SOAP Devotions


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Astonishment - Been with, touched and marked by Jesus

28 January 2020

SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:13  When they saw the courage of Peter & John, and realised they were unschooled and ordinary men, they were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus. 

OBSERVATION: Peter & John have been proclaiming that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ. They were offering the resurrection from the dead in Jesus Christ and as a result, the Church has nearly doubled from 3000 to 5000. The Jews had to figure out what is going on – and they can’t believe whom God is using… a couple of guys full of courage and boldness by the Holy Spirit, however unschooled and ordinary as well. This astonished them, so they took note that regardless of what these guys looked like from a human perspective, they have been with Jesus, and Jesus had left a visible mark on them. 

APPLICATION: God has given me a good mind to be used under submission to the Holy Spirit. A great mind is a great gift as long as it is surrendered to God, and His plan and purpose. I also need to remember that my intellect is not necessarily the thing that will bring about life change and exponential growth, that comes from:

  • Courage – by the Holy Spirit

  • Message – of the resurrection of Jesus for salvation of all

  • Unschooled & Ordinary – will always go a long way. Why?

Because it declares the obvious truth that this must be because of Jesus

PRAYER: Father, help me to be astonishing to the world around me. Let them see the touch of Jesus on my life. Amen. 

At OurChurch, we follow the Life Journal Reading Plan and use the SOAP journaling method - Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. Download a booklet here for some tips on how you can get started.

Join us at 6am on Mondays - Fridays at The Junction Café – we coffee, we read and we journal together!

DevotionsWendy Markhamdevotions, SOAP, AstonishmentComment