TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God . . . teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions. - Titus 2:11-12
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you have ever watched the winter Olympic Games, you may have noticed how some of the athletes prepare for their competition. For instance, a downhill skier will stand at the top of the hill and mentally retrace the upcoming course. Obstacles, extremely tight turns, and a competitor’s previous time are all taken into consideration.

Christians who want to become men and women of character must also focus on what will help them to live lives that are pleasing to God. This past Sunday we introduced the virtue of godliness and defined it as a life of devotion, or more specifically, a life that results from living in the reality of God’s presence. But there are other elements that must become the focus of our attention if godliness is to occur. Paul mentions three of those items in our reading for today.

First, Paul tells them about the reality of God’s grace in their lives. He states that God’s grace actually teaches people to reject that which is evil and pursue that which is righteous (v. 11). The word translated “teaches” (v. 12) actually means to train in the fullest sense, that is, training through encouragement, discipline and direct instruction (vv. 11-12).

Second, he reminds them of the reality of Christ’s second coming, what Paul refers to as “the blessed hope” (v. 13). He wanted believers to know that if they were ever going to be able to do God’s will they had to live with the mindset that He could appear at any time (v. 13).

Third, Paul reminds them of the reality of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice (v. 14). Our Savior has redeemed us out of wickedness and purified us to be His people in the world. He implies that when we see the reality of Christ’s redemptive work we will be eager to engage in good deeds.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the ways that you can keep spiritual realities at the forefront of your thinking is to memorize God’s Word. The four verses in today’s text are some of the most important words in the Bible. You might want to divide your day into two parts. During the morning hours try to memorize verses 11 and 12. In the afternoon try to memorize verses 13 and 14. By the time you go to bed tonight you will have memorized our text. Even better, you will be training your mind to focus on spiritual realities that can result in godliness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Peter 3:3-13
We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. - 2 Peter 3:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
When you read today’s newspaper there is a good chance that you will come across reports of major construction projects in your area. It might be a new mall going up across town or the repaving of a highway forcing a major traffic detour. Such announcements might prompt some people to issue a complaint to a local or regional government office. Others might adjust their plans accordingly to avoid traffic or construction. Information that significantly impacts our lives has a way of motivating us to take action.

God’s Word has a way of calling us to action as well. We don’t know all the details of the future, but God has given us enough information about His plans that we can be prepared for what He is going to do. The problem is that we often ignore or overlook His plans and go on living as if nothing is ever really going to change.

The apostle Peter reminded his readers of God’s plan for history. And part of this plan is that the present heavens and earth are being reserved for judgment (v. 7). Evil might seem to triumph, but God is not ignoring the apparent successes of unrighteous people. As a result of God’s plan we are called to take action--to live lives that are characterized by holiness and godliness.

The word holinesshas the idea of being set apart for God’s special purposes. Godliness, as we have been learning this week, refers to an attitude of living that comes from an awareness that we are in God’s presence. And since we are in His presence we will want to do that which is pleasing to Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the ways that we can foster an eternal perspective is to sing some of the great hymns of the faith. If you have a hymnbook in your home, take some time to look at the index. There may be a section that lists hymns related to the Second Coming of Christ. You may want to sing one of the hymns after dinner with other members of your family. Just reading through the words can be a great help in fostering an eternal view of things that ultimately leads to godliness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 13:1-8
Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. - Hebrews 12:28
TODAY IN THE WORD
An amazing thing happened at the Leverenz Shoe Company in southeastern Wisconsin. Some would even say it was downright foolish. When another shoe factory across the street from the Leverenz plant burned to the ground, Bob Leverenz invited his corporate neighbor and competitor to come and use his plant until his factory could be rebuilt. For months the two companies used the same machines day after day to keep their operations going. When network news agencies learned of the unusual arrangement, company president Bob Leverenz was asked why he would do such a thing. He answered that true faith in God shows itself by helping those in need.

Whether he realized it or not, Bob Leverenz demonstrated for us what brotherly kindness is all about. And according to the virtues listed in 2 Peter 1, brotherly kindness is one of the qualities that every Christian should be adding to one’s personal faith. It’s not the love that is sometimes expressed in romantic music or Hollywood love stories. It is a response born out of saving faith to minister to the needs of others.

