Substance or Facade?

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

SCRIPTURE:

6-8 Jesus answered, "Isaiah was right about frauds like you, hit the bull's-eye in fact: These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it. They act like they are worshiping me, but they don't mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy, Ditching God's command and taking up the latest fads." Mark 7:6-8 [MSG]

OBSERVATION: Our actions speak louder than words.

APPLICATION:

Do we profess to believe, but not live like believers? Do we claim to be Christians, but not model the values of Christ? Do we go to church on Sunday, sitting in the front for all to see, after a Saturday night of drinking and carousing? Do we aspire to love everyone as Christ commanded, but fail to love those who need our love the most? Do we really practice what we preach? Or are we too busy with the preaching to put it into practice?

In just days in America we will be selecting our next President. From two candidates who are in most ways polar opposites, we will be choosing the man who will lead America into the next decade -- the next era of our history. We can choose a typical politician, whose talking points are more in line with what's popular right now than with any real substance; a politician who has had very little time to show that he practices what he preaches; a politician who seems more focused on himself than on others. Or we can choose a man who has given his entire life in service to others; a man who has had the courage to stand alone when no one else would stand for what is right; a man who has lived the kind of life that he preaches.

The choice should seem clear, but to so many it isn't. So many people will choose their candidate based upon the thin surface they can see and disregard the true substance. We only have one chance to get it right.

PRAYER:

God, help Americans to choose wisely at the polls. Open their eyes so that they might see through the facade.

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Earthly -vs- Ultimate Leadership

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}

• S: Have you not been paying attention? Have you not been listening? Haven't you heard these stories all your life? Don't you understand the foundation of all things? God sits high above the round ball of earth. The people look like mere ants. He stretches out the skies like a canvas— yes, like a tent canvas to live under. He ignores what all the princes say and do. The rulers of the earth count for nothing. Princes and rulers don't amount to much. Like seeds barely rooted, just sprouted, They shrivel when God blows on them. Like flecks of chaff, they're gone with the wind. Isaiah 40:21-24 [MSG] Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening? God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind. Isaiah 40:28-31 [MSG] "Take a good look at my servant. I'm backing him to the hilt. He's the one I chose, and I couldn't be more pleased with him. I've bathed him with my Spirit, my life. He'll set everything right among the nations. He won't call attention to what he does with loud speeches or gaudy parades. He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won't disregard the small and insignificant, but he'll steadily and firmly set things right. He won't tire out and quit. He won't be stopped until he's finished his work—to set things right on earth. Far-flung ocean islands wait expectantly for his teaching." Isaiah 42:1-4 [MSG]
• O: God plays the most important role in world events.
• A: Election time is just over three months away. We'll elect a new President, and those we have to choose from may leave a bit to be desired. As the media rallies around their darling pick and tries to pour on as much influence as they can, it can be quite confusing to the masses as to what the candidates really stand for. And if the media have their way, this election would have already been fought and won on their air waves. But thankfully there is more to world events than what world leaders would choose or what the media might desire. Our God, who ignores what all the princes say and do, is still in control. He doesn't just influence what happens, He has orchestrated the entire timeline of civilization. He has chosen the Ultimate Leader who, when the time is due, will steadily and firmly set things right on earth. While the upcoming election may be as important (if not more) as any in our nation's history, it is only one small speed bump on the road map of God's divine plan.
• P: Lord, Thank You for taking the world into Your hands, and for the fact that no matter what our earthly appointed leaders may do, Your Chosen One will return one day to set things right on earth.

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Selecting Elected Officials

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}

• S: Hosea 8:4 [MSG] They crown kings, but without asking me. They set up princes but don't let me in on it....
• O: God should be involved in the process of choosing our leaders.
• A: Election Day is less than four months away. We'll be choosing our next President -- the "leader of the free world." To what extent have we consulted with God on our vote? Have we gone to Him and asked Him for guidance? For enlightenment? Have we then listened for God's response? Have we truly given any consideration at all to which candidate most closely possesses the value God would want in our leader? Just two days ago I added to my prayer list "Future President of the U.S.," with the intention of praying that we select the best candidate for the job. Maybe it's time we stop listening to the campaign ads and start listening to God.
• P: Father, open my ears, open my heart, and open my mind. Then enlighten me. Help me to disregard my preconceived notions and listen to your guidance.

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Preparedness

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}

Today's SOAP inspired by The Leadership Bible

• S: Genesis 3:15
• O: God sees all, knows all, and has a plan for the future.
• A: From before the creation of the world, God had a plan. He knew that Eve would fall to temptation. He knew that man would struggle with sin. He knew that His Son would die on the cross to save us from our sins. And He knew that someday His Son would return us to take us to be with Him. Sometimes in my daily work, it's hard just to plan the activites for the current day, much less thousands of years into the future, as God has done. It can be difficult to get everyone else to align their plans with my own. It can be difficult to get everyone else to be productive. And it can be impossible to get those to whom I report to allow me to just run the business without their frequent interruption into the things that I know need to be done. Nevertheless, I can only be a successful leader if I'm always prepared with a plan. Rudy Giuliani said it in his book Leadership: you cannot always be prepared for what will happen, but if you prepare yourself and your team for what may happen, you are more likely to be prepared for any situation and will handle any eventuality.
• P: Lord, help me to be prepared. Not just in my career, but in the leadership you've called me to at home. Help me to be prepared for what might happen, so that when the unexpected happens, it really isn't so unexpected. Thanks to Your divine plan, I'm already prepared for Eternity. Help me, now Lord, to be prepared for today, tomorrow, and next week, and what the world might throw at me over that course of time.

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