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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Perseverence

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

SCRIPTURE:

When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. ... For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 28:16, 30-31 [NIV]

OBSERVATION: Paul, in adversity, never faltered.

APPLICATION: 

I found myself today engaged in a conversation with someone about the Presidential candidates. He described himself as "leaning Democrat," though he couldn't say why. He admitted that he hadn't studied the candidates and knew almost nothing about either one. We spoke for a while of the differences between Senators McCain and Obama. Our discussion turned to other issues such as education, taxes, the Supreme Court, and even state and local candidates. In the end I suggested he visit On The Issues.org for a non-partisan presentation of where both candidates stand on the issues. I doubt that he was swayed either way.

It occurred to me while reading through the book of Acts about how Paul persevered in preaching the Good News, even under the watch of a Roman guard, that so many today will expend a great amount of energy extolling the virtues of their chosen candidate for public office. So many people get so passionate when speaking about the man or woman they support. I know that I do. Sadly, I cannot remember the last time I spoke of the Son of God with such intensity.

PRAYER:

Father, use me to tell the story of salvation through Your Son with the same conviction that I tell others of my Presidential pick. Please put my passion to work for the Kingdom.

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Proof In The Pudding

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

• S: "How can I account for the people of this generation? They're like spoiled children complaining to their parents, 'We wanted to skip rope and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk but you were always too busy.' John the Baptizer came fasting and you called him crazy. The Son of Man came feasting and you called him a lush. Opinion polls don't count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating." Luke 7:31-35 [MSG]
• O: Words are cheap, meaningless. It is action that speaks volumes.
• A: The Bible is by no means a political manual. It is the divinely inspired Word of God. Inspired as it is, I find that I am frequently led to one passage or another with very timely importance. As we draw closer and closer to the day that Americans will select their next President, we will hear lots of talk. Through debates and campaign ads and the talking heads of the mainstream media. Lots of talk. Lots of worthless words. It is the actions of the candidates that we must weigh the most heavily. They can talk about change. They can talk about hope. They can talk about putting country first. It's when [if] they show us change, show us hope, show us how they put their country first that we must stand up and take notice. Talk is cheap. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
• P: Father, as we come down to the wire, help us to not be influenced by the political rhetoric. Help us to see through the politics and select the man that will best lead this country into the future.

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The Coming of the Beast

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

• S: And the Dragon stood on the shore of the sea. I saw a Beast rising from the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads—on each horn a crown, and each head inscribed with a blasphemous name. The Beast I saw looked like a leopard with bear paws and a lion's mouth. The Dragon turned over its power to it, its throne and great authority. One of the Beast's heads looked as if it had been struck a deathblow, and then healed. The whole earth was agog, gaping at the Beast. They worshiped the Dragon who gave the Beast authority, and they worshiped the Beast, exclaiming, "There's never been anything like the Beast! No one would dare go to war with the Beast!" The Beast had a loud mouth, boastful and blasphemous. It could do anything it wanted for forty-two months. It yelled blasphemies against God, blasphemed his Name, blasphemed his Church, especially those already dwelling with God in Heaven. It was permitted to make war on God's holy people and conquer them. It held absolute sway over all tribes and peoples, tongues and races. Everyone on earth whose name was not written from the world's foundation in the slaughtered Lamb's Book of Life will worship the Beast. Are you listening to this? They've made their bed; now they must lie in it. Anyone marked for prison goes straight to prison; anyone pulling a sword goes down by the sword. Meanwhile, God's holy people passionately and faithfully stand their ground. I saw another Beast rising out of the ground. It had two horns like a lamb but sounded like a dragon when it spoke. It was a puppet of the first Beast, made earth and everyone in it worship the first Beast, which had been healed of its deathblow. This second Beast worked magical signs, dazzling people by making fire come down from Heaven. It used the magic it got from the Beast to dupe earth dwellers, getting them to make an image of the Beast that received the deathblow and lived. It was able to animate the image of the Beast so that it talked, and then arrange that anyone not worshiping the Beast would be killed. It forced all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark on the right hand or forehead. Without the mark of the name of the Beast or the number of its name, it was impossible to buy or sell anything. Solve a riddle: Put your heads together and figure out the meaning of the number of the Beast. It's a human number: 666. Revelation 13 [MSG]
• O: The Beast will wage war on the inhabitants of Earth. His False Prophet will use magic he gets from the Beast to dupe them. They will worship the image of the Beast.
• A: Our current political climate is intense. Presidential elections always create quite a stir, but it seems especially so this time around. Many Bible scholars predict that we are now in the "last days," the times leading up to the Second Coming of Christ and the Great Tribulation. My wife and I had a political discussion as we drove home from church yesterday. Interestingly enough, this discussion seemed to cross the divide between politics and religion. We spoke of the coming of the Beast -- the Antichrist. We spoke of the Bible prophecies of this event. We spoke of the current political scene in America. We have two Presidential candidates in America who have a viable chance of winning the election in November. One candidate who has given his entire life to the service of his country. Another candidate who has only recently risen to national prominence. One candidate whose rallies bring chants of "USA! USA!" The second candidate whose rallies bring chants of his name, over and over and over. One candidate who has a loyal following of similarly-minded people. The second candidate who is surrounded by the masses of the disillusioned looking for a savior, a candidate whose image is plastered on tee-shirts and signs everywhere you look, emblazoned with promises of hope and change. One candidate who is a national hero. The other candidate who is more like a rock star. I'm not implying that either of these two candidates could be the up-and-coming Antichrist. I'm not saying that the False Prophet is among us. Biblical prophecy of the end times makes no mention of the United States, nor of any country that appears to be the U.S. Could that be because the U.S. will have seen it's demise before the coming of the Beast? A patriotic America led by a Conservative Christian who believes in Jesus Christ as his Savior might conceivably take a stance in opposition to the Beast. It stands to reason that prophecy might require the elimination of that opposing American force before the rise of the Antichrist. My wife and I spoke of these things, and how today's political landscape could to some appear to be the beginning of the end. I'm no doomsayer. I'm not afraid of the Antichrist, because I've been saved by the blood of Christ. But it sure does make for some interesting discussion.
• P: Father, as we draw one day closer every day to the return of the Messiah and the rise of the Antichrist, help us to weigh carefully and to choose wisely, both as we choose our next President and -- hopefully -- as we choose Your Son as our Savior.

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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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