The exhortations expressed in Hebrews 13 are not simple moral platitudes. Instead, the writer calls for the kind of action that grows out of a confidence in what God is doing. The recipients of the Epistle to the Hebrews were having second thoughts about the Christian faith. Some assumed it would be better to return to the religious practices of Judaism. But the writer reminds them that through their faith in Christ believers are part of a kingdom that cannot be destroyed--God’s kingdom.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the ways you can begin to practice brotherly kindness is to put verse 2 into practice as soon as possible. Sunday is just three days away. You might want to consider inviting someone, particularly a family or an individual that you really don’t know that well, over for lunch after the morning worship service. Through the sharing of faith stories, you’ll no doubt encourage each other. The sharing of life together can be an initial first step in practicing brotherly kindness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 6:30-44; 8:1-13
Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. - 1 John 3:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
A church in Cincinnati, Ohio, has had phenomenal growth over the last several years. Their primary means of evangelistic outreach has been to show acts of kindness to people in their community. On several occasions they have volunteered to clean restaurant bathrooms, rake the leaves of the yards of elderly residents, and provide free Sunday newspapers to community newcomers. And each time they do such things they state that they are doing so to show the love of Christ in a tangible way.

How would you feel about cleaning a restaurant bathroom or clearing a neighbor’s snowy sidewalk? This might be fine for another church, but we often have our own excuses for not meeting the needs of others. We are no different from the disciples in today’s reading. For every generation, showing brotherly kindness is more difficult than it first appears.

It’s important for us to realize that the two accounts of miraculous feedings in Mark 6 and 8 are recorded primarily to validate the messianic claims of the Lord Jesus Christ. But one is struck by the contrast between the way Jesus responded to needy people and the way His disciples responded. In fact, the two miracles could very well serve as a mirror for our souls.

Like the disciples, we might be inclined to excuse ourselves from showing acts of brotherly kindness because we’re busy. After a hard day’s work, we want rest, not responsibility (6:30-31). At the same time, the disciples seem to have thought that if people were able to get to Jesus, they were surely able to take care of their own needs (v. 36). And then there was the issue of ability. The disciples saw the crowds and assumed that there was no way they could minister to all those hungry people. Their resources were limited and the task seemed impossible (6:37; 8:4). They had all of their excuses in place, just like us.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To counter any excuses that you might use to avoid practicing brotherly kindness, be intentional about helping someone today. You can start with a simple prayer asking God to bring someone into your life who has a need that you can meet. It might be anything from fixing someone’s flat tire to taking someone out to lunch who is discouraged with life. Brotherly kindness doesn’t become a virtue overnight. But it can become a quality in our lives when we intentionally seek to make it one.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. - Colossians 3:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Over the course of the past ten years, heated discussions have developed over how government tax money should be used for public welfare. Some states have tried to implement “welfare to work” programs. Other government agencies have provided regular payments to people who have very limited resources. There is often tension over doing what is loving and doing what is responsible.

Today’s Scripture reading can give us some added insight into how we might resolve this dilemma, especially when it comes to implementing brotherly kindness towards other believers. Paul provides us with two principles that we can employ when we need wisdom in this regard. These principles might be identified as “duty” and “discernment.”

The Thessalonians were living out their Christian faith well. They had become a model of faithfulness and spiritual fervor (1:4-10). It also appears that they were doing quite well in the exercise of brotherly love.

But how would they know if they were using their resources wisely? That is where the concept of duty comes into play. The Thessalonians had been taught to love each other as brothers, understanding from their relationship with Christ that caring for other believers was to be a priority. Their sense of obligation to practice brotherly love led them to minister to other Christians throughout Macedonia (vv. 9-10).

But how would they know whether someone was “ripping them off”? Here is where the principle of “discernment” comes into the picture. Paul was aware of a problem in the Thessalonian church where some Christians, even though they were physically fit, were not working. The Apostle tells the church to encourage such people to work so as to gain the respect of people outside the church (vv. 11-12). That is, they were to use discernment to know whether a person was able to work.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It has been said that you can measure the quality of one’s spiritual life by looking at his or her checkbook. What would your check registry reveal about the virtue of brotherly kindness in your life? Take a few minutes to see how you have been spending God’s money. How much money has been spent to help Christians in need, whether in the United States or overseas? How much money have you set aside for those purposes? Your answer to these questions may help you to grow in the virtue of brotherly kindness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 50:15-21
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32
TODAY IN THE WORD
There’s a Chinese proverb that says, “If thine enemy wrong thee, buy each of his children a drum.” Such advice may make good sense to those who have been the recipients of someone else’s evil behavior. But for anyone who wants to grow in the Christian faith, revenge is actually a deterrent to spiritual growth. In fact, the Bible teaches us that brotherly kindness--not getting even--is God’s will for us.

