S.O.A.P.

-Trenton Johnson

Scripture
‘Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. ‘ Psalms 34:8

Observation
David is writing this passage, after trying unsuccessfully to find refuge in the court of Abimilek. He made a bad decision, and ended up pretending to be insane so that Abimilek would not perceive him as a threat. In this passage, David says ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good!’  In other words, David had already tasted and seen what Abimilek was like…and Abimilek was not good!  David says ‘Blessed is the one who takes refuge in (the Lord).’  David had tried to take refuge in Abimilek, and David was not blessed for it.

David wrote this Psalm as an acknowledgement of his screwup, and was using his own mistake as an opportunity to point people back to God.

Application
Just like David, I make mistakes. I get myself into situations from time to time, and can begin to panic as I try to solve the problem and navigate my way back out of my mess. Just like in this story about David, my efforts typically end up making the problem worse instead of better. David’s solution was to say ‘Taste and see that THE LORD is good!’  When I am struggling to solve a problem and the solution seems to be making it even worse, this may be a hint that I am not truly taking refuge in God Almighty. The answer is to do as David says–and ‘take refuge in the Lord’.

Prayer
God, thank you for being my refuge! Help me to make you the first place that I run to, instead of my last resort after everything else fails. Thank you for your patience with me, that you stand ready to shelter me when the storms of life are rough. Thank you, that you are GOOD! 

-Trenton Johnson

Scripture
‘But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” ‘ 1 Samuel 15:14-15

Observation
Saul was instructed to totally destroy the Amalekites. He attacked them, but did not totally destroy them–instead choosing to save the most valuable and choice spoils of war from being destroyed.  Samuel confronted him, and his response was “They spared the best stuff…but we totally destroyed all the rest!”  They totally destroyed everything…except for the things that they chose not to destroy.

Application
Saul’s response reminds me of a phrase I’ve heard from time to time– “I always do this usually!”  I’ve never really understood the phrase–either I ‘always’ do something, or I ‘usually’ do something. This would be sort of like getting pulled over for speeding, and me telling the police officer “But officer–I always follow the speed limit most of the time!”. Samuel’s response to Saul makes it clear, that ‘usually always’ obeying God, is the same as NOT obeying God. We are either totally His, or totally not–there really isn’t any in-between.  So the question is…which is it in my life? Am I totally surrendered to God?  Or am I ‘mostly’ totally surrendered to God? Nothing less than my complete surrender will suffice.
This week, I need to be mindful of areas in my life where I may be ‘mostly totally’ living for God…and then make a decision to fully surrender those areas to Him.

Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder that you fully love me without reservation, and that you require my complete and unconditional surrender to you. Help me to see the areas in my life where I have not been fully surrendered to You, and give me the determination to release those areas of my life into Your hands.

-Trenton Johnson

‘All About That Place’ 

Scripture
“Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ ” Matthew 20:25-28

Observation
The disciples were arguing over who would get to hold the places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus’ response shows me two things: First of all, there is room in the Kingdom of God for imperfect people.  Second, greatness in his kingdom is not based on a place of status, but rather a place of service. The Almighty God came to earth robed in flesh, to restore us to relationship with Him. He took the form and the role of a servant, and he teaches us to approach life the same way.

Application
God has called me to serve in a new way, in this new season. My family and I are excited to step into this new season as the Campus Pastor of New Hope Legacy, but we know that this change is not a change of status–rather, it is a change of service. Through the weeks, months, and years ahead, we must keep our hearts aligned with Christ–and seek to bring imperfect people into a closer relationship with God. As I align my heart with His and focus on serving those around me with the love of Christ, He will be glorified in my life.

Prayer
God, thank you for this amazing church body that you have called us to serve! Thank you for the amazing people that we get to work alongside, to share your gospel with our community. Keep our hearts aligned with Yours, so that You would receive the glory through all that we say and do. Help us to love the way that You love, forgive the way that You forgive, and serve in the same way that You sacrificially served us.
 

-Trenton Johnson

Scripture
‘But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.’ Psalms 59:16-17

Observation
David wrote this psalm, on the night that King Saul sent men to David’s house to kill him. The situation was grim, and the outcome uncertain. David was in the middle of the mess, and could not yet see the end of the story–yet he writes ‘…in the morning, I will sing of Your love…my God on whom I can rely’.  David had learned that God was worthy of his trust, because He had proven himself reliable over and over again. David’s heart was certain of this truth, and so he was able to proclaim with complete confidence- “I don’t know exactly WHAT is going to happen in the morning…but I do know that I’ll be singing your praise!”

