Influenced

Influenced

Genesis 9: ²⁰ And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. ²¹ Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. ²² And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. ²³ But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.

 

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Decades after the flood, the ark was still there as a reminder of what GOD had done. Some may have studied the design to be ready for another flood, not knowing GOD’s promise. They may have even stolen pieces of the ark to use in their own construction. After a while Noah’s grandson Canaan grew in power, not listening to the stories of the great flood.

 

Canaan had possibly become an influencer, convincing even his own father to participate in rituals and actions that ridiculed GOD. “Who told you that you were naked? “, was the question GOD asked Adam and Eve getting them to self-assess their act of disobedience. Canaan may have ridiculed this question from GOD.

 

My Observations:

• Even when humanity was started over, misunderstandings of GOD took people away from HIM.
• Sin nature caused some people to move away from GOD by his or her own choice.
• GOD loved, provided and showed extreme patience, but humans saw GOD as a set of rules, keeping them from doing as they pleased.

 

“What about Ham?”, one may ask. He was the one who saw his father naked. But Ham may have been influenced by his son Canaan who possibly had spoken against GOD. Shem and Japeth did not seem to be influenced by Canaan or the culture he was building.

 

GOD saw and sees the cultures pull from HIM. HE shows incredible patience and HE meant what HE said about not destroying humanity with a flood anymore. HE allowed humans to do as they pleased for a season, knowing all would have to face HIM.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD keep mentioning Canaan, even though Ham, Shem and Japeth had other children?
• Are there ways and timing of GOD that you disagree with?
• Will you surrender your possible influenced expectations of GOD so HE can guide you to the truth today?

Following the Rules

Following the Rules

Jon 9: ¹³ They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. ¹⁴ Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. ¹⁵ Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”

¹⁶ Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.”

Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

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“You cannot leave the table until you finish your food” was the rule imposed on me. The problem was, I hated most food at that stage in my life. “How do I get the food off of my plate without it going into my mouth?” was the question I pondered. The answer came to me. I was sitting on a chair with pillows. I lifted up the pillow and shoveled the food under it. Rule followed!

• There were times when I interpreted the rule to my advantage.
• There were times when I did not enjoy the rule so I figured out ways to get around it without breaking it.
• There were times when I felt the rule held me hostage and I had no delight in the rule.

Blind from birth, a man was healed by JESUS. This awesome demonstration of power was met with contempt by the church leaders. Blindly, they overlooked the obvious facts that JESUS was and is GOD, by accusing HIM of doing work on the Sabbath. JESUS encroached on their lifestyle by showing compassion on their day off.

• GOD wants me to look at HIS rules as a guide to bring people to CHRIST.
• GOD wants me to use HIS rules as freedom rather than bondage for those HE wants me to bring to CHRIST.
• GOD wants me to drop my insecurities, doubts and fears so I can have my spiritual eyes opened to follow HIS rules with love.

GOD did not make humans so HE could torture them with rules they could not follow. HE made humans, knowing they would sin. The rules were made as a map back to the right path, which is JESUS, the CHRIST. If I interpret the rule in a way to “get around it” then I will remain lost. I am grateful GOD’s word is a way back to HIM.

• Are you lost?
• Are you making GOD’s word fit “under” your education or human observations?
• Will you place GOD’s word higher than what you learn so you can see HIS power and love daily?

Busting into Heaven

Luke 16: ¹⁶ “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.¹⁷ And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

¹⁸ “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.

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“Our FATHER, who art in heaven”, through “amen” was the prayer I mouthed, but in my mind I was saying, “I hope they don’t find out I stole from a store.” Or “I hope they don’t find my Playboy magazine I hid in the hamper of my room.” “I’m sure GOD won’t mind.”

• There were times when I made up my own rules.
• Three were times when I justified my sin.
• There were times when I recklessly plowed forward with what “I” wanted to do.

JESUS spoke bluntly to the church leaders who did whatever they wanted to do. HE saw through their “holy” act and said “Not one once of the law will go away.” The pharisees had figured out ways to justify the divorce of their wives so they could still be accepted in the community. JESUS sees through justification.

• GOD wants me to understand my sin cost JESUS HIS life.
• GOD wants me to understand that HIS law does not go away just because I say it does.
• GOD wants me to understand that my add on rules for “holiness” need to be examined with HIS law.

Justifying sin is something GOD opens my eyes to daily. HE doesn’t beat me up over and over about a single sin, however the HOLY SPIRIT does remind me that I did something wrong and I need forgiveness every day. GOD doesn’t want me to develop rules to get around HIS rules. HE wants me to embrace HIS law and praise JESUS for taking my eternal consequence away.

• Are you making your own rules?
• Do you think the rules you place on others align with the loving rules GOD gave?
• Will you drop your bitter, lustful, power grabbing rules and focus on GOD’s grace and mercy today?