People in the Bible Who Pleased God: Noah

    Noah lived amongst a generation in which “the wickedness of man was great,” and “every intent of the thoughts of [man’s] heart was only evil continually.” The earth was “filled with violence” and “was corrupt before God… for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis 6:5-8, 11-12).

    Why?

    Noah was a just man, perfect* in his generations. Noah walked with God (Genesis 6:9). Because of this, he was divinely warned of the impending flood, he was given precise instruction, and Noah, in receiving these, moved with godly fear and prepared an ark for the saving of his household (Hebrews 11:7).

* perfect, from the Hebrew word tamim (Strong’s Hebrew #8549), meaning innocent, blameless, having integrity, of God’s way

    In building the ark just as the LORD had instructed, and allowing himself (and his household) to be closed up into it, Noah showed the world the difference between following God and following self; he showed where the two paths lead, and in doing so, he condemned* the world and became an heir of righteousness.   

*condemned, from the Greek word katakrino (Strong’s Greek #2632), which means by one’s good example they render another’s wickedness more evident and censurable. See Matthew 12:41 and Luke 11:31. Consider also Ephesians 5:8-14. The unfruitful works of darkness are not exposed by our words (“it is shameful even to talk of those things”) but by our walking in the light – doing what is right in God’s sight – the difference will be obvious; showing all who observe us that there is another – a better – way.

    Because he trusted and obeyed God, Noah reaped the benefits of being righteous: he and all his household were saved. After the flood, God blessed Noah (and his sons) and made a covenant with him – an everlasting covenant – with a sign that we can still see today: the rainbow (Genesis 9:1-17), and later in scripture, Noah was noted for his righteousness: by the LORD in Ezekiel 14:14, 20, and in 2 Peter 2:5, Peter describes him as “a preacher of righteousness.”    

    What can we learn from Noah’s life?

    Like Noah, we live in a world that has its heart set on evil continually, and, we too, we have been divinely warned (through God’s word, the Bible). Like him, we need to move with godly fear and prepare “an ark” for the saving of our household. We need to protect our household and give them a future by showing them how to obey God’s commands and instructions with sincere love and respect for God.

    Like Noah, our ark (aka our commitment to righteousness through faith) is built by following God’s precise instruction – instruction found only in His word. Our ark is built in trust and obedience, and it will…

…show our household that God’s word is worthy of both our time and our attention. In living right before God, we will prove that His will is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).

…allow us to be an example to believers (1 Timothy 4:12-16), and those in the world who see our good works, who may come to glorify God (1 Peter 2:11-12).

…protect us and buoy us in storms (1 Peter 2:18-25, James 1:2-4, Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:9-21).

…give us a future (Hebrews 10:32-39, Matthew 7:13-14, Mark 13:13)   

“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:8-20 NKJV)

    Noah pleased God and found grace in His eyes because he trusted Him and obeyed His commands even when the world around him refused. He taught his sons, while he built the ark and when they boarded the ark, that God’s way can and should be trusted, and that it is the only way to salvation.

    Let’s determine to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) so that we learn to do what is right, and so we can give our household a future by showing them how to practice righteousness and shine as lights in a wicked world (Philippians 2:14-16).

You can do it! So can I!!

   

New Study: Men and Women in the Bible Who Pleased God

    As with familiar verses, Bible students can have a tendency to skim over the mentions/stories of familiar people in the Bible simply because they 'already know them.' Well, I’m at the stage in my studies, where I’m rereading passages and revisiting people who have long been familiar to me, yet I have found that when I take the time to dig into their text and context, I continue to discover more reasons to value the importance of their mention and I continue to find new determination and encouragement in my walk. I would like to encourage you to also discover their value, so I’m beginning this new study of familiar persons in the Bible; specifically persons of whom it is said: they pleased God.

    What does it take to please God? Some think it an impossible task, so they don’t even begin to seek an answer to that question. Is it impossible? Without faith, yes (Hebrews 11:6). But with faith, one can be pleasing to God! Faith starts us on a journey with God, obedience keeps us to the path we walk with Him, and gratitude keeps our grasp firmly on Him!

    Let’s begin our study with the first man of whom it was said, he pleased God: ENOCH

    Genesis 4:26 mentions that after Adam’s grandson was born (Seth’s son, Enosh) that “men began to call on the name of the LORD”, meaning they began to seek Him, turn to Him for guidance, and faithfully follow His instruction; Enoch was four generations (or 387 years) later.