Joseph was certainly a man who had every reason to get even with his brothers. They had mistreated him, selling him as a slave who eventually ended up in Egypt. We know his story of rising from a prison cell to a position of great political power. But what surprises us is that Joseph responds to his evil brothers in a most unusual way. Instead of getting even with his siblings, he chooses to show brotherly kindness.

Why would anyone respond in this way? Joseph thought in very different categories than his brothers did. From the very beginning of his story in Genesis 37 Joseph looked at life from God’s perspective. Three responses occurred in his relationship with his brothers because of this eternal perspective.

First, Joseph apparently looked beyond the sins that his brothers committed to see their spiritual identity as “servants of the God of your father” (v. 18). We cannot say for sure, but Joseph may have wept because his brothers were finally seeing themselves as children of the covenant that God had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Second, Joseph saw his brothers through the lenses of God’s redemptive purposes. God allowed Joseph to be sold into slavery so that the people of Israel would be preserved and delivered by the mighty hand of God (v. 20). Understanding God’s redemptive purposes called for kindness, not revenge.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There may be someone in your life who has hurt you very much. In fact, whenever you think of this person you might even be tempted to want revenge. But if you want to grow in the virtue of brotherly kindness, think about what God wants to do in this individual’s life. To help you think in these terms, write a prayer that expresses all the character traits God wants that individual to possess. By so doing you are not excusing the wrongs committed against you, but taking another step in your own life toward the virtue of brotherly kindness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 13:1-17
No servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. - John 13:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the city of Chester, England, after the tourists had vacated the cobblestone streets, the local nightlife emerged from the shadows to take over the city square. As a charming young man entertained his fellow vagabonds with jokes and stories, he was interrupted by a larger man who stumbled into the group. He was intoxicated, weary, and filthy, but the younger man considered him a friend. He discovered that this friend, overcome with alcohol, hadn’t eaten for some time. So the young man offered him a hamburger. His friend refused.

Unwilling to let him starve, the young man took a bite and gave the burger to his friend, who then took a bite of his own and handed the remnant back to the young man. Without a second thought, the younger man ate from the burger, smudged by his friend’s grimy hands, and the cycle repeated until the meal was finished.

Throughout the month we have focused our attention on the virtues listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7. In many of the devotionals we have been trying to define what each virtue means. But as with so many concepts in the Bible, these character traits, as seen in this story, are better demonstrated than defined. This is certainly the case with the virtue of love.

Although the last two qualities of 2 Peter 1 are very similar, they are still distinct. Whereas brotherly kindness is reaching out to meet the physical needs of other people, love has the idea of sacrificing one’s personal comfort for the spiritual well-being of others.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God wants you to grow in the virtue of love (2 Peter 1:7). But it is difficult to reach out as a servant because we fear being misunderstood or mistreated. One of the ways to counter such fear is to meditate on God’s great love for us. Take some time to look through a concordance today and see how many times the word loveis used to express God’s unconditional love for you. The more you meditate on these verses, the more God can work to free you from fear. In turn you may find greater confidence to exercise that unconditional love.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
William Hendricks was concerned about a significant number of people who either dropped out of church or chose not to attend in the first place. His research culminated in a book entitled Exit Interviews.What he learned was that many people rejected the organized church because they felt that they were wanted only for what they could do for the church in terms of finances or performing some task. People might have appeared friendly, but the sense of being loved by God or by other people simply was not present.

Churches are doing a lot today to draw people to their worship services. But no amount of activity or ingenuity will keep people attending unless the virtue of love exists in ample supply. We can have many gifted and talented people in the congregation, but if others do not feel loved, newcomers may not return.

There’s no question that the church in the ancient city of Corinth was a multigifted and multitalented congregation. But there were lots of problems among the people as well. One of the issues that tended to divide the congregation was the issue of spiritual gifts, specifically which gifts were the most important. The apostle Paul must have shocked many of his original readers when he directed them away from focusing on gifts to practicing love. His point was that a congregation can have a lot of talent, but the one ingredient that it must possess is the virtue of love (v. .

