My daily journaling from God’s Word. SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. Today’s journal comes from reading Romans 2.

Scripture

“He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his  anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who confess to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.” –Romans 2:7-8

Observation

Salvation is a gift that cannot be earned by our good works. But this grace is given to people who sincerely desire to seek God and His approval. Those who reject the truth, and instead seek wickedness, are simply storing up God’s wrath for themselves. Obeying truth is contrasted with wickedness. These are always in opposition. Wicked people will oppose the truth. Why? Because the truth leads to righteousness–a place wicked people simply won’t go.

Agnostic/Atheists who “live for themselves” and define their own morality always think of themselves as good and moral. They aren’t. They reject the authority and honor of God. Their best hope of being good is to be SELF-righteous. This is nothing more than the arrogance of the Pharisees, and it certainly gives them no favor with God.

Application

These observations are vital spiritual principles that few people seem to grasp. My application: TEACH them clearly and accurately. Help the self-righteous of our day to realize the futility of trying to be “good” without being centered in Christ.

Prayer 

Father, thank You for Your precious gift of eternal life. Might I live worthy of what You have given me by SEEKING the glory, honor and immortality You offer. And Father, I live in a world of, and encounter every day, those who refuse Your truth and establish themselves as the source of what it is good. I ask You to give me boldness and wisdom in how to help people fear You, to see the importance of having Your righteousness, and the folly of establishing their own “goodness.”

In Jesus’ name, Amen.