Day 4: Noah's Time

Luke 7:1-17; Genesis 9-10; Psalm 4

The story of the faith of the centurion is awesome. Here is a man who is not a Jew, in fact, the Jews hate these kind of people. This man was in control of a hundred soldiers that had to obey his every whim. And yet, it was this obedience that he commanded that probably helped him to understand the authority of Jesus. He recognized his insufficiency and sinfulness and had faith in the power of Jesus. God uses the unexpected to teach his truths and for that I am so thankful.

There will always be people who refuse to turn to Jesus. Some people just like to be defiant and rebellious. Lord, make them without excuse. The Lord reveals himself in so many ways, and though they are often subtle, they cannot be ignored. Reading these verses show me just how loving and compassionate Jesus' heart is. In life, we have to carry a yoke, that is what living is about. There is a burden I must bear, however, if I, or anyone, comes to Jesus, the burden is light and the yoke is easy. Jesus has taken the heaviest of burdens and carried it for us and for that I am extremely grateful.

So what did Noah do first when the water disappeared?  Form a committee?  Plan programs?  Stress about how things were going to work out?

 The very first thing Noah did was to give glory to the God who had saved him and his family.  He built an altar lifted up praises to heaven. Imagine how much obedience and worship please our Creator, perhaps more than anything else. 

It is also in this passage that God reminds us that he made humans in his image. I often am quick to pass judgment upon others based on their looks, their life choices, and their philosophies, instead of looking at them and seeing another eternal soul made in God's likeness. May God forgive me for being quick to judge and forgetting who they really are. I miss opportunities to be compassionate and loving to them when I refuse to open my heart and eyes and see them for the beautiful creation that they are.

Lord, make us humble. Show us our sins. Reveal to us where we are falling short so that we can repent of them and draw nearer to you.