God Will Remember

Have you ever taken the action to tie a piece of string in a bow to your finger to remember something. This string is a reminder that there is something to remember. Do you know or remember that God created a bow to remember?

“¹³I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, ¹⁵I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” – Genesis 9:13-16 (ESV)

God destroyed the earth and everything on it through the flood. And then, He made a covenant with Noah that He would not do it again. And as a reminder, the LORD put the rainbow in the sky as a reminder of the covenant He made with Noah, so that when He would see it, He would remember.

We need reminders to keep us grounded and back on track. God placed the rainbow in the sky to remind Himself and we should have reminders as well. It is easy for us to forget things as we get distracted by all that is going on. It is these distractions that the evil one is counting on. It is up to us with the help of the LORD to get rid of the distractions and stay on task for the LORD.

I have to, as I do in the mornings, devote myself to time with God so that I can learn from Him. I must dedicate myself to the time with Him to ensure that I do not forget Him. I need the constant reminder of His power and glory in my life and the life of the world. Days like this morning and remembering the covenant God made with Noah and the rainbow reminder are anchors to keep me with the LORD all the day.

The LORD has a reminder of the destruction He rained on the world and that He has promised not to do again. We need reminders as well. One of those is to make time to be in the Word of God to study and learn of the ways He is working for our good.

What is your thought on reminders? Are you hoping that you will just remember things? What if, like the LORD, you used reminders of the LORD’s work to keep you tracking in His Will?

God Will Provide All That We Need

It is one thing to know that God will provide, it is something else to see it demonstrated. This morning I continue my study on the word “will” and was brought to the passage of “Noah and the Flood” (the title in my ESV Bible). Here is the passage of Noah and his charge from God to be the survivor of the LORD’s destruction of the earth and all that is on it.

“¹³And God said to Noah, ‘I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth ¹⁴Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.’” – Genesis 6:13-14 (ESV)

God told Noah to build an ark for himself. If Noah is building an ark for himself, that would stand to reason that Noah would survive the destruction. So as I have read and written, God was going to reset and Noah would be the starting point. Noah had found favor with God and he would be spared.

Where this is nice that God tasked Noah with building an ark for his survival, and it does demonstrate God’s provision, it is bigger and more detailed. You see, God provides “all” that we will need. Where there may be times that He gives us the overarching theme of what we are to do and then we are to work it out on our own, God will, when the need is there, provide all the details as He does with Noah here.

“¹⁵This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. ¹⁶Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks.” – Genesis 6:15-16 (ESV)

God gives Noah the blueprints to follow in the building of the ark. All of the details are provided and not just the grand plan in this instance. As we go on in the passage, the LORD gives more detail as to what to include in the ark and what purpose it all has. And God guides Noah through the entire process. All the way to when to enter the ark, when the rains would come, and for how long they would be.

I struggle with the plans the LORD has for me in that I am not always sure where to begin, how to proceed, and how things will end. This morning I have been reminded that not being sure is okay. God will provide what I need when I need it and if the details are required, He will provide it all.

What are your thought on God’s provision? Do you expect that you will always have to figure things out? What if you approached God’s provision with the understanding that He will provide all that is needed in each instance?

We May Need a Reset

One of the first things that is done when something is not working as planned is to reset or restart the thing. Whether it is restarting a computer, unplugging and plugging back in the appliance, taking a mulligan on the golf course, or maybe just walking away for a moment to clear the mind. Each of these are ways to reset that may be needed to get things going again. Even God had a moment of needing a reset.

“⁶And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. ⁷So the Lord said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.’” – Genesis 6:6-7 (ESV)

I know what you might be thinking, as I was thinking the same, did God make a mistake by creating man? NO, He did not as God does not make mistakes. As we have free will, we will continually sin and make mistakes and that makes the LORD sad. In this instance, there was way too much sin in the world and God knew that the only way to rid of it all was to start over. The plan and creation did not change, God was just so sorrowful that resetting was the only way to rid of the sin of the time.

