YEAR 1, WEEK 45, Day 4, Thursday, 7 November 2024

https://esv.literalword.com/?q=genesis+7

Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Thursday, 7 November 2024:

Genesis 7:1 — Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.”

From Henry T. Blackaby – “The children of Noah faced a significant decision. They lived in a world where everyone blatantly disregarded God. Wickedness was the norm. No one would have condemned Noah’s sons for living evil lives like the rest of society — no one except their father. In a world rampant with ungodly attitudes and every form of wicked behavior, they were fortunate to be Noah’s sons. When their father invited them to spend the next hundred years building an ark in obedience to a word from God, Noah’s sons had to choose whether to believe those around them or to trust their father. They chose to join their father. What a wonderful testimony of Noah’s godly influence in his home! How fortunate for Shem, Ham, and Japheth that their father refused to compromise his integrity, even though everyone else in his society had done so. Your life has an influence on those around you as well. Your spouse and your children are profoundly affected by your choices. Your coworkers, your neighbors, and your friends will all be impacted by your life. As the world tries to persuade people to follow its standard, your life should stand in stark contrast as an example of a righteous person. Your life should convince those around you of the wisdom of following God. Do not underestimate the positive effect that your obedience will have upon those close to you.

Genesis 7:5 – And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.

Noah obeyed ALL the Lord’s commands. Noah’s key attribute was unconditional obedience. The Christian life demands unconditional obedience as God directs us down paths we never intended to go. Obedience is not required just in the ‘big’ things but especially in the small things as we strive for holiness. Every small decision you make both reveals your character and shapes your character, for better or for worse. If you can’t be faithful with little things, you won’t be faithful with big things. Obedience is a product of faith that also strengthens our faith for the future.

• Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 — The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
• Joshua 1:8 — This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
• Matthew 28:18-20 — And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
• 1 John 2:5-6 — But if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in Him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.
• 1 John 5:3 This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome….
• John 14:15-23 — “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

Genesis 7:13 — On the very same day Noah and his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them entered the ark.

The Christian life is a life of leadership, guiding others in God’s will. Leadership starts with those closest to you. Christians serve God in relationships, not in isolation. We have a responsibility to serve as Christ’s Ambassador in the lives of those around us. A leader knows the way and shows the way. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life….” A true leader is closely following Jesus and directing others towards Him. Fortunately for Noah’s family, Noah was walking with God, and his family were willing to follow Noah against all practical reason.

Genesis 7:16 – And the Lord shut him in.

Noah did all that God commanded, but God completed the work in a way only He could enable. God demands that we work diligently for His purposes, but He works beyond our abilities to glorify Himself. The Christian life trusts in and depends upon the power of God. God’s path will be impossible for us to walk in our own strength, though we are called to press forward with all our might in faith that we do not labor in vain. Our dependence in God, which requires faith, reveals the power of God in our lives, both to ourselves and to those around us. It does not take faith to do what we already know we can do. It takes faith to do what God says to do though we know we can’t naturally do it without Him. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 7 November 2024: Today, step out in faith while growing your faith by faithfully obeying God’s commands and seeing Him do the impossible through your imperfect faithfulness and limited abilities and His perfect faithfulness and unlimited abilities. Glorify God by letting Him do in your life what clearly only He could do so everyone around you will see the reality of Him despite the reality of you. The world won’t be saved by your example and best efforts, rather, by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, placing no hope in their best efforts.