📧 In today’s email..

• 📕 Today’s reading

• 🙏 The SOAP Devotional of the day

📕 TODAY’S READING
2 Chronicles 28, 2 Kings 17, Psalm 66, 1 Corinthians 7

Need to download the full plan? 👇

🙏 SOAP DEVOTIONAL
SOAP: scripture, observation, application, prayer

Today’s SOAP Devotional by Ryan Miller

S - SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 7:3-5(NIV):

³ The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. ⁴ The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. ⁵ Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

O - OBSERVATION:

In our Scripture reading today, we see a stark contrast between the Israelites, who fell into idol worship and sexual sin, and the teachings of 1 Corinthians 7, which advocates for a healthy, fulfilling sex life within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.

A - APPLICATION:

In our hyper-sexualized culture, Christians are called to uphold the biblical model of sexuality in obedience to the Lord. And the call is clear- “do not deprive one another” of sex! While this can be a sensitive and nuanced topic, especially in cases of unhealthy or abusive marriages, it's incredible that God has given us the gift of sex and encourages its enjoyment within the bounds of marriage.

In my own marriage and through counseling many couples, I have discovered that sex is not much more of an emotional and spiritual connection, than a physical one. When we live out the principles of Ephesians 5—wives respecting their husbands and husbands loving their wives as Christ loves the church—we can trust that both partners will cultivate a God-honoring desire for an amazing sex life. So, what’s the application, married people? Have some fun having some great sex! It’s honoring to the Lord.

P - PRAYER:

Jesus, guide us in deepening our intimacy with our spouse or future spouse as we follow Your example of servanthood and prioritize the needs of others. Lord, restore any relationships that are broken, and draw married couples who have begun to drift apart back to the foot of the cross. Amen.

What is a SOAP?

For each day of Bible reading, we do a SOAP devotional to go deeper into the word of God. We always provide an example SOAP from one of our authors, but we highly encourage you to do your own SOAP with today’s reading. God wants to speak to you personally, and will highlight a passage of today’s reading that’s just for you.

Here’s how it works:

S – SCRIPTURE
Physically write out the Bible verse
You’ll be amazed at what God will reveal to you when you
slow down to write or meditate on what you are reading!

O – OBSERVATION
What do you see in the verses you’re reading?
Who is the audience? Is there a repetition of words? What words stand out to you? What is the main lesson or theme?

A – APPLICATION
When God’s Word becomes personal
What is God saying to me today? How can I apply what I just read to my life? Are there any changes I need to make?

P – PRAYER
Pray God’s Word back to Him
If He has revealed something to you during this time in His
Word, pray about it. Confess if He has revealed some sin that is in your life. Take time to thank Him for His goodness in your life.