Scripture:
Job 28:28 ESV
[28] And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
Observation:
I think this verse kind of says it all. I know I tend to pick more than one verse, but this one just said everything needed. So what does it mean to fear GOD? Does it mean to be afraid that HE is just going to snuff you out without explanation? Job knew that HE could. In fact, at one point in his story, he says that though HE slays me, I will praise HIM. The fear of GOD means wanting to live with a clear conscience when it comes to GOD. It means being more worried about what GOD thinks of us rather than what man thinks of us. That is wisdom.
Application:
This is my confession. I have made a lot of mistakes in my life. I made some yesterday, and I will probably make some today. I mean, I hope not, but the fact is I probably will. I want to live a life that is pleasing to GOD. I want wisdom, and so I pray for it in the book of James that what it tells us. “If we lack wisdom, ask for it,” so I do. I believe that wisdom is found in the bible. It’s also found in living…. what do we do when we make a mistake? Do we correct it? Or do we just continue to do the same thing? I have found that if we don’t correct our mistakes. We will find ourselves back where we started. As I have walked this path to recovery, I have stumbled many times. There were times when I had long periods of clean time. However, none of my behaviors had changed, I had not given my life to Jesus Christ and honestly was the same person just without drugs. After several relapses. I realized that I needed to change the way I do things. I needed to find a way to eliminate the guilt and shame of how I lived my life because it kept taking me back to where I started. Once I came to the conclusion that the only answer was GOD. I began to change the way I think by finding out what HE thinks of me reading HIS word is where I found that out. So I just want to go over a little bit of what HE thinks of me…..and HE thinks this of you as well, so hold on for the ride….. I am first and foremost forgiven, just that in itself should set you free, I am also redeemed, another moment of freedom spoken, I am adopted, HE has made me HIS son. He sees me as victorious, giving me victory over my sin, I no longer have to live as a captive or slave to it. HE sees me as sinless. I do have to say this in order for GOD to see me. That way, it cost HIM HIS one and only son. That is the reason I want to live in a way that the preacher doesn’t have to lie about me when, at the end of my life, he says Eric loved GOD. I want that to show in the way I live. So when I make a mistake, I confess it and move on, and know that GOD has forgiven me. Then I do everything in my power to not make that same mistake. My desire is for GOD to look at my life and say, “Well done.”
Prayer:
Father, we love you and hope that this S.O.A.P. helps someone. We pray for wisdom in our lives. We do not want to be a slave to sin, but we want to be slaves to righteousness. Living a life that we can hear those words. Well done, my good and faithful servant. We know that your mercy is new every morning, so let us wake up each day fresh and new with a heart to serve you. Knowing that yesterday is history tomorrow, is a mystery, and today is a gift, that’s why it is called the present. Let us live out this day shouting from the rooftops that Jesus Christ is king, let us not fear, man, because if YOU are for us who then can stand against us? It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen