Jeff Klein 0:07
Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's Daily Dose in the Word of God. It's Monday, September 14. This is Jeff Klein reminding you that your Christian faith is not just about sitting in church on Sunday, but about getting out and practicing what you've learned throughout the week.
Jeff Klein 0:23
Yesterday we heard about and reflected on the story of Noah and the ark. Noah's the story of God choosing a righteous man to join Him in saving the world. God's heart is broken (similar to a parent's heart being broken when your kid decides to take the wrong path and pursue the wrong things). God is like a parent who can't take it anymore. He decides to wipe every human being from the face of the earth, pretty much everything. But God looked favorably at Noah and saw him as a partner to join him in remaking the world.
Jeff Klein 0:58
When I hear this, it makes me realize that we have found favor with God. And because we have, God wants to partner with us, wants us to join Him in remaking the world. He doesn't invite us to join Him in judging the world or condemning the world, but in building an ark to offer people the presence of God in the midst of of the flood they may be living through. That flood might be from the Lord, or might be the consequences of their own behavior or someone else's behavior.
Jeff Klein 1:27
As you begin your week, how is God inviting you to join Him in getting people on the ark and out of the flood? Do you cross paths with anyone who doesn't know about God's rescue mission through Jesus? Is God calling you to ask or do anything where you live, work, or play to help the people there see their need for the Ark of God's salvation through Jesus?
Jeff Klein 1:50
When my son Joseph was eight years old, he met Eric on the playground at school. Eric was born in Tanzania, and his family had moved here because they had experienced the flood of war and persecution there. And so, when they got to America, they were trying to understand the culture of the American school system. So you know, birthday parties, organized soccer games, play dates. Eric understood it. His parents didn't have a clue, and so Eric was thrilled when someone invited him to sleep over or come to a party. So we, (Joseph and I) asked him to join the baseball team. That's how simple this is, you know - just come play baseball with us. And so Eric, like every other kid, put on his uniform and was in charge of the snacks for the game and went out there and played as best he could, but Eric felt like somehow this simple act of love and playing baseball lifted him from the flood that he found himself in. How simple can it be for you this week to help someone find the Lord's rescue in the middle of their flood?
Jeff Klein 3:10
Let's pray. Lord God, give us eyes to see those around us who don't know you yet, or might not know how to find their way to the ark. Help us Lord, to care enough to be concerned enough to step in and act like Noah. In your name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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