Tuesday, March 01, 2016

DJD301 - Noah's Day

Read More Daily Jesus
Scripture: 

Revelation 1:3

Starting Question:

What are some signs that show you Jesus is coming soon?

Noah's Day

God has a plan for each of our lives that allows us to be both blessed and a blessing to others. “‘I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope'” (Jeremiah 29:11*). This is God's plan for each of us—a future and a hope.

But the decision is ours. Will we seek His wisdom and leadership in our lives? Will we follow His guidance? If we do, the result will be a life He has planned— for good and not for disaster.

Noah is one of the Bible's best examples of this promise in action. Just a few generations after Adam and Eve rejected God's plan for their life, their descendants had made them look like saints. “The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil” (Genesis 6:5). The world had rejected God so completely that there was only one man left—only one who still had faith in God and followed His leading. That man was Noah.

God was heartbroken. He had created the human race to be His companions; and yet they chose to abandon the guidance and care of their Maker, relying instead on themselves. This kind of thinking led the world in a downward spiral of corruption, depravity and violence— as selfishness always does.

This could not continue. The mess needed cleaning up and God wanted to provide salvation for those who desired it. Because Noah was willing to listen and follow, God told him His plan and gave him an important role to play. God explained He was going to use a flood to cleanse the earth—the whole planet would be submerged.

God then gave Noah instructions for building the life-saving vessel. It would be built to house as many as would come—humans and animals.

Anything that needed air to live would need to enter the ark. And God, knowing the end from the beginning, knew exactly how big it would need to be.

Noah, and his family, began to gather the supplies and build the huge boat.

People came to see what he was doing.

They pointed, laughed and shouted derisive comments. But Noah and his family hammered and sawed faithfully until the job was finished—120 years of hard labour! Noah was also given another task by God to carry out during the ark-building project. He was to warn people that there was a flood coming—the earth would be cleansed of evil. “Noah warned the world of God's righteous judgment” (2 Peter 2:5). It was made very clear: all those wishing to be saved must enter the ark.

For 120 years, Noah issued this invitation— and the people mocked him all-the-more for his apocalyptic message.


“There's not going to be a flood,” the people convinced themselves. “He's just a crazy old man. And his family is just too scared to tell him what they really think!” Aside from preaching and building, God gave Noah another command—a command that must have perplexed Noah during the 120 years.

** Continued in Seven Days tomorrow **

Reflection Question:
Which would have been harder for you - building a boat or preaching the daily sermon?

Prayer time:
Before you pray together, ask: What would you like to say to Jesus today?

Further Reading:
To Be Like Jesus, Page 69

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