

In this chapter Paul uses the famous story of Hagar and Ishmael to illustrate those who approach God thorugh the Law of the Flesh.  Likewsie he uses Sarah and Isaac to represent those who are born of the Spirit through Christ.  These two sons faught.  In fact, history tells us that it was Ismael who made fun of Isaac and perhaps even assalted him in such a way that the anger of Sarah was stoked.

The result of this assalt caused God to tell Abraham to cast out Hagar and her son Ishmael because they could not live in peace with Sarah and Isaac.  In fact, they treated them with contempt.

APPLICATION

Paul says that the flesh wars against the spirit.  He talks of this extensivly in the book of Romans. Just as Ishmael treated Isaac with contempt so the flesh does not agree with the spirit.  There are those who still believe that there are laws and regulations that must be kept in order for God's favor to be upon us.  We come to the cross by faith but we must live after cross by a specific code that will allow the glory of God to come upon us and set us apart and it is this setting apart that brings Him glory.

Yet Paul teaches that the glory of God was displayed while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.  So if we receive this glory from the cross without being perfect, the notion that we must live a perfect life following the Cross in order to "remain under the blessing" of God is wrong and of the spirit of the flesh. Anyone who teaches or preaches this is not telling the good new of the Gospel for which Christ gave His own life so that this message could be seen, lived and shared with all humanity.

So how did we get from free grace to earned mercy?  It is hard for us to accept this free gift of Grace that comes from being born of the Spirit.  The tricky part is that the teachings of the flesh creep in ever so slightly after salvation.

If you are saved you will not do this.  If you are saved you will not go here.  If you are saved then you can't say this.  If, if, if.  If is the result of flesh - confusion.  Are there things we shouldn't do if we are living according to the Spirit and for the glory of God, yes.  But the rub is when we begin to judge others based on their adherence to the call of God on our lives and judge their depth of spirituality in the same manner.  These are things that Paul would consider as "living as if born of the slave woman."

 Those born of the free woman or of the Spirit pursue God and live in a way that brings Him honor and glory.  The life choices they make are not in order to earn something from God but flow from a heart of gratitude for God.  There is a big difference between forcing someone to do something for religion sake and making a free will choice to live for God, develop practices and disciplines in order to better be all that God has made us to be.  These two are not the same.

Anything that is of the Law is to be removed from our lives.  The two cannot coexist.

PRAYER

Thank you Lord for the free gift of Grace tht comes only through faith in your Son.  It's not something that can be earned before or after the Cross but is accepted by Faith an transcends all laws of sin and flesh.  May I live today as one who is born of the Spirit - walking with the Spirit, interacting with the Sprit and in fellowship with the Spirit who allows me to become one of your Children.

Faith Based Grace

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 3:3 NLT - "How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?"

OBSERVATION

The Galatians Christians came to Christ through faith in the story of the Cross as delivered by the Apostle Paul.  Some of those who made their way into the church were obviously newly converted Jews.  We know from Church history that there was a great debate in the early church regarding the importance of observing the Jewish customs of the past in light of the new faith based model preached by the Apostles.

Some of these newly converted Jews wrongly tried to install old Jewish customs such as circumcision on the gentile converts.  The point of the Jewish customs was to purify ones self so God would accept you. Paul taught that it is through faith alone that Abraham was made righteous - not because of his observance of laws.  The Law is designed to point out how deeply sin ridden humanity is and it's need for another way to God.  No one will be able to keep all of the Law.  No one in and of themselves can satisfy the sin curse we have brought on ourselves - EXCEPT JESUS!  Thus Paul in this chapter is building the case for coming to God through faith and then not adding restrictions on the backside of the decision.

OBSERVATION

We as humans are prone to believe that we can some how do "something" that will please God and cause him to "reward" us.  For centuries the church in America has produced it's own rules and standards that help to identify the "true" believers.  Rules such as Church attendance (remember when they gave out perfect attendance pins?), membership of a "specific" denomination (because they are the "true" church), daily bible reading and prayer (while not a requirement for anything from God this practice is important for growing in the love of God), wearing the "right" clothing when coming to Church (as if God is only close to us when we wear a suit and tie.  I for some reason find it awesome that God loves to be with me in the shower when the suit and tie are the furthest thing from me.)

Alone, none of these things are necessarily bad.  But when they are used as requirements to establish "the church" or as gauges of our spirituality, we are in essence walking down the same path as the ancient Galatians Christians.  The only requirement that must be met as complete reliance on God through faith in Christ Jesus.  The others are disciplines of the faith but even they are not requirements for God being with us.  NOTE:  Jesus did not kick Peter, James and John out of the club for their lack of prayer stamina.

Spiritual disciplines are one thing.  But let us be careful of adding things to this simple grace that comes through Faith in Christ.  Also, let us be honest with our own commitment.  Instead of living as we please after salvation, there should be a conversion and a change in our life style - not because of rules (rules are used to try to enforce things that should be natural following conversion).  John said it this way, "Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God." (1 John 3:9,10)

PRAYER

Lord, forgive me for the Pharisee of religion that at times works in me and through me.  Today I come back to the basics.  I stop and thank you for a faith based grace that isn't based on my efforts but based on my faith in your Son, Jesus.  May I earn the breath you have breathed into my spirit today and living in a way that proves my commitment to you in what I say and do.

Follow The Leader

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 2:2 NLT -  I went there because God revealed to me that I should go.

OBSERVATION

Paul was submitted to God and willing to go where he was directed.  The question is how was this revealed to him and what was the mechanism that allowed this to transpire?  Are we to take from this that Paul only went to where he felt directed by the spirit of God and how does that really happen?

It only happens through communication with God through His spirit.  In other words, prayer.  Paul said the following about his prayer life, "I pray in the spirit more than all of you." (1 Corinthians 14:18)  Paul prayed at all times and on all occasions.  Prayer was his line of connection with the realm of the spirit of God.  It is through this mechanism that he learned the voice of the Shepherd - "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27 NLT).

APPLICATION

Prayer is one the basics of the faith that is so hard to master.  Yet, with mastery of this habit, we open the communication lines between our heart and the heart of the Father.  Jesus said that he could only do what he saw the Father doing because he did nothing of his own purpose (John 5:19).  Prayer was so important to Christ that it was one of the final lessons he tried to teach his key disciples in the garden of Gethsemane.  If Jesus only did what was communicated to him by prayer, if Paul only went where he was led based on prayer, if the sheep of God know his voice and another they will not follow, how much more do I need to learn, hear and obey the voice of the Lord?  How much more desperately to I need to learn the practice of prayer and the higher for his presence?

PRAYER

Lord.  Father.  Spirit.  Like the disciples of old I feel you speaking to me tonight regarding prayer.  This is not a new word.  You have been speaking to me for some time about this area of my life and my need to increase and seek for more of your Presence in my life.  I hold onto your promise from Jeremiah 29:13 NLT, " If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."  I am seeking and will follow your lead.