Quiet Time: God's Design

God’s Design

"You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks... Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did. 

– Genesis 6:16 & 22

Building according to God’s design may seem unreasonable, even outlandish at times.

For example, Noah’s dad had him slotted to become a farmer from the day he was born, but God had other plans. God used Noah to build something this world had never seen. Noah’s job was simply to be faithful; and, in so doing he would save both himself, as well as, his family from the coming storm.

Being a Christ follower can seem absurd even unfair at times. I mean, believing on someone we’ve never seen and loving someone we’ve never met doesn’t make sense in this “show me” world. However, as one pastor said, “Fair went out in the garden”, and the bible tells us that we "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7). 

Keep on building according to God’s design, even when the weather seems perfectly fine.

Quiet Time: Favor With God

Favor With God

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD... Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. -  Genesis 6:8 & 9

The whole world was going nuts, following every sin and source of debauchury imaginable. One man and his family stood alone unmoved by the sea of filth surrounding them. Noah. 

How was it possible for this pitiful little band of believers in the living God to maintain their faith and integrity under such unrelenting pressure to conform? They chose to walk by faith just like their great great grandfather, Enoch, had done.

Like Enoch, Noah, strove to walk through each day and face every circumstance as if God were right there with him. Noah chose to do what God told him to do which led him to walk in righteousness regardless of the daily challenge to change.

This world constantly works to divert our attention from the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We must set our hand to the task … lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and run with endurance the race that is set before us, - Hebrews 12:1

Favor with God is found by walking in faith.

Do not grow weary (Gal. 6:9)

Quiet Time: Be the Man

Be the Man

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, and be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 

My son, Matt, loves the reality comedy show, Duck Dynasty. Recently the leader of the program, Phil Robertson, got himself suspended from the sitcom for being frank in an interview with GQ magazine. (Why in the world GQ wanted to interview this guy is beyond me) Apparently, in line with his conservative Christian views, and notorious palpable candor, he said, among other things, that he believed the bible taught the LGBT lifestyle was wrong and that he found it to be illogical. When did Americans, gay or otherwise, start wearing their heart on their sleeve?

Matthew, furious at the way A & E network handled the situation made a derogatory comment regarding homosexuals. Well, that got my attention. I immediately addressed the off color remark while supporting Matt's biblically based convictions by reminding him of (Ephesians 4:29) Believers are to fight for the right while maintaining an attitude of love for people. (For example, a combat soldier reflected how he fought and killed the enemy, without a sense of hatred or personal malice toward them at all. In this soldier’s eyes the enemy brought about their own demise by choosing to fight)

I don’t understand when Americans became intimidated by free speech. It seems rather silly in a country that prides itself on being brash and out spoken. However, Christ followers need to understand that their world view will always be challenged; even hated.

Perhaps it’s time to do a better job at training ourselves to respond appropriately when the enemy is attacking our position. If we don’t, the only examples we'll have are the talking heads on television and radio who spout blatant heated commentary with no thought to the unshakeable unchanging word of God.

Look, the bottom line is that Christians should expect hostility from the world; but, we should also become adept at handling these attacks like good soldiers from a position of strength, reason, and love (Psalm 37:7-9).

Christ followers don’t wear their heart on their sleeves; it is kept safe behind the breast-plate of righteousness (Eph. 6:14)    

Quiet Time: What Can I Do

What Can I Do

I will sing of your love and justice;

to you, Lord, I will sing praise.

I will be careful to lead a blameless life—

when will you come to me? 

– Psalm 101:1-2

I am convinced that we “do” quite a bit less than we pretend we can do.

 Perhaps that’s why it doesn’t take much to trip us up from doing what we know we ought to do. 

There are no less than eleven “I will” statements in Psalm 101 where David sings about his determination to make God’s wills his way. 

So, if this morning we need a little kick in the pants to get us moving in the right direction (like attending worship service with other believers) here’s a “to do” list directly from God’s hand to your heart.

It would probably be a good idea to make it personal.

(          your name here           )   will:

1. Sing of God’s love and justice (Psalm 101:1)
2. Sing God’s praise (Ps. 101:1)
3. Walk the road of righteousness (Ps. 101:2)
4. Lead my family to live right (Ps. 101:2)
5. Look away from worthlessness (bliya-al) naughty, ungodly (Ps. 101:3)
6. Will not live like the faithless (Ps. 101:3)
7. Have nothing to do with evil (Ps. 101:4)
8. Put to silence the slanderer (Ps. 101:5)
9. Not tolerate the proud (Ps. 101:5)
10. Hush the heinous (Ps. 101:8)
11. Block the bad (Ps. 101:8)

What can I do?

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me 

(Philippians 4:13)