Has someone ever asked you to do something that you really didn’t want to do? Like doing chores, homework, or run laps.
My wife does, on a daily basis. She’s a tidy person, I am not. I have a very one-track mind, I’m focused on whatever I’m focused on and miss about everything else. She, on the other hand, knows every time the
trash needs to be taken out, the dishes need to be washed, laundry needs folded, etc. my brain didn’t even know those things existed.
I learned a few years ago the correct way to say “yes.” When I’m asked to do something I don’t want to do, there are a few responses that I can and often give. “Yes,” “No,” and my most popular one, “In a
minute.” Which of those do you think my wife finds to be a proper response? That’s right, “Yes.” But even still, simply saying “Yes” isn’t enough. I have to have the right attitude or lack thereof. Because sometimes our “yes'” can sound a lot like “no’s.”
I can say “yes” and go through the house slinging stuff around, which I’ve done and had the same results as if I had said “no.” You see, in life, I’ve learned there’s something more important than our words or
even our actions, that’s our heart. I can make Jessica very mad by doing what she wanted to be done if I do it with the wrong attitude.
This is a valuable lesson, it’s not enough to simply do what was asked, your heart has to be in the right place. How often do we do this with parents, teachers, coaches, and even God? I can assure you that God is much more interested in your heart than your actions.
How do we obey God with the right heart?
Hebrews 11 is known as the Hall of Faith, it goes through mighty men and women in scripture who showed absolute faith in times of uncertainty. I highly suggest you read through it if you want a fun
the study read Hebrews 11 and then read the passages in the Old Testament about the people listed.
For today though, we’re going to look at Hebrews 11:7 and the person who it is about.
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith, he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
Hebrews 11:7
We all know the story of Noah and are amazed by his faith. As we look in detail at his story, I believe we can learn how to take one small step in growing our faith in God. Let’s jump all the way back to
Genesis chapter 6:11-22
11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. 13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to
put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. 14 So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat
it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. 16 Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening
one cubit high all around. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle, and upper decks. 17 I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that
has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. 19 You are
to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground
will come to you to be kept alive. 21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”
22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
Let’s really think this through for a moment. Noah had every reason to be skeptical about this. God instructed him to build something unheard of to protect him from something that had never happened before. (Some believe that it had never rained before the flood. Scripture isn’t actually super clear about this but one thing is for sure, there had never been a worldwide flood like this, so it is still something that had never been seen before.)
To add on to this, people mocked and ridiculed him the entire time he built the ark, which took about 75 years. Can you imagine, obeying God and being mocked for an entire lifetime? Every single day of your
life, people make fun of you, they spit on you, they steal from you, they hate you.. all because you are obeying God. That my friends is true faith. Noah never objected.
We are called to “Obey God without Objection.”
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. – James 4:17
God is calling you, how will you answer? “Yes,” “No,” or “In a minute.” I’ll give you a hint, there is one right answer. God is calling you to move now, at this moment. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. So “In a minute,” doesn’t work with God either.
One small step we can take towards obeying God without objection is not to wait. Often, we don’t intentionally disobey God, but we procrastinate and hesitate and ignore the voice of the Spirit when He gives us instructions.
When God reveals something to you, whether it’s a nudge to reach out to a friend, be kind to someone in need, say no to that offer, put your phone away, say no to that girl or guy, whatever it is that He is
leading. Don’t pass the opportunity up. This is God asking for your obedience. Don’t hesitate, don’t delay. The more you stop and think about it, the more you are likely to lose the confidence you had when God first spoke.
Move now.
Let’s pray.
God, reveal to me any areas where I need to be obedient. Whatever it is you are leading me to, no matter how big or how small, I pray for the courage to obey immediately. God give me the opportunity to do
exactly what You want and give me the strength to act without objection. Help me to follow You.
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