Wednesday Wake Up #13

The Obedience of Noah

You remember Noah. He built the ark and put all the animals on it 2 by 2. The earth was flooded and he saved his family.

We tend to forget why Noah did all of this. If you read Genesis 6:5-7, you will see how God was disappointed in the world and the evil in the hearts of people and decided to start over. Yes, God was planning to start the human race over. There was one person God found favor in. That one person was Noah (Genesis 6:8).

Noah was a righteous man who walked blamelessly among the people (Genesis 6:9). God told Noah about His plan and told Noah what he needed to do in order to be spared (Genesis 6:13-21). Noah had a choice. He had a choice to either follow what God said or to ignore it and just do what everyone else is doing. But instead, Noah did what God commanded (Genesis 6:22).

I don't want to overlook the grace of God either. God did not have to find favor in Noah. But, since Noah was obedient and serving God's will in his life, God spared him. We must learn that in all that we do, we must be obedient to God. God does forgive unlike many of us who do not. But, He wants us to come to Him and seek that forgiveness. He doesn't expect perfection, He just wants us to do what He says.

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST AND GOOGLE PLUS. THANKS! 

Mark 6:7-13- Shake off the Dust

Shake off the Dust

In Mark 6:7-13, we read about Jesus sending out the twelve apostles/disciples. In verse 8, Jesus charged/commanded them to only take one tunic (garment of clothing) and and sandals. They were not to take any bags or bread or any money in their belts. In my reading from Dave Guzik, he states that the rule/law was that Jewish rabbis were not to have the appearance of doing any other business in the temple. So, when Jesus sent out the twelve (2 by 2) they also were not have the appearance that they are doing any other business than spreading the word of Christ. Not having those items also put them in position to have more faith in God that He would provide for them while He did their work. If a preacher/pastor doesn't have have faith in God, then how can they teach others to have that faith?

A second point that I found interesting was the command in verse 11 to "shake off the dust" if any place would not have them or receive their message. The practice of this comes from Jewish people shaking off dust as they would travel through Gentile/non-jewish cities. it was seen as a way to not want to take anything from a city that was not Jewish. Do you see the connection? If a person or place does not receive the word of Christ then do not take that mentality or way of thinking with you in any way shape or form. That includes anything as small as dust. It is not your job as a pastor/preacher or follower of Christ to convince people to receive Jesus. You can share the faith, but you do not have to argue with them until you are blue in the face or until they accept Jesus. You deliver the message. They choose to receive it or reject it. Jesus did not need to argue and neither do you.

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE THIS VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, ETC. THANKS.