    Now, Enoch is best known for his death – or the lack thereof (we’ll get to that in a moment) – but I would like us to dig into what Enoch did during his lifetime, because it is worthy of our attention.

    Enoch was sixty-five years old when he had his first son, Methuselah (Genesis 5:21), and after his birth, Enoch walked with God three hundred years and had more sons and daughters (Genesis 5:22). During those three hundred years, Enoch prophesied about Jesus and the coming judgment. Think about that for a moment. Roughly 4700 years before Jesus was born, Enoch prophesied of Jesus’ return and His judgment on ungodly men who departed from God and denied His instructions.

“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” (Jude 14-15 NKJV)    

Side study: Take time this week to read the whole epistle of Jude – because the times in which Enoch prophesied (consider Genesis 6:5) were not much different from the time in which Jude wrote, nor were they any different from the times we live in now.

    Enoch continued to walk with God, living to see the first 48 years of his grandson's life, then 634 years before the flood, because of his faith – because he pleased God - Enoch was taken by God and did not see death.

“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5 NKJV).

What can we learn from Enoch’s life?

    In a time when few called on the LORD, Enoch walked with Him. After having his first child, Enoch turned to God, believed in Him, diligently sought Him, and warned others that their ungodly words and ways would have real consequences – in doing this, he pleased God.

    If we have been blessed with children (or have any people to whom we can be an example), let’s do our utmost to seek God, turn to His Word for guidance (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Timothy 4:12-16), pray to Him for wisdom (James 1:5) and obey His instruction (James 1:21-27) so that we can guide our children (through example and word) in what is good and right.

    Let us determine to faithfully walk with God each and every day of our life, and learn from Him so that we can lovingly warn those around us (Ephesians 5:8-17, also consider Hebrews 3:12-14). Let’s look for opportunities to teach others so that they, too, can believe that God is, and that He is both a rewarder (to those who diligently seek Him, Hebrews 11:6) and a judge (to those who continue in ungodliness, consider Titus 2:11-15).

    If we do these things, we, too, can have this testimony, that we pleased God.

You can do it! So can I!!

If It Is “No Longer I Who Live” Why Am I Seeking Glory from Man for What I Do?

    As we bring this 8-week study to a close, I would like you to consider the counteractivity of proclaiming “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20) while elbowing your way to the forefront, effectively pushing Christ out of the way, to receive the glory and accolades for what you have done with the blessings from the Lord.

    We have come to understand that the life of a Christian is one of sacrifice. We sacrifice our old ways (sinful habits, Romans 6:1-14, Ephesians 4:17-24, Psalm 1:1-3), and as we follow Jesus’ example and walk in His steps (1 Peter 2:21, 1 John 2:16), we make the necessary changes and sacrifices to come into line with God’s Word; we become “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1-2). Jesus said that to follow Him we must first “deny self” (learn selflessness, no longer focused on earthly things, Colossians 3:1-17), then we “take up [our] cross” (never to return to our former life), and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-26).

    When we seek after glory and praise from man for validation we miss out. We miss out on the quiet, calm assurance of knowing that God is pleased with our efforts; pleased with how we have used the things He has blessed us with. We miss out on the increase of strength and motivation that comes from God as we labour in doing good to all (2 Corinthians 9:8, Galatians 6:9-10), and we miss out on the development of the confidence-building trust in His promises (Hebrews 11:6).

    When we truly let Christ live in us, we will humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, just as Jesus did (Philippians 2:5-8), wholly trusting that He will exalt us in due time (1 Peter 5:5-6).

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God…. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:13-14, 16-17 NKJV)

    If you wear the name of Christ and truly let Him live in you, sacrifice your desire for man’s temporary praise and momentary applause. Seek after God’s praise, desire His true and lasting exaltation. Give Him the glory for your life, your abilities, and your blessings (both physical and spiritual). Use all that He has granted you to be a benefit to others and direct all the glory to Him for His generous goodness toward all mankind (Matthew 5:16, Psalm 16:2). Live your life to His standard, not mans. The hope of receiving praise from God – “well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21) – is worth every effort and every sacrifice!

You can do it! So can I!!