Filed under: S.O.A.P.
By Penny Swanson
S – Luke 14:29-30
Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.”
O – How often do people accept Christ as their savior, i.e., lay a foundation for their life, but don’t really live for Christ from that point on?
A – I want students to realize that there is more to being a Christian than just laying the foundation. While the foundation is the key to starting out, there is so much more to build!
P – Lord, my prayer is for students everywhere to accept Christ and begin living for Him. Help me to be an example to them to show them the difference it makes when they continue to build on their foundation in Christ. Amen.
By Julie Orona
S – Luke 9:51-56
As the time drew near for his return to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But they were turned away. The people of the village refused to have anything to do with Jesus because he had resolved to go to Jerusalem. When James and John heard about it, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we order down fire from heaven to burn them up?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. So they went on to another village.
O – James and John felt rejected by the people in the village, so much so that they wanted to destroy the people. How many times have we been hurt by rejection that we want to cause bodily harm to others? How fast are we to “order down the fire” on someone that has hurt us? By doing this, we are saying that we are the judge of their motives and actions and will take the situation into our own hands. We don’t trust God to make it right.
A – Thankfully, God is in control and we are not. Jesus showed mercy even in rejection. He heard of the rejection and moved along to the next village. Why? In Luke 9:56 it says, “For the Son of Man has not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” When I feel rejected do I show mercy? Do I follow Jesus’ example? Does my response to the situation point others to Christ?
P – Lord, help me to remember to show mercy when I feel rejected. Help me to walk away especially when I’m hurt or angry. Help me to remember what it feels like to be rejected so I don’t reject others. Help me to be more like you.
