SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. Today’s journal comes from reading Ephesians 6.

Scripture

“Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.” –Ephesians 6:24

Observation

We are to love the Lord Jesus. The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Here, Paul is applying this command to Jesus our Lord.

It’s possible–even common, for a person’s love for Jesus to become corrupted.

corrupted: to destroy by corrupting; to bring to a worse state

Application

What corrupts/destroys/chips away at our love for Jesus?

1 Corinthians 15:33   Bad company
1 John 2:15-17    Loving the world–lust of flesh and eyes, boastful pride of life
1 Peter 2:11   Fleshly lusts/sins
Mark 4:19  Worries of world, deceitfulness of riches, desires for other things

Prayer

Father, my number one priority is to maintain my love for You. Actually, that my love for You would deepen and grow stronger. Help me guard my heart with all diligence and be ruthless in combating anything that steal away my love for you.

Amen.