Noah

 

I watched the rain coming down this morning and my thoughts were drawn to Noah.

Most people are familiar with the story of Noah building the ark and bringing in the animals 2 by 2.

But do we go deeper? Noah certainly wasn't perfect, but do we  ponder how we can learn from his obedience and efforts to follow God?

Genesis 6:8 reads, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."

He FOUND grace.  That grace was there, but what was Noah's part? What is ours?

Elder Delbert L Stapley  taught, "Through his faithful, unwavering adherence to the counsels of God, and despite the scoffing and ridicule from the people to his warnings of their approaching destruction, Noah and his family won God's protecting power and were the only ones saved from the flood."

Faithful, unwavering adherence, not by ourselves, but with the help of Christ.  No matter what others are saying.  

James 1:5 is a very familiar scripture:"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall he given him."

Verse 6 may be less well known:

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

The covenants that are the easiest to keep are those that we have resolutely determined to keep.  

It's much harder if we've decided to take the "wait and see approach" or attached conditions.

As I look again at the rain and wind storming outside I am incredibly grateful for the peace and assurance that comes from knowing I have already decided to lean on the Lord and trust his counsel, no matter the ridicule and no matter the weather.