In Hebrews 11:7 I read, “It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before.” (NLT)
Faith is obedience when I don’t understand. In the New Testament alone, there are 1,050 commands—and they’re all for my benefit.
God often says things that seem confusing, such as, “Love your enemies” and “Forgive the people who hurt you.” That’s not easy! Many commands in the Bible seem difficult, unreasonable, unrealistic, unachievable, and even impossible. But when God says things like, “You should save sex for marriage,” he’s not being mean. He says it because he knows more than I do what’s best and what will make me happy.
Every time God tells me to do something, it’s a test of my faith. The question is this: Do I trust God, or do you trust my gut? Do I trust the Word, or do I trust the world? Will I obey?
Just like he did with Noah, God will ask me to do things I don’t understand for the rest of my life. God will say, “I want you to do this.” And I’ll ask, “Why? That doesn’t make sense.” And God will say, “Because I said so.”
Situations like these are a test. Faith is believing when I don’t see it, but it’s also obeying when I don’t understand it. If I don’t learn to obey, I’ll miss out on so many blessings God has in store for me.
But if I learn to do what God tells me to do without question, even when it seems absurd and the exact opposite of my natural tendency, then I will grow in faith, and be blessed.
In summary, it was by faith that Noah built a large boat. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. Faith is obedience when I don’t understand. God often says things that seem confusing, such as, “Love your enemies” and “Forgive the people who hurt you.” That’s not easy! Many commands in the Bible seem difficult, unreasonable, unrealistic, unachievable, and even impossible. But when God says it, it’s because he knows more than I do what’s best and what will make me happy. Every time God tells me to do something, it’s a test of my faith. Do I trust God, or do you trust my gut or the world? God will ask me to do things I don’t understand for the rest of my life. God will say, “I want you to do this.” And I’ll ask, “Why? That doesn’t make sense.” And God will say, “Because I said so.” Situations like these are a test. Faith is believing when I don’t see it, but it’s also obeying when I don’t understand it. If I don’t learn to obey, I’ll miss out on so many blessings. But if I learn to do what God tells me to do without question, then I will grow in faith, and be blessed.
Noah experienced rejection because he was different from his neighbors. God commanded him to build a huge boat in the middle of dry land, and although God's command seemed foolish, Noah obeyed it. Noah's obedience made him appear strange to his neighbors, just as the new beliefs of the Jewish Christians undoubtedly made them stand out. As I obey God, don't be surprised if others regard me as "different." My obedience makes my disobedience stand out. Remember, if God asks you to do something, he will give me the necessary strength to carry out that task.
Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me.
Father, through your Holy Spirit living in me, help me to be obedient to what you ask, even though I may not always understand it.
I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in my new job. I pray these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen.
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