The Everyday Prayer

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 7:1-4, 17-24; 8:1-5, 13-16, 20-22 (day one)

“In the last days mockers will come. . .saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?  For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning.’ (but what they forget is) the world was (before) destroyed with water. . but now. . .is being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgement and the destruction of ungodly men.”–2 Peter 3:3-7

Noah was Peter’s favorite story.   He refers to it over and over in his letters.  I don’t know whether you believe in God’s coming wrath.  Peter absolutely did.  He learned this conviction from Jesus.  Saw it illustrated in Noah.

For Peter, the ark was no cartoon or children’s story.  It was a sober symbol of God’s holiness and patience and judgement and salvation for those who believe!

The happiest (and holiest) people I know believe in judgement.  It warns them.  Helps them.   Do you believe in the wrath to come?

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 6 (day seven)

“He was made alive in the Spirit; in which He (Jesus) also went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient. . .in the days of Noah. . .in which a few. . .were brought safely through the water.  Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you”–1 Peter 3:18-21.

The ark was a well known symbol in the early church.  A story of salvation from wrath, of a remnant, of separation from lost society.

Peter makes one comparison and one contrast.  Comparison–In Noah’s story (and Jesus’) God is making proclamation to spirits (people) who either were, or will be, in prison for their unbelief.  Salvation is always provided by God and received by faith.  Contrast–Noah was saved from the flood (judgement).  We are saved through the flood (baptism) by dying to self and joining life to Christ.

What is the Spirit of God saying as you read the story of Noah?

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 6 (day six)

“The Lord regretted that he had made humankind, and he was highly offended (or broken hearted.)” Genesis 6:6, NET

A sovereign God doesn’t regret in the same way we do (1 Samuel 15:28), as if he wished he had done something different in order to achieve a different outcome. God’s regret is an expression of his grief over the wickedness of man, not a stab at his sovereignty. That aside, consider His broken heart. What God now saw in humankind was no longer good, and the reality of humankind’s self-determination (and God’s judgement) was settling in; humankind was exponentially experiencing suffering and death. It was ugly; it was wicked, and God was brokenhearted. If you have children, you know the feeling.

God is not indifferent, and that is glorious! God is not indifferent to your sin either; he is brokenhearted, so much so He sent a cure for His broken heart (and yours), his very own Son.

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 6 (day five) 

Are you like me? When things get out of control I struggle with impatience. I want to hurry. I want to “get on with it” or “get it over with”. It really is a coping mechanism clearly indicating that I am not in control. Good news… God is in control. I believe it. I feel it. I know it. One of the many reasons, He is patient and faithful to His promises and character- even when things seem to be out of control. The way He deals with Noah and the “wicked generation” is more evidence of this patient and just judgement. There was time and opportunity for them to repent and turn to God. They did not. There was judgement and justice.  IN God’s perfect timing, He prepared Noah and acted.

God continues to be patient and in control. 2 Peter 3:9– “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” His patience is His kindness and an indication He is in control. That is really GOOD NEWS!!

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 6 (day four) 

It is a story of compassion. In the midst of His anger toward all flesh, God reaches out to Noah, the one man that found favor in His eyes.  He will preserve Noah and his family to re-populate the world after the flood.  Noah will also be the instrument to preserve all of the animals of flesh.  God made a covenant with Noah, stated in Genesis 9:9-16, to never destroy the earth again with flood.  The rainbow is the sign of His covenant.

This story is a model of God’s compassion.  We see it again in Isaiah 54:9-10.  God promises that He will never remove His lovingkindness from Israel.  It is His covenant promise!  He demonstrates His compassion in spite of our sin and rebellion against Him.  Have you seen God’s compassion in your life?  Have you recognized your sinfulness before God and received His forgiveness…even when you did not deserve it or have the ability to atone for it?  God’s compassion is unchanging…from the beginning of time to the present.  He makes a way of salvation!

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 6 (day three) 

“The Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth.”  God apparently told Moses, who wrote down this account, that the thoughts and feelings which arose in his mind as he regarded the rebellion of the human race were what Moses—and all humankind—would understand best as regret.  Maybe the word “regret” is only the nearest approximation that is understandable to a finite mind.  Whatever kind of movement occurs in God’s mind in response to the lives of morally responsible creatures, it arises from the one reality of God’s person that does not deviate from its intended aim: love.  God will not turn aside from, and cannot be made to turn aside from, love.  In love he exists, he creates, he punishes, he redeems.  Your plans will stand only when they stand firmly within God’s sovereign love.

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 6 (day two) 

…Noah was a righteous man… vs. 9

Ever feel alone? Like the work you have been called to is devoid of any understanding from anyone else. Perhaps you have an idea or new way of looking at something and are convinced it is the way to go, but no else shares your vision. Maybe, like Noah, you are living a righteous life in the midst of a very unrighteous world. What separates Noah, and others who share this call, is that he is completely focused on God in the midst of the depravity around him. It doesn’t mean that Noah did engage in culture, but he did not let it define his actions. He was righteous. When an opportunity came to honor or blaspheme the Lord, he chose to honor. This steadfastness was a credit unto him and his family. If you feel alone think of Noah. Would you prefer to be with the millions who perished on the few that were saved? Choose righteousness.

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 6 (day one)

It was a corrupt age.  Every trace of truth or kindness was gone from the earth.  A barbaric and brutal world.  “EVERY inclination, ONLY evil, ALL the time.” is the Lord’s fair assessment of this chapter in human history.   v 5.

“Yet just at this point, when the black thunderclouds of God’s wrath against human sin were most threatening, a small crack appears.  Grace shines through, and the promise of a new day dawns.”–James Boice.

“Noah found favor with God” says v 8.  Discovered it.  Received it.  Responded to God’s offered grace.  Became (in that dark age) a ray of light, an example of a new/different way to live.  Different principle (faith)  Different outcome (righteousness)

The work of God in the world is often carried out in the life a single individual (or small group) who has come out of the world.  To lead the world, a man must first leave it behind.

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 4:1-16; 25-26 (day seven) 

“Sin is crouching at the door and you must master it.”–v 7.

“For consider Him who endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. (For) you have not resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.”–Hebrews 12:3-4.

Happy Easter!  With great joy we will gather today with people around the world and across all ages of time to shout,”He is risen!”

Our conflict with sin, however, will not be over.  Soon hopefully, but not yet.  On Easter Monday we will all get back in the good fight.  So long as there are unsaved men, and unsafe homes, and hungry children, and dark hearts, the followers and partners of the Savior cannot be finished.

The Resurrection gives us power to fight, not permission to quit.  He is Risen! May the world see His courage in us!  Want to build a church?