Just like resetting or restarting something in our lives, the LORD would reset things through extreme discipline, wiping out all of man and beast. But, as we read in verses 8 and 9, the LORD would start over with a partner in this world, Noah.

“⁸But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. ⁹These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.” – Genesis 6:8-9 (ESV)

I guess you could say that Noah was kind of like the Adam of this new time. He was the man starting point with regard to the reset. He was “righteous” and “blameless”. Noah was regarded as a man in the image of God. As you read and know the story of Noah and the Ark, you see that Noah was the guardian of man and beast for the reset. If not found in the Ark, destruction was sure to be had, and you were wiped out.

I see here that with every reset there is a place or something needed to start. God was resetting and found an anchor to get things started. He found Noah. As noted, Noah was righteous. This gives hope for me. I can choose to take righteous action and God can declare me righteous. If there is another time of needed reset, it could be me that is called on to be a part of that reset.

But, for that to be, I have to do my part and follow God wherever He would have me go, and do whatever He would have me do. God gives us a chance to reset our lives through the acceptance of salvation. Jesus died so we do not have to. We are washed clean thanks to His blood shed for my sake. I get to reset with God.

What is your view on resets? Do you see yourself with the opportunity to reset? What if you were to accept the grace and salvation offered and start over with God as your anchor in your reset?

Discipline Is Not the End

Get in trouble and face discipline. And then get in trouble again and face discipline. At some point we learn and stay away from trouble. But see the pattern here, discipline is not the end of it all. This is something that Cain learned from God after killing his brother Abel.

“¹³Cain said to the Lord, ‘My punishment is greater than I can bear. ¹⁴Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.’ ¹⁵Then the Lord said to him, ‘Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.’” – Genesis 4:13-15 (ESV)

Cain was being disciplined for the act of killing His brother and sinning against God. He was sure that this would be the end and he would surely die soon at the hand of God or some other party. Well, I can say that I would likely be thinking the same thing. I know that even now when I sin, I expect the worst and that things may come to an end.

But what do we see from God, mercy. Was God angry with Cain, sure. Was God right in disciplining Cain for the sin, of course. Was God well within Himself to make this the end of Cain, I believe so. But, God did not make this the end, in fact when you look at verse 15, God went forward with ensuring Cain’s protection that he would continue and bear fruit for the LORD.

I see this morning that sin is not the end. When we are repentant, the LORD will show mercy to us, forgive us, and protect us for His good work. So the discipline is there to strengthen us that we would go forward having learned from the instance and do the work of God.

What is your view of discipline? Do you see it as the end of all things? What if you were to recognize it for the learning and growth opportunity that is provides in your walk with Christ?

The LORD Disciplines All

I am again in the passage from Genesis known as “The Fall”. This is the story of the serpent deceiving the woman to eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and feeding Adam. Where there is a lot to the story, I would focus this morning on the discipline God passes to each of those involved.

“¹⁴The Lord God said to the serpent,…

‘¹⁵I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.’”

“¹⁶To the woman he said,

“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;

in pain you shall bring forth children.

Your desire shall be contrary to your husband,

but he shall rule over you.”

“¹⁷And to Adam he said,

‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife

and have eaten of the tree

of which I commanded you,

“You shall not eat of it,”

cursed is the ground because of you;

in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;

¹⁸thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;

and you shall eat the plants of the field.’”

— Genesis 3:14a & 15-18 (ESV)

Notice here that all involved in “The Fall” were counted as responsible and were disciplined by God. First, the serpent who started it all was dealt with most harshly. The serpent was separated from man who there was a relationship before. We don’t know the full extent of the relationship, yet there was one as there was with all that were created by God. The positive relationship was removed and the serpent would be forever believed to be evil.

Next there was the woman. She was responsible for being deceived. She made the decision to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. She chose to sin and her discipline was to be more conscious of childbirth and continue to be at odds with her husband who would now be counted as the ruler of the household.

And then there is Adam. When reading the story, it appears as though he might be in the clear as he may not have know where the fruit came from. Except, as noted quickly at the end of verse 6, he was with her at the time. Adam was disciplined to work the ground for his food as opposed to having things handed to him by God. He would now be subject to hard labor and know that it was labor whereas before, it was just work done to manage the garden.