His readers might have challenged him as to the legitimacy of such a claim. But Paul reminded them that giftedness without love means little or nothing (vv. 1-3). Why is that the case? It’s because love has the power to make one comfortable in the midst of other people. Love is patient, kind, humble, and accepting. Instead of making people feel inferior and full of shame, it produces and atmosphere of acceptance and hope (vv. 4-7).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Take some time to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 once again. Use the list of qualities describing love as an inventory check-list for your Christian life. Ask yourself as you go through the qualities how you demonstrate agape love to the people around you. Put a circle around those characteristics that are least evident in your life. Then ask God to empower you to show the kind of love that is expressed in these verses. Only His divine power will enable you to grow in the virtue of true love.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 3:12-14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. - Colossians 3:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Even though our culture has moved to more casual dress, many workers still have to wear uniforms or follow a specific dress code. It is assumed that what a person wears will make a positive impression on the general public. So a well-dressed salesman or a uniformed serviceman will draw people to the product or service being presented.

Every Christian also serves as a representative, a spokesperson for God. And like our friends in the market place, we have to put on the required uniform. The Bible teaches us that we have to put on specific character traits that will distinguish us as God’s “chosen people” (v. 12).

When the apostle Paul talks about being “clothed” in various character traits, he is not encouraging his readers to become boastful about who they are. Instead he wants us to see that we have a high and holy position that should be winsome to the people around us. But we will only be winsome and trustworthy if we show compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Such qualities are like the various pieces of a business suit or company uniform (v. 13).

Yet someone may say, “I can’t remember all of these traits. How will I ever be able to incorporate them into the everyday experiences of my life?” Paul may have anticipated such a response. So he suggested that the one thing we can do is to practice love consistently. It is love that “binds [these traits] all together in perfect unity” (v. 14). And whether we are talking about the qualities in 2 Peter 1 or Colossians 3, it is love that brings all these virtues together into a spiritual garment.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Anything worth doing usually requires a strategy to bring it to pass. Why not develop a plan for putting on the virtue of love? Write down the names of up to six people with whom you will have contact today. After each name, think of at least one thing you can do to demonstrate love toward that individual. Remember that you want to exercise love in such a way that their lives will be impacted positively for Jesus Christ. Your plan will not only benefit others, but it will enable you to grow in the virtue of love.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 13:31-38
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. - John 13:35
TODAY IN THE WORD
Jewelers in many of the major diamond markets of the country have been faced with a recent challenge to their trade. A new synthetic substance has been developed that is so similar to actual diamonds that the most sophisticated experts are having difficulty identifying the real thing. But there are some clues to assist experts in an appraisal of such so-called diamonds. Under a high powered microscope a real diamond will display clear, straight lines visible within the stone’s central core. The synthetic “diamonds” have more jagged lines that reveal they are of much less value.

You may never need to find out if a diamond is real. But if you are a Christian, the world may want to know if your faith is genuine. The world will be able to know if someone is a true disciple without the use of a sophisticated microscope. A real disciple, says Jesus, is one who consistently shows love for all those who say that they are His followers.

You may be familiar with Jesus’ words in John 13:34-35. The context reveals that Jesus was intent on making sure His disciples understood the virtue of love that was to be manifest in their lives. He was about to finish the work of redemption that He was sent to accomplish. Afterwards He would return to his Father in heaven. But if His disciples were to carry on the work of proclaiming the gospel to the world, they would have to display love for one another.

What would such love look like? The New Testament teaches us that it will be revealed as mutual respect for every family member within the Christian home (Eph. 5:22-6:4). At other times it will show up in the risky business of loving the outcast (Luke 10:25-37). The love that Jesus talks about may also reveal itself by giving up legitimate rights for the good of another believer (Rom. 14:13-18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we bring this month to a close, we would hope that you will continue the “training” of the Christian virtues. Just as a physically fit person must consistently exercise and maintain a healthy diet, the same is true for a spiritually fit believer. Write out a copy of the seven virtues from 2 Peter 1:5-7. Put the list in a visible place. Review the meaning of each character trait as often as possible. And the more you practice these qualities the more the world will see that God is transforming you into a growing, genuine Christian.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 11:1-3; Genesis 1:1-2
Faith is being sure of what we hope forand certain of what
we do not see. - Hebrews 11:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Pointing to Hebrews 11--12, Dr. Joseph Stowell gives us this vivid word picture of the Christian life: “The Bible defines the race we are to run as a relay race. This means we are connected to all those who come before and after us in the contest of faith. The Holy Spirit hands us the baton, we hear the crack of the starter’s pistol, and we suddenly realize, 'It’s my turn!’ The goal is to run our leg of the race faithfully and hand the baton to the next generation.”

