Scripture reading for today: Num 7 Psalm 23
Acts 27
S=Scripture O=Observation A=Application
P=Prayer SOAP for the soul.
S. Ps 23:3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness... For
His name's sake. NKJV
O. This has to be the best known psalm of all. Can it still be hiding any unseen truths for
me? Why does the Lord restore my
soul? Why does he lead me in paths of
righteousness? For His name’s sake. God is protecting His Holy name!
A. If I fail the Lord and fall into sin (unrighteousness)
I am soiling the Holy name of the one I serve.
I shall never forget the day. I
was serving as the national representative for a popular Christian TV
program. All was going well. Tens of thousands of non-evangelicals were
listening and being won to the Lord. Then
it happened, the leader whose name was on the title of the program, was caught
in sin and confessed to it being true.
Within hours the black, ugly spot was not only upon this leader’s
name... but the Holy Name above all names was splashed, dirtied and cursed by
thousands. An evangelical church in the
north of Argentina had just signed a contract for new seats for their
congregation at an excellent price. The
selling company called the pastor and cancelled the contract. Another, a Baptist pastor in Bariloche who
had a radio program was cancelled. Why? The name of every evangelical Christian
organization was splattered with mud. That highly
visible TV leader fell… and splashed us all with the dirt of his sin... and the
worse part was... he dirtied the Name of Jesus.
P. Lord, for Your name’s sake... I pray that You
will continually restore my soul and lead me in Your wonderful paths of
righteousness. As long as I do not step
off Your paths of righteousness to the right or to the left, Your highly
respected name is kept shiny and clean. Holy
Spirit, You are my guide. Just keep me
on the straight and narrow. And since it
is true that many are following me as I follow You... don’t let me mess up. Keep me close to You... for their sake... and
for Your name’s sake. Amen.
Ralph
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