All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ( 2 Tim 3:16 NIV)
St Paul is reminding us here that when we read scripture we should ask ourselves four questions.
- What is the lesson in this scripture?
- How did it rebuke me?
- What corrective action should I be taking?
- How does this scripture call me to a deeper righteousness?
Now we know that righteousness comes by faith, and faith from hearing the word (Romans 10:17 ) but we see in the story of Noah that faith has to be acted upon. We are not called to a passive life, we are called to a participative life, the animals were called to enter the ark, Noah was called to build it. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling says St Paul.
In our daily readings as we have followed the story of Joseph we have a great reminder of how difficult it is to live up to what God requires even when we understand it and interpret the events of our lives through the eyes of a vision that God has given us. Joseph struggled to forgive his brothers ( Read the story). Noah did not build the ark by miraculous means but by the sweat of his brow.
My point is this, life in Christ does not mean that you can click your fingers and solve life’s challenges or instantly overcome ( although in God’s infinite mercy and grace sometimes things happen in an apparent instant, the story of Noah’s ark teaches us that God has been at work long before we see the outcomes. Look how long it took for Noah to be called, how long it took to build the Ark, the rain fell, in an instant, but it had been a long time in coming. The earth did not instantly dry up but Noah was required to be patient until the time was right.
The Story of Noah teaches us that patience is required.
We are rebuked for our impatience,
Our response should be to wait upon the Lord and have our strength renewed, and our trust in the fact that God will deliver in God’s time will be credited to us as righteousness.
Challenge:
What is God saying to you as you reflect on our meditations on scripture? What impact is your Lenten journey having this far? Can you feel your life being enriched by spending more time being aware of God’s presence?
Let us pray.
Holy God
you call us to be obedient to your word
and thereby to receive your love.
Keep us faithful this day and encourage us we pray.
Thank you that you clothe us with righteousness
and that we can grow in Christ to a fuller, richer, more joyful life.
In gratitude we pray in the Name of Jesus our saviour
Amen.