What a great challenge for us to accept here at the beginning of summer. It may be time to haul out the vacation gear, or just enjoy a change of pace. But summer is not the time to let down or slack off in running the race of faith.

As Dr. Stowell suggests, we are connected to the people of God who have already completed their race. Hebrews 11 reviews many of those faithful runners, and we’ll spend this month looking at their real-life examples--including their exploits. Then we’ll finish with a cross-section of Jesus’ teaching on faith.

In the process, we’ll discover why these men and women were “commended” for their faith (Heb. 11:2), and how we can imitate their faith in our lives. Today’s reading lays the groundwork for this trip through biblical history. Faith is far more than a religious sentiment. It is a way of looking at all of life, a mindset that guides every decision we make.

Seen through the eyes of faith, our daily circumstances are part of a larger plan by which God is working out “the hope to which he has called [us]” (Eph. 1:18). Because our hope is anchored in Christ, we can hold to it by faith and be sure of our future. Even though spiritual reality is unseen, faith counts it as certain.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Here’s a challenge to consider today. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God asked, “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jer. 32:27).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 11:4-6; Genesis 4:1-5; 5:18-24
Without faith it is impossible to please God. - Hebrews 11:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
When veteran FBI agent Robert Hanssen was arrested earlier this year and charged with spying for Russia, many people who thought they knew Hanssen expressed their surprise. One neighbor said about the accused spy and his family, “They go to church every Sunday--if that means anything--loading all six kids into the van.”

This person’s telling comment reminds us that the way we worship and the way we walk, or live our lives, needs to be consistent with what we say we believe. The author of Hebrews pointed to Abel and Enoch as worthy examples of what it means to worship and to walk by faith.

Most people remember Abel as part of a famous brother pair, and as the first murder victim in history at the hands of his brother Cain. But it was Abel’s act of worship, bringing a sacrifice to the Lord, that earned him God’s favor and a place among the Bible’s faith heroes.

It’s interesting that the Scripture does not say exactly why Abel’s sacrifice pleased God, except that he obviously offered it in the right spirit (Gen. 4:4-5). It could have been more costly than Cain’s offering, since Abel’s required sacrificing some of his sheep.

Whatever the reason, Abel understood that he needed to approach God in humility and faith to secure His approval. Abel’s offering, and the heart attitude it revealed, marked him out as a righteous person. God was so pleased with Abel that He made Eve’s second son an example of faith for every generation by including him in this list of godly examples in Hebrews.

Enoch is the classic illustration of what it means to walk by faith. In the Bible, “walk” is a synonym for our daily life. Enoch’s life was so consumed by his relationship with God that he simply disappeared one day (Gen. 5:24). The Scripture suggests that God enjoyed fellowship with this amazing man so much that He didn’t allow Enoch to experience death, which in the Old Testament always meant separation from God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We can’t study the lives of Abel and Enoch without examining the quality of our own worship and walk.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:1-22
Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. - Genesis 6:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
There’s an old Jewish proverb that says, “A friend is one who warns you.” According to this definition, the world that existed before the Flood could not have had a better friend than the patriarch Noah.

This righteous man (Gen. 6:9) spent 120 years warning his sinful generation of God’s impending judgment. Peter called Noah “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5), letting us know that Noah combined his many decades of ark-building with the faithful delivery of God’s message.

The fact that no one believed Noah and was saved except his own family is not surprising, given the indictment that the whole earth was corrupt in God’s sight. The early verses of Genesis 6 describe what some believe to be sexual activity between fallen angels and human women that produced a corrupt race--a gross sin that God judged by imprisoning these angels (2 Peter 2:4) and announcing His intention to destroy the earth (Gen. 6:13).

In this setting of unbelievable sin and violence, Noah’s faith shines even brighter. He apparently had no human example of godliness he could imitate, and no one in his generation who shared his love for God except his wife and family.

But look at what Noah’s faith accomplished. The writer of Hebrews emphasized that Noah believed God’s warning of judgment by water in spite of the visible evidence to the contrary (Heb. 11:7). It had never rained before, and there was no obvious need for a large boat. Every piece of wood Noah cut and fit was a statement of faith.

