Noah got the message from God. He kept a clear focus on his purpose and apparently did not allow the response of the people to send him into the pit of depression. Faith prevailed.That's why he's listed among the faithful in Hebrews 11, By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith." Heb 11:7 (NRSV). He was not super human. We can possess the same kind of faith. The phrase, "Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him" Gen 6:22, appears more than once in Genesis. Faith prevailed.
Faith and worry do not mix. The are opposites. One repels the other. It's why Jesus tells us to not worry. It's also why Jesus tells us to have faith. So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17 NRSV). The people Noah talked to would not hear, but that didn't change the message and it did not change his focus. It did not cause him to worry or doubt. Faith prevailed.
Someone once told me, "people do what they want to do." My desire is to want to do His will. It takes listening to His word and being willing to apply it to everyday life. Relationship springs from that. It's what I'm working on. I want to make "faith prevailed" a true statement in my life. How about you?
Deny
I'm with you Deny...I want faith to prevail in my life as well. I appreciate your blog and the encouragement God gives through you here.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're going to Tulsa, and if so, I hope it works out that we get to spend a little time together. I'll meet you in the Pavilion, floor level, right side, seventy-five chairs up from the back, and 21 chairs over to the right. We'll work on the time later,deal!?
I'm trying to catching up on blogging, I really enjoy it and have for sometime now But sometimes I get really busy and before I know it 3,4,7 months have past. I'm trying to find a way to balance it with everything else...good luck with that right...