SOAP Devotional 2014-04-23

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SOAP Devotional 2014-04-23

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

Scripture:

Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. (1 Peter 4:4, 5 NLT)

Observation:

When you no longer are involved in the wild parties and destructive things that you once did before, your old friends, who still do these things, may not understand and instead slander your name. Don't retaliate, instead remember that they will be judged by God who will judge everyone, both the living and those who die.

Application:

You cannot expect everyone to understand why you stop living a worldly life when you become a Christian. Some of the people you used to party with and do destructive things with will feel abandoned by you and may very well lash out at you for whatever reason they can find. They should not have to face you for you to judge them, they will stand before God one day and answer to him. The best thing we can do is to love them in spite of their actions or words against us. Maybe, just maybe, we can help get them ready to face God on the right side of His grace regardless of how they are currently treating us.

Prayer:

Father, there is a lot of distance between me and the old me. Those who misunderstand what God has done in me are probably long over it. But Lord help me to help those who may be going through these things now. For the new believer it also hurts to be slandered by people who used to be friends as much as the other party feels abandoned because the new believer no more parties with them. Let me be one that helps the new believers find their new family and their new role.

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