RISE ABOVE THE CIRCUMSTANCES

“And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.”—Genesis 7:17

Jesus said in Matthew 24:37, “that as the days of Noah were, so shall the coming of the Son of man be.”  Many Biblical scholars believe that the return of Jesus is very near, due in a large part to social changes and behaviors.   Genesis chapter six explains to us that the wickedness of humankind was so great that even the imaginations of the thoughts of their hearts was always evil and great violence filled the earth.  People were going about their every day lives without any thought about God—without any regard to righteousness.  People were living as they pleased.  Whatever they wanted to do; they did.  This is called self-governance.  Doing whatever pleases self to do.  Whatever serves an individual’s self-interest is called self-governance. 

Noah and his family did not live like this.  Scripture tells us that Noah found grace in the sight of God and that He instructed him to build an ark that would preserve Noah and to conserve the life of the animals.  Reflect for a moment and draw strength and understanding from Noah’s actions after God told him to build the ark.

First, God called on Noah to do something that he had never done before.  Sometimes God calls upon us to do something that we have never done before.

Secondly, God gave Noah specific instructions on how to carry out God’s plans.  God gives us instructions when He calls upon us.  He doesn’t keep us in the dark – even if it seems like it is taking a long time.

Thirdly, God’s grace will always protect.  When it was time for Noah and his family to be secured in the ark, God shut the door so that they would come to no harm.

Lastly, the same rain that brought judgment to the earth brought deliverance to Noah.  It caused him to rise above the circumstances and to be delivered from the wickedness and evilness that surrounded him. 

Be encouraged today that God’s grace is at work in your life and in your circumstances and will cause you to rise to the top and be preserved.

 

Prayer—Heavenly Father thank You for Your grace at work in my life.  Today I repent for acting in self-governance in my life, and I ask You to forgive me.  Today I yield myself to You and to Your instructions.  Lord, thank You for preserving me and my family in any and all circumstances.  Lord, I trust You to help me today to confidently rely upon You grace in my life, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

BE REDEFINED: NOT DEFINED BY PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”—2 Corinthians 5:17

Who are you?  Have you ever really thought about this question?  Who are you as a person that is how do you define you?   The definition of ourselves’ tends to be defined by external circumstances.  For example, you fail a test in school the definition of yourself becomes “I’m a failure.”   You get married, the definition of yourself becomes, “I’m a wife” or “I’m a husband.” In contrast, if/when you get divorced, you come, “The divorcee.”   But it is not like in the time you were a wife, to the time you were divorced, you suddenly transformed into a new self, right? Or what if you were employed in the morning as a bank teller, but by the end of the day you were laid off. You are no longer a bank teller, but are you a different person?  No, you are not. These external labels do not define you.   You are so much more than these labels.

Have you ever just met someone and they immediately ask you what you did?  Sadly, many women I have been introduced to will immediately say something like this, “I’m just a housewife.”   The hidden meaning behind their opening statement is quite evident; “I do not feel that what I do is valuable; therefore (in their viewpoint), the label that they associate with is defining there worth as an individual.  We’re given labels our entire life (popular girl, jock, bully, rich kid, loser, CEO, stay-at-home-mom, etc.).   But we don’t have to adopt those labels as our personal truth.   Remember that Christ never thinks about us, according to the labels that society, or we place on ourselves’.   

Christ’s salvation is continually redefining.  What I mean by this statement is that as we accept our definition that Christ reveals to us as “we are in Him.”  We do not fully grasp the reality of what it means to be “in Christ” all at one time, but the Holy Spirit continually reveals Christ to us.  For example, the very action of salvation is redefining.  You were lost now you are saved.  You were a victim now you are victorious.  You were dead now you are alive in Christ.   You were afar off, but now you have been made near by the blood of Christ.  What are some other examples that you can think of?

In Matthew chapter 1 verses 1 – 16, we find the history of some of the women in Jesus’ lineage.  The Holy Spirit included these women as redefined by God, and not one of them is mention by the label that society or others had placed upon them.   If you will read the history of Tamar, you will find that she was labeled as a misused woman, a woman of shame; but, the Holy Spirit never mentions that in these verses.  Rahab was defined as a harlot—a prostitute and in Joshua 2 she was labeled sneaky because of circumstances.  Later, we see her redefined as wise counselor, aide, and savior of her own family and the mother of Boaz. 

Today ask yourself the question, what does my past say about me?   And then be encouraged because salvation removes our past.   Our positive actions count and we can turn ourselves around.

In Matthew 1:18 – 21 we read, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ¹ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Notice in vs. 21 that God knows every detail of His plan for your life.  We see here that God is giving to Joseph the details.  He is given the gender, name, and purpose. I encourage you to   remember that God’s plan always has a purpose and His purpose is always bigger than you.  Today make a conscious effort to choose to identify with the way that your Heavenly Father sees you, and allow the Holy Spirit to enlarge your understanding of the purpose that He has for your life.

Prayer—Heavenly Father, today I purpose to lay aside labels that society, others, or myself have placed upon me.  I choose to be redefined by You as Your plans for me are for good and they will bring me to my expected end.  I surrender to You and not to be defined by my present circumstances, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.