Regardless of the scenario, there is discipline to be had by all. Whether the starter of it (the serpent) the receiver (the woman) or the apparent bystander (Adam). God will discipline all. There are consequences to any and everything that goes on. What I have to remember is that where there are consequences, they are there for me learn and grow in the LORD.

What scenarios have you been in where you are one of the three identified? Are you thinking that somehow you are immune from discipline? What if you were to take on that the LORD will discipline all, and that discipline is for our good?

Evil Will Deceive

This seems like a pretty simple concept to grasp, “evil will deceive”, and it is. But read that again and really take it in.

“⁴But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. ⁵For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” – Genesis 3:4-5 (ESV)

In some respects, did the serpent lie to the woman? The serpent used literal connotations to deceive. The woman was thinking of literal death and death from the life that she knew. The serpent used words to distort meaning, knowing that the woman would be deceived.

There are many other examples of this deception that I thought of this morning. Such as, is it really wrong to drive fast, other than the rules say don’t? What is so wrong about eating a few grapes at the grocery store without buying any, we need to taste them for ripeness, right? What is the big deal with shooting fireworks during a burn ban in the area, you have a water hose right there with you?

All of the above seem as though they might be innocent enough, yet they are being restricted by too many rules and/or regulations. If doing any of them, is anyone really hurt in the moment, are the really that bad? Yes, they are. Not because they will cause harm to anyone in the moment, but because they go against that which we know to be the rules.

When the woman was deceived into eating of the tree of good and evil, she knew the rules and they were not even that restrictive. The rule was two trees being forbidden, all others were acceptable to partake from and encouraged for sustenance. God had give instructions to abstain from these two trees only and that should have been enough. But the serpent was there to get her to do that one thing she was not to do.

This happens in my life all the time. I am deceived into doing the one thing that I am not to do. Whether it is diving into social media for an extended time, waiting to accomplish tasks until it is almost too late, or simply avoiding something with excuses as to why I am not able to do them (like exercising).

There is nothing that I can do to stop the deception that comes from evil. The serpent is going to be there working to separate me from God at every step of the way. But what I can do is know. I can know that the serpent is there. I can know that I will be deceived. I can know that defeating evil is possible. I can know that light overcomes darkness. I can know that when I have the Light of the LORD in me, I will overcome the deception and ultimately evil.

What deception are you experiencing in your life? Are you giving in to that deception? What if you were to recognize that you will be deceived and that there is a way to avoid it, and that way is through the Light of the LORD?

God Will and God Does

“¹⁸Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit fore him.” and “²¹So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. ²²And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.” – Genesis 2:18 & 21-22 (ESV)

I have shifted my study to the word “will” and read this morning in Genesis about the creation. All that God created/creates, He does so because that is what He said/says He will do.

There is deliberateness in His actions. There was a need for man to have a helper and so He made it so. He declared “I will” and then “He made”. He did because He said He would.

Here is the truth of God’s Word. When God says it, we can take it to the bank as it will pay out. I have trust in the truth of God’s Word and as I sit here in the mornings and study His word, I know that what I am looking at is right and true.

What is your belief in God’s Word? Do you trust that what He says, He will do? What if you did, and allowed God to show you the truth in His declarations to do something by doing them?

Overcome Thanks to God

“⁴Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” – 1 John 4:4 (ESV)

As Christians having accepted Jesus Christ as our savior, He is in us. As you see in the above verse, He is greater than those in the world. This lets me know that with Him in me, there is nothing that I cannot overcome. And the evil in the world is no exception.

There is evil there is good in the world. The evil is powerful and speaks to the world to which it listens. But the good comes from God and when good speaks whoever knows God listens. Notice the difference in the speaking and listening impacts. Those who know God listen to Him and those who do not know God, listen to the world.

