IN THE WORD DAILY
with Brother Rick
Genesis 8: 20, 21
And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and
took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings
on the altar.
V- 21 And the LORD smelled a
sweet savour;
We saw in our devotion
yesterday how God in his infinite wisdom and loving compassion has set before
us an atonement for our sin. The ark is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are
in Christ, therefore we will escape the coming judgment for our transgression
against God and his word. The Lord Jesus Christ is our escape. Jesus is the
propitiation for our sins. Romans 5: 10, 11 says, “For, if when we were
enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being
reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but also joy in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom
we have now received the atonement.” My sins are forgiven and I am in
Christ. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”,
Romans 8: 1. I don't just know who Jesus is, I am in Christ and he is in me.
John 17: 20, 21 says, “Neither pray I
for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through
their word: That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in
thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou
hast sent me.”
Noah shows us two things in
the text that give record that he has been delivered. Once in the ark, he was
spared the judgment of God. Once we are in Christ, we are spared the judgment
of God. Yes, we as believers will stand at the judgment seat of Christ, but we
will not receive the judgment we deserve. Christ has paid the sin debt in full
and we will be judged as children for our stewardship. How's that working our
for you? Are you a good steward with the gift God has given you?
Noah shows us the fruit of
deliverance. We see in the text, the first thing Noah did when he walked off of
the ark was find the best musicians in the land and began to praise and worship
God; Not quite!! Doesn't sound like a such a bad idea, but that is not what the
Lord is looking for. Noah didn't start any false ministries, he didn't publish
any perversions of God's word. He didn't set himself up as a king or a prophet.
Noah built an altar. Noah had one thing on his mind, he gave to God. No! That
is not a dirty word. We love to receive from God, when was the last time you
gave to God. Where is your altar? Romans 12: 1, 2 says, “I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will
of God.” You cannot offer your body as a living sacrifice, when you are
conformed to this world. The offering becomes unacceptable. Notice in the text,
and this is the second point, Noah offered only the CLEAN beast, and the CLEAN
fowl. God got the very best Noah had to offer. Can you see it? Don't you get
it? God deserves our very best, not the leftovers. Noah stepped off of the ark
with one thing in mind; To give God the very best he had. If you ever discover
the magnitude of the gift of grace that God has given you, by offering up his
only begotten Son, friend, you will never be the same. You WILL give God what
he deserves.
It is a mockery to God, when
we call him LORD, and walk with the world. It is a shame, when we profess Jesus
and then offer up the sacrifice of rock and roll in the house of the LORD. I am
against it. God deserves better than that. It's a disgrace when we call on the
Lord and offer him worldly things. HE DON'T WANT IT. God gave up on the flesh
and the world, when he sent the flood. God wants separation. God wants
dedication. God wants sanctification. God wants purification. 1 John 3: 3 says,
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is
pure.” God is not interested in your spare time, Gods wants the best
you have to offer. Have you built an altar in your heart, a place where only
God can go? Have you offered up the clean beast and the clean fowl for a
sacrifice? Most of us only give a SMALL portion out of our abundance. God gave
all.
Don't short change the Lord,
build God an altar and offer up the best you have.
