Genesis 6:5-10 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
My husband and I were able to take our very first cruise last weekend. As I looked out across the miles and miles of ocean - it inspired me to pick my next person in the Bible to study - Noah. I start to get excited when someone from the Bible just jumps into my thoughts - I feel like it means God has something very special for me to learn - I hope you get that feeling too.
At the time of Noah - I wonder if he knew how the people around him were living. Do you think he realized how awful they truly were - I mean so awful the God was "grieved that he had made man". That's pretty bad. Even when my kids are being the worst they can be - I've never wished they hadn't been made- not even close - really - I promise.
Noah was living his life, a righteous man with a family. But no one else in the WORLD was living for God. It says they thought evil all the time. Which brings me to this point. . . Have you ever thought that 'what if there was no one else around you who loved Jesus'. What if there were no other blogs proclaiming the truth? What if you showed up at church and your family was the only one there? What if you turned on the television and/or radio on Sunday morning and there was not one sermon broadcast to be found? We need to be thankful for our Christian friends and our church families and even our internet faith pals. Thankful that we were not in the situation Noah was in that he had no neighbors to worship with, or friends to pray with. So today, thank you for staying strong in your walk with Christ and for being here.
3 comments:
great thoughts to ponder! Can't wait to see what the Lord teaches me through you and Noah!!
(glad you had a good time on the cruise!! who wouldn't? well, maybe Noah, huh?!)
Again you hit it on the nailhead. Yes, there had to be great grief as the water rose and the Noah family had to see people they loved dying. I find myself grieved when some of my family and friends keep going their own way instead of caring what God's way is for them.
Good insight.
While there have been times that I "felt" like that I alone...God quickly reminds me like that prophet I also am not alone in fact I am surrounded by such a "great cloud of witnesses". I think of those who live in countries that are hostile toward the Word of God and how some remain stedfast in the faith risking jobs, homes, relationship with family and friends...they face imprisonment and sometimes even death..Yet they do not deny the name of Jesus...How greatly blessed are we who live in free nations and yet how often we take for granted and sometimes willingly surrender the awesome freedom we have to Declare and Praise the Name Of the Lord Jesus.
I desire that kind of faith - to be obedient no matter what anyone else is doing, to count the cost and remain faithful and steadfast.
I also desire a greater capacity to Love those who oppose the gospel as Jesus loves them. To honor my Lord and Savior to love them into the Kingdom of God. This is what our brothers and sisters in Christ do when they are persecuted - they love those who persecute them- they share the gospel with them-they pray for them...
I fall so short in being able to love others.
I agree it must of grieved Noah to see how others sinned against God and grieved him that they did not repent...and how much more does this grieve our heavenly father.
In His Love,
Debrah
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