What makes a person awesome? What makes a person praise-worthy? What makes a person stand out?
Noah was someone who stood out in a terrible world, and someone who was held in high regard by the highest, God.
Gen. 6:9 - "Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God."
I'm not sure if there's anyone you know that can be described as righteous, and blameless; I'm kind of drawing a blank myself. The big question is: What made Noah worthy of such a description?
The answer is found in scripture>
Gen. 6:22 - "Noah did everything just as God commanded him."
Gen 7:5 - "And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him."
Gen. 7:9 - "...as God had commanded Noah."
Gen. 7, 16 - "....as God had commanded Noah."
THE ANSWER IS OBEDIENCE!!
The thing that set Noah apart was his obedience; obedience to God in a world that was anything but obedient. Just like Noah, we are called to obedience, even though it may not be popular.
2 Cor. 9:13 "Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
2 John 1:6 - "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."
WHO ARE WE TO OBEY?
> GOD
Exo. 20:2,3 - "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me."
Matt. 22:37 - " ..“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
>BIBLE
Joshua 1:8 - "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
>PARENTS
Ephesians 6:1-3 - "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—3“that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Colossians 3:20 - "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."
>AUTHORITIES
Romans 13:1,2 - "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."
Matt. 22:17-21 - "Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Titus 3:1-3 - "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good.."
The key to righteousness is found in obedience; obedience puts us on the path of Godly living. Disobedience, following our own way can bring hurt, and leave us dissatisfied. God doesn't want you to obey because he is a ruthless dictator. God wants obedience because he knows what's best for you, and he can only give that to you through obedience.
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