Wheaties - the Breakfast of Champions… not Change

A Series on Living by Faith

Genesis 6:9-22; Hebrews 11:7
(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%206%3A9-22%2CHebrews%2011%3A7&version=NIV;NLT

 [Hebrews 11 is a recounting of the Heroes of the Faith. Even though they never saw what they had been promised, each person is commended for living “by faith”. At the end of these commendations, Hebrews 12 tells us, “Therefore, because you are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… throw off sin; run with perseverance; fix your eyes on Jesus”. In other words, live “by faith”.]

  

I don’t like change. And in my opinion, there is something very positive to be said for routine.

 

Take my morning routine for instance. My alarm goes off at 6:15; I take my temperature (thank you COVID); shave, shower and get dressed while watching the news; work on my devotional/blog; eat a bowl of Wheaties (the same breakfast for over 50 years); and drive to work.

 

Yes, routine is definitely a part of my daily life. It helps me to get everything done efficiently without having to think about it. If something does happen to throw off my routine, such as our kitty throwing up, I’m playing catch up the rest of the morning. I absolutely don’t like change.

 

I’m guessing that Noah had a routine to his life. In scripture, he is referred to as “a man of the soil” … a farmer. And as a farmer, Noah must have had a routine that depended on the seasons. Plus, Noah raised three sons, and routine is something you always strive for in a family.

 

But the Lord had a plan that would mean drastically disrupting Noah’s daily routine; it would mean a change of quantum magnitude. Because the earth was “full of violence” and the people had “corrupted their ways”, the Lord stepped into Noah’s life, turning it upside down.

 

¹⁷ I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. ¹⁸ But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.        NIV

 

Not only was Noah enlisted to build the ark, but to live there. How did he respond to this colossal change; this great unknown task and event?

 

²² So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.    NLT

Just imagine what a step of faith it was for Noah to be so obedient. Scripture tells us that “people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark”. Nobody had a clue, including Noah, what the ark would really mean for them. But Noah listened and obeyed.

 

How do you respond to change? Do you stop, look and listen for the Lord; or do you panic? Is the Lord asking you to make a change in your life? Or to keep eating Wheaties – the Breakfast of Champions?

 

 

 

Our Family Tree

 A Series on Living by Faith
Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5-6
(Use the link below to read the verses.)

 [Hebrews 11 is a recounting of the Heroes of the Faith. Even though they never saw what they had been promised, each person is commended for living “by faith”. At the end of these commendations, Hebrews 12 tells us, “Therefore, because you are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… throw off sin; run with perseverance; fix your eyes on Jesus”. In other words, live “by faith”.]

 

In the early 80’s, I spent many hours researching my family genealogy. This was before the Internet and Ancenstory.com, so it took some leg work. It wasn’t just a matter of point and click. I interviewed my parents, brother and sisters, aunts and uncles and cousins. I wrote letters; visited the state library; and made phone calls.

 

By the time I was done, I had collected information about several generations. All the names and dates of my ancestors were recorded in a book called “Our Family Tree”. Unfortunately, there was very little in the way of family stories passed down from generation to generation. That would seem to be the case for Enoch also.

 

Enoch first appears in the genealogy of Adam. It’s not the most exciting passage since they all go something like this: “Adam begat a son named Seth… and Adam lived another 800 years”. For nine generations it repeats the same exact message, except for Enoch. His eulogy reads like this.

 

 ²² After he (Enoch) became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.      Genesis 5 NIV

 

Only Enoch was different. He didn’t just live, but he “walked faithfully with God” for the rest of his life. And what does it mean to walk faithfully with the Lord? James gives us some insight into that question.

 

²² But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves… ²⁵ But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.            James 1 NLT

 

Enoch did just that! He listened and obeyed; and for that, he was rewarded unlike any other.

 

 ⁵ By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.     Hebrews 11 NIV

 

What will my eulogy be? That I had a daughter named Tara and lived another 50 years? Or that I walked faithfully with the Lord? What will your eulogy be?

 

 

 

Sibling Rivalry

 A Series on Living by Faith
Genesis 4:1-8; Hebrews 11:1-4
(Use the link below to read the verses.)

 [Hebrews 11 is a recounting of the Heroes of the Faith. Even though they never saw what they had been promised, each person is commended for living “by faith”. At the end of these commendations, Hebrews 12 tells us, “Therefore, because you are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… to throw off sin; to run with perseverance; to fix your eyes on Jesus”. In other words, to live “by faith”.]

  

Did you have a sibling rivalry growing up? I did. It was with my sister who is six years older than me. At the time, I had a very short, explosive temper, and apparently she knew how to trigger it. 

On one occasion, I remember throwing a table knife at her as she ran down the hall. Just as she slammed the bathroom door behind her, the knife stuck in the door. Not one of my better moments.

