Guest SOAP post from Cassandra of Adventist Homemaker.
The reading for Sunday is Mark 3.
When it is time to read, please start first by praying and thanking God for His many blessings. Be specific.
Record your thank you’s on paper or on the computer.
Next present your requests to Him. Ask Him for whatever you want and need. As you do, record your requests and questions on paper or on the computer.
Third, ask Him to guide you in your reading, so that you will hear his message for you today.
After you read, record your SOAP observations and then listen for three minutes. Set a timer and just listen to what he might be sharing. Don’t ask. Don’t thank. Just listen. (You can pray more after you listen, if you like.)
Today’s SOAP post comes from Cassandra, a two-time Blogging Through the Bible in 90 Days mentor. Here is what Cassandra heard in the reading:
Scripture: Mark 3:35
“For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”
Observation:
Our relationship with God can be as close as that of siblings or parent and child.
Application:
Throughout the Blogging Through the Gospels program, I have been learning more and more about God’s character. I struggle with beliefs that God is distant, that He is waiting to judge me and keep me out of His kingdom for any small sin. Slowly, by searching through the Gospels, I am finding that this is not the case.
In this passage, Jesus is teaching a multitude. He is surrounded by people eager to hear His words. Suddenly, someone comes to Him and tells Him that His mother and brothers are waiting outside. Jesus tells the people that those surrounding Him are His mother and His brothers!
Our relationship with God is not meant to be a distant one. We are not meant to remain disconnected with God, only hearing sermons about Him at church and praying at meals. Rather, we are to have a close relationship with Him, as close as that of siblings or parent and child.
When I discover more characteristics of Jesus during each day’s reading, I am constantly reminded of one other text. Jesus says in John 14:9 that “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” What we learn about Jesus can also be applied to the Father. Not only does Jesus desire a close relationship with us, so does the Father. He is not distant. He is not unapproachable. I can know this because I see it in Jesus’ life.
Prayer:
“Father, thank You for displaying Your character through Jesus. Thank You for giving me evidence that You are not harsh and unloving, but that You desire a close relationship with me. Please help me to spend more time with You, to seek to do Your will. Thank You for loving me! In Jesus’ name I pray this, Amen.”
Cassandra is a full time homemaker, taking care of her beloved husband and two feisty cats. In her spare time, she enjoys running, quilting, and is slowly teaching herself Japanese. She blogs at www.cassandraland.com
What about you? What did you see and hear in your reading of Mark 3?
Feel free to leave your thoughts, or a link to post with your thoughts, in the comments. If you do link a post, please include a link in your own post back to this post so your readers can see what others had to say, as well, and potentially join us.
Didn’t start reading or Blogging Through the Gospels with us? That’s okay, join in anytime. Each Sunday evening I post the reading schedule for the week ahead and each evening I post the next day’s reading assignment and devotional. Feel free to jump in where we are anytime and blog or journal along using the SOAP format. Feel free to share your thoughts on Twitter using the #Gospels hashtag, too.
If you would be interested in sharing your own SOAP observations on MomsToolbox as a guest SOAP’er, please send me an email using the contact button on the top right. I’ll be in touch soon to discuss the details.
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