SOAP Devotional 2014-04-25

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SOAP Devotional 2014-04-25

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

Scripture:

If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. (1 Peter 4:14, 15 NLT)

Observation:

If we are insulted for being a Christian, then we will be blessed by God because his Holy Spirit rests upon us. However if you suffer as someone called a Christian because you are doing bad things, that should not be so. And not just murder and stealing, but it should not be for making trouble or prying into other people's business either.

Application:

Sometimes people are insulted just for being a Christian. In today's world it is getting more and more common. Don't worry about it, because God will bless you because his spirit rests upon us. You will do more good by winning people to Christ than getting in their face. But persecution should not be because you are calling yourself a Christian while living like you are not. I think it is interesting that the text covers what we would term as horrible sins like murder and stealing, but also covers causing trouble for others or just prying into other people's business. We have to know it covers everything in between. In my case, zeal without wisdom was just as bad when I was young. I was insulted for being obnoxious and not just because I was a believer. That zeal without wisdom did not gain me blessings. Make sure that if you are insulted for being a Christian that you have not given them other reasons to want to insult you.

Prayer:

Father, I am thankful that you brought me to a place where I could grow passed being insulted for being obnoxious with my faith. Let my life be such that I do not arm others with reasons to insult me because of bad character flaws. But if I am insulted for just being a Christian, let me take it with the right attitude knowing you have my back

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