“⁶We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” – 1 John 4:6 (ESV)

Thanks to God, we know the difference in truth and “error”. Even with minimal maturity in Christ as noted in verse four above, “little children”, we still are armed with Christ in our heart and lives to overcome. We know God and will listen to Him and those who are from God.

I have to remember though to remain in and with God. It is my daily consistent counsel with Him which gives me strength to overcome. When I am connected with God, I am connected with good and good overcomes evil, God overcomes evil and therefore I overcome evil. I overcome thanks to God.

What are you relying on to overcome? Are you relying on your own strength? What if you relied on the good that is in you thanks to God being in you as He is greater than all?

Overcome Through Maturity

Accepting Christ as my savior was great and certainly needed in my life, yet this is only the first step in overcoming the evil one. This morning I am in 1 John and have been reminded of the stages of Christian maturity.

“¹²I am writing to you, little children,

because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

¹³I am writing to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,

because you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, children,

because you know the Father.

¹⁴I write to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,

because you are strong,

and the word of God abides in you,

and you have overcome the evil one.”

– 1 John 2:12-14 (ESV)

First, you have the “children” who have just learned of Christ and are beginning their relationship with Him. They have no history with Him and only now have opened their eyes and are on the journey to spiritual maturity. This can be the young or the older that have found Christ as their savior.

Second, you have the “fathers” who have been in the faith for some time and are fully comfortable as they work through the world. These know that Christ is in control and have dedicated themselves to His mission in their lives each day for some time. Again, this does not have to be the older, but those who have spent valuable time with Christ for some time.

Third, you have the “young men” who have been learning in their relationship with Christ, and yet still find persecution at every turn. They are building their strength in Christ and every day will grow stronger and stronger to overcome the evil one. These again may be youthful or older, but they are in the growing phase of maturity.

The further along we get in our maturity, the more fluid will be our strength to overcome. It does not mean that we will not face persecution or challenges as the evil one is around every corner. It is the light of the LORD in us that will overcome the darkness and keep the evil one at bay. It is our maturity in Christ through His Word as we meditate on it day and night that gives us the strength and wisdom to overcome. Whether you are the “little child”, the “father”, or the “young man” it is always the time to continue in our growth to and into maturity in Christ through His Word.

“¹Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

²but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.”

— Psalm 1:1-2 (ESV)

Where are you finding your strength to overcome the evil one? Are you looking to yourself and believe that you have already arrived with the strength? What if you were to realize that you are still maturing and should look to continued growth and maturity through God’s Word?

Overcome Evil with Good

This morning as I continue my study of the word “overcome” I come again to the overcoming of evil as I did once before. I found that the darkness (evil) does not overcome the light of the LORD. And this morning I am reminded that we overcome evil (darkness) with good and that good is the LORD.

“²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” and “²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:21 & 2 (ESV)

I know, again I quote verses in reverse order of their writings. Verse 21 tells of how to overcome but, without the context of verse 2 there is some lacking in what is good. I learned a lot of years ago that in the study of God’s Word, it is important to read before and after the verse of focus to fully understand the context so as to apply our lives to God’s Word as opposed to fitting Him into our lives.

I need good in my life to overcome evil. Where does that good come from except from the LORD. I have to be in His Word daily to understand just where He would have me go and what He would have me do. When I am focused on the will of God for and in my life, I am able to find the good in all things. With that good I will be able to shine bright for the LORD and the darkness will be cast away. Evil has no chance against the good that is Jesus Christ. And it is up to me to bring that good to the world always.

Now, I know that I will be beaten down from time to time. I have in my past felt as though I am not getting anywhere and that the whole world was/is against me. Lori and I have been in the situation where we feel as though God may not be with us. We felt as though the evil one was winning. But we keep with Christ, looking to Him for guidance and comfort and over time, He brings us through to the other side. We have overcome the evil as we have stayed with God and the good that He is. We have found ourselves better for coming through and overcoming.

“⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 (ESV)

God is good and good overcomes evil. For me I have to remain in Him and He will remain in me so that I can do all things.

How are you overcoming evil? Are you looking for the physical to break you free? What if you remained in God who is good and allowed Him to overcome evil?