 

Sibling rivalries can lead you to do terrible things. Take Cain and Abel for instance. They were one generation removed from the Garden of Eden; from living in harmony with God; but also, from original sin. The result was the first recorded murder in the Bible. Here’s what led up to it.

 

³ After some time Cain brought some of his harvest and gave it as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ Then Abel brought the first lamb born to one of his sheep, killed it, and gave the best parts of it as an offering. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering, ⁵ but he rejected Cain and his offering. Cain became furious, and he scowled in anger.          GNT

 

 That anger led to Cain’s murder of Abel!

 

What else do we know about the two brothers? Cain was older, and was a farmer. Abel was a shepherd. They both brought offerings to the Lord, so they both believed in Him. Then why did the Lord accept Abel’s offering but not Cain’s?

 

It appears that Cain’s offering was more of an afterthought; something that he did out of religious obligation, or possibly out of competition with his brother. But for Abel, his offering came from the heart. He gave the Lord the best that he had. Hebrews describes the difference like this.

 

⁴ By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.  NIV

 

Abel’s faith was in what he had never seen. You can imagine that his parents, Adam and Eve, may have talked about life in the Garden of Eden, and what it was like to live in union with the Lord. They may have instilled faith in the promises of a redemptive God so that Abel gave his offering by faith.

 

Therefore, whatever we do, let us do it for the Lord; let us do it from a pure heart; let us do it by faith that the Lord has provided redemption through Jesus. And in living by faith, the Lord will be pleased with us.

 

 

 

 

What’s in Your Portfolio?

 A Series on God’s Call to Ministry

1 Thessalonians 2:7b-12

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%202%3A7-12&version=NIV;NLT

[Preface: How do you know what your calling in life is? Will you know from a big bang experience? Or will it come quietly, almost imperceptible? Will you be inspired by the stories of a visiting missionary; or a book that opens your eyes to the needs of a specific people group; or from your own life experience? This series is about God’s call to ministry for your life; what it means or doesn’t mean.]

  

We all invest in something. 

You might invest in stocks or mutual funds. Your home is a big investment. Some people invest in real estate. For many people, they invest in their job. Others enjoy investing in antiques, sports memorabilia or collectibles.

Sometimes we invest in people. As an example, you might invest in your children by sending them to a private school or signing them up for sports teams or other activities. We also invest in our children by doing the little things for them that can make lifelong memories. My parents did that.

When I would ask her to, my Mom would make a yummy stack of French toast for me. And although he couldn’t carry a tune, my Dad would always wake me up for school by singing “School Days”. Memories like this, remind me that my parents loved me and invested their lives in mine.

Paul did the same thing with the believers in Thessalonica.

…we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. ⁸ We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.           NLT

 Paul invested his life in theirs. He lived with them; worked with them; shared with them; broke bread with them; laughed and cried with them. And by investing in their lives, the Lord called them to Him.

 

¹¹ And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. ¹² We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.     NIV

Investing in the lives of others is our calling. And, like Paul, when we do this, the Lord will call others to share in his grace; his forgiveness; his kingdom.

 What’s in your portfolio? Are you investing in the lives of people?

 

 

Hit Upside the Head

A Series on God’s Call to Ministry

Acts 9:1-19

 (Use the link below to read the verses.)

[Preface: How do you know what your calling in life is? Will you know from a big bang experience? Or will it come quietly, almost imperceptible? Will you be inspired by the stories of a visiting missionary; or a book that opens your eyes to the needs of a specific people group; or from your own life experience? This series is about God’s call to ministry for your life; what it means or doesn’t mean.]

People are stubborn. Not you or me of course; but other people. Stubborn people have trouble admitting their problems; admitting that they need help. They also have trouble changing because, well… they’re stubborn; and proud; and rebellious. Like I said though – not you or me.

In order for someone who is stubborn to make a significant change, they have to get “hit upside the head”. What won’t get their attention, is a subtle suggestion or a gentle reminder. It has to be something monumental in order for them to really listen; to open their eyes; to see the light… like Saul.

³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” ⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”       NIV

^7-9 His companions stood there dumbstruck—they could hear the sound, but couldn’t see anyone—while Saul, picking himself up off the ground, found himself stone-blind. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. He continued blind for three days. He ate nothing, drank nothing.                MSG

Saul was so passionate; so head strong; so stubborn about persecuting the church, that the only way Jesus could get his attention, was to literally knock him to the ground with a blinding flash of light. Jesus had to hit him upside the head.

Have you ever had an experience like that; where you were hit upside the head? I have; a few times. And it’s not fun; but it is necessary. Because, I am stubborn and proud, and don’t want to admit when I am wrong. This time… I am including you and me.

Therefore, the next time you feel like you’ve been hit upside the head, look around, not at your surrounding circumstances, but look upwards. Try to figure out what Jesus is doing; what he is trying to tell you; what he is calling you to do.