S.O.A.P. Devotion 2018-11-21

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S.O.A.P. Devotion 2018-11-21

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

SCRIPTURE:

“”Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Matthew 7:7-11 ESV

OBSERVATION:

This passage begins with three levels of how we might pray for things which Jamieson-Fausset-Brown describes this way; “We ask for what we wish; we seek for what we miss; we knock for that from which we feel ourselves shut out.” Some describe these three from a more progressive stand point with “ask” signifying the spoken request things we need, “seek” being a more active pursuit of what we need, and the “knock” being for entry into where we need to be. In every case the answer is positive. The explanation using how a father provides good things that are asked for by his children gives a double insight. First, when good things that are needed are asked for, the father gives what they need and not something evil. Secondly, using a parent to illustrate this giving, we understand how parents give based on what is best for the child even though they may at times ask wrongly (see James 4:2-3 below)

APPLICATION:

When we ask for the things we need, God will provide. The operative word may be need, however, it has been my experience that just like earthly fathers He often blesses us beyond our actual needs. Like children, we do at times ask for things that we should not have or in a selfish manner as James writes. We should make sure that the things we ask for line up with godly desires and then ask away. Ask for what we wish; seek for what we miss; and knock for that from which we feel ourselves shut out. Then let the father respond!

PRAYER:

Father let my desires line up with your desires, so that my request are easy for you to decide to give. I also want to thank you for the many blessings you have given me beyond our needs.

“…You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” – James 4:2b-3 ESV

#SOAPDevotion #SOAP #Devotion

1 Comment

  1. I love your inspirations and it helps me daily since I’m home bound, it keeps me going. Thank you for what you do is encouraging.

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