Bible Pathways - Jan. 3, 2008
January 3
Highlights In Today's Reading:
Today's chapters emphasize the importance of reading for ourselves exactly what God has said in the Bible rather than relying on others.
And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation. . . . And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him (7:1,5). True worship had been reduced to one family — Noah's. The flood was God's method of judgment against the wickedness of men and a means of separating the family of Noah from sin's corruption.
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith (Heb. 11:7). Noah's obedience to the command of God to build and enter the ark typifies the believer who, by faith, receives Christ (a type of the ark) and is saved from judgment (spiritual death).
The ark had only one door, symbolic of Jesus, who said: I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved (John 10:9). This means that we must turn from our sins, receive Christ as our Savior and allow Him to be Lord of our lives. We will then desire to be obedient to His Word. In Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away (II Cor. 5:17). God gives us a new world of opportunities for worshiping and serving Him.
Noah knew what was of foremost importance — his need to worship the Lord. The first thing we read about him after he left the ark is that he builded an altar unto the Lord . . . and offered burnt offerings on the altar (Gen. 8:20).
Offering a sacrifice on the altar was an open confession of Noah's faith, as well as his gratitude for the saving grace of God. It was an acknowledgement that he was undeserving of mercy and that someone, or something, apart from himself must become the substitute to pay the penalty for his sin. The altar sacrifice is symbolic of Christ, the only sacrifice which God accepts as the full and complete atonement for our sins.
It is the revelation of God's grace that creates within the child of God a desire to worship Him for who He is, as well as for what He has done. Jesus paid the price for our sins by His death on the cross. Such a revelation of God's grace should cause us to humble ourselves before Him and accept Him as our personal Guide through life. No one can improve on that.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:8-9).
Thought for Today:
One of the results of a person experiencing God's grace and forgiveness is that he has a grateful heart (see Luke 7:47).
Christ Revealed:
Through the ark (Gen. 7:1,7; Acts 4:12; I Pet. 3:12, 20). Christ is our ark of safety. Jesus . . . delivered us from the wrath to come (I Thess. 1:10).
Word Studies:
8:1 asswaged =ubsided; 8:3 abated =ecreased; 8:21 sweet savour =ymbolic of satisfaction; 9:9 Covenant =inding agreement with qualifications given by God; 9:13 bow =ainbow; 9:20 husbandman =armer.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Country: Taiwan, Republic of China (22 million) 77 islands off the southeastern coast of Red China • Major language: Mandarin Chinese • Religious freedom • 80% "Chinese Religions" (Buddhist/Taolist/Confucian); 4% Christianity; .2% Muslim; 14% Atheist; 1.8% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Confess and forsake your sins that you may receive mercy (Prov. 28:13).
Optional Reading: Matthew 3
Memory Verse for the Week: Romans 8:28
