Do everything?

-
But Noah pleased the Lord. This is the history of Noah’s family. He was a good man all his life, and he always followed God. Noah did everything God commanded him. (Genesis 6:8-9, 22)

Down through the years, some have asked why they needed to invite God into their lives, touting that they were living 'good lives' - trying their best to make good decisions, not lie or cheat, and generally doing good. The truth is that 'good deeds' are great, but 'good deeds' aren't always the result of a good heart. The heart is deceitful - it is inclined toward sinful choices. What God desires is our obedience. If we never invite Jesus into our lives, never give him access to our heart, our heart will continue to be inclined toward sin. We need his grace to change our hearts so that ALL the works that stem from our hearts are truly 'good'.

Yesterday, we discussed that Noah walked with God. One of the most 'telling' parts of his life's testimony is that he is listening to what God is telling him to do and then obediently carrying out what God asks. Even in the face of great opposition, his obedience didn't waver. God told him to make an ark and to cover inside and out with pitch, using specific measurements and then to 'board' all the animals two-by-two. ALL that God had commanded him he did. From the building to the boarding of the ark; from the time sailing through the storms until the earth dried up; from the door opening to the life 'after the flood' - he was obedient.

What's probably most amazing to me is that Noah didn’t complain about the things that were hard for him to understand. He didn’t question God's actions, nor his purposes - he just did what God told him to do, trusting him all the while. Maybe the reason God called Noah "Good' was his unwavering obedience to ALL God asked. We never know what God's 'tasks' will be for each of us, but when they are revealed to us, we have one of two choices - do what God asks or choose our own plan. The one who consistently does as God asks will be 'kept safe' even when the storms of life come. It isn't just 'good works' we endeavor to perform - it is seeking a 'good heart' that pleases God. The only way to a 'good heart' is through the grace given when we invite Jesus to forgive us of our sins and be the ruler of our lives. Just sayin!

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment if this message has spoken to your heart.

Popular posts from this blog

Sentimental gush

-
9-11  So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11 MSG) Sentimental gush - that is what I kind of feel when I watch some of those sappy "and they lived happily after" love stories. Yes, I believe people can "be in love" and that "love will find a way" and all those other cliches about love. Don't think I am down on a solidly committed and growing relationship - it is just that our world often portrays love in ways that are totally gushy and then doesn't show the very 'hard' side of that loving being vital and vibrant...
Read more

At the right time

-
Greetings from Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I was sent to help God’s chosen people have faith and understand the truth that produces a life of devotion to God. This faith and knowledge make us sure that we have eternal life. God promised that life to us before time began—and God does not lie. At the right time, God let the world know about that life. He did this through the telling of the Good News message, and he trusted me with that work. I told people that message because God our Savior commanded me to. (Titus 1:1-3) Sent to help God's chosen to have faith and understand the truth that produces a life of devotion to God. Maybe that mission is one we can carry on each day as we go about our business of 'living life together'. We may not have been called to form the New Testament churches like Paul was, but we have been called to help others grow in their faith and to come into a deeper understanding of God's truths. Why? God wants a people w...
Read more

Hmmm...seeing things differently now?

-
Create in me a clean heart, O God; restore within me a sense of being brand new. (Psalm 51:10) Einstein said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."  He was so true in this perception!  The problems we create will never be overcome or changed until we change the way we have been thinking about them!  To change our thought process we often need to change what we are focusing on so often or intensely. If we always see the problem, we will never see the solution standing just beyond it! If all we see is the river in front of us, raging out of control and making it hard to pass over to the other side, we will likely not see the bridge being lowered from the other side! Restoration is a process of not only being "clean" of the sin in our lives, but of being able to look beyond the sin.  We can ask for forgiveness when we have done something we are not happy we have done, but if all we keep thinking about is that thing we asked...
Read more