Noah worked in “holy fear” (v. 7), a reverent awe for God and His holiness that real faith produces. Noah had God’s promise that He would establish a covenant with him, and that was all Noah needed.

The Bible says that the ark, which was a means of salvation for Noah and his family, was a symbol of condemnation to the people of Noah’s day. His faith exposed their unbelief; he was saved by his belief, and they were condemned by their unbelief.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Noah’s story would have ended before it started if he had failed to translate his faith into obedience. But he did everything God told him to do (Gen. 6:22).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 8:20-9:13
The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment. - 2 Peter 2:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
The stunning arrest of FBI agent Robert Hanssen on espionage charges (see the June 2 study) came after other agents observed him drop a packet of sensitive information at a prearranged spot in a Virginia park. In the weeks that followed his arrest, we learned that Hanssen had the capability to cause serious damage to national security because of his years of experience in the intelligence community.

Spy stories will always be front-page news, because even in our scandal-ridden culture we still expect people to be faithful to their commitments. We expect faithfulness even more when people’s lives are at stake.

Noah was in the most sensitive position imaginable, the only righteous person God could find on the whole earth in that generation. Noah held his own life and the lives of his family in his hands--and because his life was marked by faith, Noah acted faithfully when God commanded him to build the ark.

Noah also committed an act of faith when the waters subsided and the ark was opened. The first thing he did was offer God a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. The Bible says the offering’s aroma was “pleasing” to God (Gen. 8:21), and the result was His promise never again to destroy the earth by water (Gen. 9:11).

God’s promise, written in the rainbow, was part of His covenant with Noah (vv. 12-13). The language here is similar to creation because, in effect, Noah and his family were beginning the human race again. God also re-emphasized the sacredness of human life, an echo of the statement in Genesis 1:27 that we are made in God’s image.

We have stepped away from Hebrews 11 today, but it is still the context we’re working from as we consider the good results of Noah’s faith (Heb. 11:7). Peter used Noah’s salvation through the Flood to illustrate the way God is able to preserve His people from judgment (2 Peter 2:5).

In other words, God honors faith! He doesn’t overlook the smallest expression of trusting Him, a thought which ought to encourage all of us today.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you want to make some “front page” news in heaven? Then make a daily commitment to live faithfully for the Lord no matter what.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 11:8-10; Genesis 11:27-12:9
He was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. - Hebrews 11:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Bible commentator Allen P. Ross does a good job of helping us appreciate the faith that Abraham (or Abram at this point) displayed when he responded to God’s call. Dr. Ross writes, “This passage [Gen. 12] points up the faith of Abram. . . . Abram was middle-aged, prosperous, settled, and thoroughly pagan. The word of the Lord came to him--though it is not known exactly how--and he responded by faith and obediently left everything to follow God’s plan.”

Abraham’s faith is amazing not only because he left behind a settled, comfortable life in highly-cultured Ur, and later in Haran, to obey God. Abraham traded the house and good life in Ur for the existence of a nomadic tent-dweller in Canaan.

In fact, the “father of the faithful” never really owned any land again, except for the cave he bought for family burials (Gen. 23:1-20). Abraham did not live to possess the land of Canaan, the land God promised to him. But Abraham still believed God, and by faith he saw the day when his descendants would receive the land as an inheritance.

The writer of Hebrews stressed that Abraham did not even know where he was going when he first started out for Canaan. After telling Abraham to leave Haran, God did not reveal Himself to the patriarch again until Abraham had arrived in Canaan (Gen. 12:7)--and again, Abraham’s response is worth noting. He built an altar and worshiped the Lord, and then did the same thing again a little later.

Given the fact that Canaan was filled with pagan tribes at that time, Abraham’s actions were a remarkable witness to the true God. It’s even possible that “the great tree of Moreh” (v. 6) where Abraham built his first altar was the site of a Canaanite worship shrine. Talk about “marketplace” witnessing!

Imagine Abraham pounding the “For Sale” sign in his front yard in Ur. When the neighbors ask where he’s going and what he will do, he replies, “I’m not sure.”

“Then why are you giving up all of this?” the neighbors exclaim.

“Because the true God commanded me to go, and I must obey.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Hebrews 11:10 tells us that by faith, Abraham saw a lot more than just the land of Canaan as his future inheritance. The great faith hero’s ultimate hope was heaven.

Abraham’s hope of heaven determined his actions on earth. That’s what our hope is supposed to do for us. John said that the hope of being with Jesus should cause us to purify our lives