May 29, 2012

"Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days." Genesis 7:22-24

I want to share one more thought regarding the account of Noah and the flood. This is really important to affirm the truth that God can be expected to keep His promises.

Genesis refers to Noah as a righeous man. That is why God chose him to save his family and therefore, the human race. The next 100 years would prove if Noah was, indeed, righteous. Would he believe Gos and do all God commanded for as long as it would take to complete his salvation from the flood.

You know the story. Noah proved his righteousness and did everything EXACTLY the way God required! As a result, God did everything exactly as He had promised!

Noah and the flood proved beyond any doubt that God can be expected to keep His word. He WILL keep His promises if you will honor the covenant.

But, there is another side of God keeping His promises. Just as He did what He promised for Noah, God also did for those who were unrighteous and refused to respond to Noah's repreated pleas for them to repent of their sin and turn from evil.

While Noah was completing the ark there was a season of mercy for sinners to repent, but once the ark was completed and fully loaded the judgment came. God shut the door of the ark He also opened the skies and the fountains of the deep. Those who did not repent did not survive.

Take note of this lesson! God keeps His promises! He WILL reward obedience and He WILL also judge sin!

Don't deceive yourself. No sin will go unjudged. If you choose not to turn from sin and receive the righteousness of Christ through faith - well - in the words of Bill Cosby, "How long can you tred water?"

May 28, 2012

^"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations."  Psalm 67:1-2

Is it proper for me to ask God to bless me? Is that selfish? Is it conceited?

In I Chronicles 4:10, a man named Jabez prayed this prayer requesting God's blessing, ^"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request."

Jabez boldly asked for God's blessing and he received it.

We have a God Who is exceedingly gracious and kind! He delights in blessing His people!

The Psalmist mentions several ways He wants to bless you!

He will bless you with His grace! Grace is His undeserved kindness and goodness to you. When you deserved judgment for your sins, God sent Jesus to take your guilt and suffer the penalty so you could receive mercy rathr than judgment.

Have you asked Him for his mercy? Have you received His grace?

Also, God wants to bless you with His favor.

What does that mean?

Essentially, it means you become one of His favorites! He picks you out of the crowd because you have chosen Him to be your Lord. He directs His attention and His protection and His pleasure in your direction!

God's greatest blessing is His salvation - saving you from your sin and selfishness - delivering your eternal soul from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. When you receive His salvation you come into possession of His greatest blessing, for when you have His salvation you have His grace and His favor!