Application
What complete trust is shown by David! Fortunately I don’t have anyone camped out in my yard to kill me, but there are adversities that I face daily and there are situations that I am navigating with no clear certainty of the outcome.  Regardless of the uncertainties and unknowns, this much is certain and this much I know: God is worthy of my trust, and I must rely on Him alone to sustain me. This week, I need to take time in the middle of the unknowns to center my heart on the One who knows me.

Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder that my trust must be in You alone. Thank you for being being there with me, and leading me each step of the journey. This week as I navigate uncertainties and unknowns, help me to truly put my confidence in you, and resolve in my heart that no matter the outcomes–I’m gonna still be singing Your praises in the morning.

-Trenton Johnson

Scripture
‘You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. ‘
1 Corinthians 16:15-16  

Observation
The newly planted church in Achaia was young, but healthy. Paul is excitedly sharing the news about them with the church in Corinth, and he specifically mentions the very first converts at Achaia–those of the household of Stephanas.  The interesting thing is that Paul is not just writing to tell about a new convert that he won…rather, he is excited to share the news about the very first convert in Achaia…and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. They have ‘joined in the work’, and were ‘laboring at it’.  This tells me something about Paul’s approach in sharing the gospel. He wasn’t presenting the gospel in a begging, pleading way, hoping that someone would finally accept Jesus into their heart. Rather, he was sharing the gospel as the life-changing, transformative, earth-shaking, ‘big-deal’ that it truly is, in such a way that those who received it were also inspired to get in the game and share it with others. Paul was not just making new fans for ‘Team God’: he was training teammates.

Application
How do I present the gospel? Do I share God with people in a way that leaves them comfortably sitting on the sidelines, watching the game happen on the field in front of them? Do I share Christ in such a way that people stand and cheer at the right moments, then sit down with a plate of nachos to watch the action unfold?  Or do I instead share Christ in such a way that draws people off the sidelines and onto the field where we can dump a jug of Gatorade over their head in celebration, and then link arms together with them for the next play? Do I present our Lord as the life-altering, awesome Savior, who has transformed my life, will transform your life too, and deserves to be shared with those in your circle also?
I want to share God that second way, with urgency and with energy. 


Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder of the power of your gospel. Not just power to get people to grudgingly admit to your existence, but rather power to radically transform lives and set people on fire for you. Help me to not just be a marketing manager who creates new fans for your team, but instead that I would be a recruiter who draws people into the team to join forces with us in sharing your Good News with the world!  Help me this week to share your gospel with the urgency that it deserves. Help me to be watchful for opportunities and conversations where you are giving me an open door to share your good news with others.

-Trenton Johnson

Scripture

‘However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.

 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. ‘

Deuteronomy 15:4-5,7-8

https://my.bible.com/bible/111/DEU.15.4-5,7-8

Observation

God promised the Israelites that He would bless them so richly, that no one among them would have reason to be poor. His blessings were not going to be adequate, they would be abundant. Immediately after this promise though, He says ‘If anyone is poor…be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need’.

God’s supply was abundant, as long as his distribution chain kept flowing.

Application

God’s love for me is without limit, and without expectation. While ‘I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me’. God has called me to love with the same measure, and without qualification or expectation of return. His supply is infinite, but I can become the limiting factor in God’s supply of blessing to those around me if I don’t keep my heart aligned with His.

God’s command to the Israelites to ‘be openhanded and freely lend’, implies that they had already received something abundantly into their hands, with which to bless others.

What has God given me? In my life, there are specific areas in which I can see abundance. It has been said that God asks us to give of our time, our talent, and our treasure. I may not be blessed equally in each of these areas, but God’s abundance is present in my life if I take the time to notice it. God has not given me these things for me to just sit on them like a dragon jealously guarding his pile of gold. Rather, God has entrusted them to me so that He can bless others through me. When the body of Christ is operating in health and in love, there is no reason for lack.

Prayer

God, thank you for your abundant supply in my life! Thank you that your resources are without measure, and your love for me is without limit. Help me to keep my heart aligned with yours, so that I can be a free-flowing conduit of your blessing instead of a stagnant catchment tank. Help me to notice those around me that you wish to bless through me, so that your abundance can flow in their life also. When I am on the receiving end of that same blessing from others, Help me to be humble so that my pride would cost me the blessings that you wish to give me.

-Trenton Johnson