SOAP Devotional 2014-02-14
Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer
Scripture:
So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. (James 1:21 NLT)
Observation:
“Get rid of all filth” – sin should be seen as disgusting, offensive, detestable filth. It is not just missing the mark, it is something that God hates. It ALL needs to be gotten rid of in our lives. Evil that needs to be gotten rid of is blatant attitudes and actions that are rooted in maliciousness. It too must completely be done away with. And then humbly accept the Word that God has planted in our heart. Humble, because we accept His word over our ideas of right, wrong, and justice. For only His Word has the power to save us.
Application:
We all are born with ideas of right and wrong and a certain measure of personal rights, plus we tend to measure wrong in degrees. Sin does not come in degrees. Even small ways we may lack in integrity, white lies, false claims, or half truths are just as disgusting to God as those things that we consider to be huge sins. Add to that, blatant attitudes that would justify our rights to take malicious actions toward others and we have a witch's brew of filth that is a stench to God. We must be able to approach God and others with a pure heart, so we have to get rid of these things in our lives and instead accept that God's ways are higher than our ways. Then his word can do it's perfect work in us and save our souls. It is basically repentance and acceptance of his lordship in our lives at it's simplest level.
Prayer:
Father, I do not want to be driven by wrong attitudes that separate me from you or others. I want to realize how disgusting even what we might consider small sins are to you. Help me to walk with pure attitudes and strengthen me to rid myself of those things that offend you whether they are big or small in the eyes of men. Let my heart be pure so you can have your way in my life.
