09.07.09 - Genesis 1 - 10

I think its interesting that in seven days God's power created everything and then on the 7th day he rested... I think we don't rest enough. With the hiking ministry we need to give more thanks to what he created and the significance that he rested on this day. We need to hike with more thankfulness on this day.

You were created to become like Christ.
From the very beginning, God's plan has been to make you like his son, Jesus. This is our destiny and the third purpose of your life. God announced this intention as Creation: "The God said, Let us make human beings in our image and likeness." Genesis 1:26

Genesis 1:28 - "God blessed them, and said, 'Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge." Interesting how God put us in charge of our earth in the first chapter of the bible! And yet what do we do as a human nation to take care of it today!

God Smiles when we trust him completely...
There were three problems that could have caused Noah to doubt. First, Noah had never seen rain, because prior to the Flood, God irrigated the earth from the ground up (Genesis 2:5-6). Second, Noah lived hundreds of miles from the nearest Ocean. Even if he could learn to build a ship, how would he get it to water? Third, there was a problem of rounding up all the animals and then caring for them. But Noah didn't complain or makes excuses. He trusted God completely and that makes God smile... I fall short here a lot :(

You are called to belong, not just believe.
Even in the perfect, sinless environment of Eden, God said, "It is not good for man to be alone." Genesis 2:18 We are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family and none of us can fulfill God's purposes by ourselves.

Genesis 2:23 - "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman' for she was taken out of man. I think that this is a forgotten notion in today's relationships. Coming from a woman I don't think that man takes care of what once was his. Just a thought!

Throughout history, God has revealed his glory to people in different settings. He revealed it first in the Garden of Eden (3:8), then to Moses (Exodus 33:18-23, 40:33-38), then in the Tabernacle (1Kings 7:51) and the temple(1Kings 8:10-13)then through Jesus(John 1:14; Ephesians 2:21-22) and now through the church(2 Corinthians 4:6-7). It was portrayed as a consuming fire(Exodus 24:17), a cloud (Exodus 40:34), thunder (Psalm 29:1), smoke (Isaiah 6:3-4), and a brilliant light (Isaiah 60:1, Luke 2:9). In heaven, God's glory provides all the night needed. The bible says, 'The city does not need sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God given in light (Revelation 21:23). Where does God appear in my life currently??

Admitting our limitation. A second barrier to total surrender is our pride. We don't want to admit that we're just creatures and not in charge of everything. It is the oldest temptation: "You'll be like God." Genesis 3:5 That desire --to have complete control is the the cause of so much stress in our lives. We want to be God, and there's no way we are going to win that struggle. We will never become God, or even a god. That prideful lie is Satan's oldest temptation. Satan promised Adam & Eve that if they followed his advice, 'ye shall be as gods." 3:5 - What else does Satan promise that we believe??

Genesis 3:6 - First reference of doing exactly what God asks us not too.

When Cain sinned, his guilt disconnected him from God's presence, and God said, "You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." 4:12 That describes most people today--wandering through life without a purpose.

We often forget that God has emotions, too. He feels things deeply. The Bible tells us that God grieves, get jealous and angry, and feels compassion, pity, sorrow, and sympathy as well as happiness, gladness and satisfaction. God loves, delights, get pleasure, rejoices, enjoys and even laughs. (Genesis 6:6 "The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth and his heart was filled with pain.) (Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 32:36, Judges 2:20, 1Kings 10:9, Chronicles 16:27, Psalms 2:4, 5:5, 18:19, 35:27, 37:23, 103:13, 104:31, Ezekiel 5:13, 1John 4:16.)

Since pleasing God is the goal of my life. Since pleasing God is the first purpose of my life, your most important task is to discover how to do that. The Bible says, "Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it." Genesis 6:8. Fortunately, the Bible gives us a clear example of a life that gives pleasure to God. Noah! One man made God smile, The Bible says "Noah was a pleasure to the Land." Genesis 6:9

God smiles when we obey him wholeheartedly. He gave very detailed instructions as to the size, shape and materials of the ark as well as the different number of animals to be brought on board. The Bible tells us Noah's response: "So Noah did everything exactly as God has commanded him. Genesis 6:22" "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 the became the heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." Hebrews 11:7

God smiles when we praise and thank Him continually. Noah's life brought pleasure to God because he lived with heart of praise and thanksgiving. Noah's first act after surviving the Flood was to express his thanks to God by offering a sacrifice. The Bible says, "The Noah built an alter to the Lord... sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 8:20"

God smiles when we use our abilities. After the Flood, God gave Noah these simple instructions: "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth... Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." Genesis 9:1

Points to Ponder for the week: It's not about me.
Verse to Remember: Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in him." Colossians 1:16
Question to Consider: In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?