Righteous and Blameless

"But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God." -Genesis 6.8-9

Ten generations have passed since the fall and sin and wickedness has grown. It is so bad that God is sorry that He made man. At one point the crown of creation, man made in the image of God, but now they have become so wicked, every intent of their hears being evil, that God is grieved that He made them. He decides to blot them out, and destroy the world. All but one.

We find Noah, who has found favor in the eyes of the Lord, because he was a righteous man, who was blameless, and again we see the phrase, "walked with God." And Noah is going to spared from the wrath that is coming.

Noah was righteous. He had a right standing relationship with God. There was nothing separating him from God. They had intimacy and fellowship together because Noah lived in a way that pleased God and submitted to His sovereign holiness. Noah was also blameless. He was guiltless and innocent. No one could pin anything on his integrity or honor. His character was without blemish among all the men of the world. And both of these are possible because he walked with God.

Are righteous and blameless words that can be used to describe you? Righteousness is simply being forgiven of sin and living in new life from God. If you have received the forgiveness of God and are striving to live like Christ than you are righteous. This one has to come first. You cannot be blameless if you are not righteous. What is said of your character?

I have a friend, a young man who has become like a brother to me, who has felt God calling him into something very big. I've been able to be one of several people to affirm this calling on his life, and I'm very excited to see how God works all of this out. And I'm very excited for the future if all of this unfolds. But this week we had the chance to talk for the first time in months, and I gave him counsel as he prepares for the future.

I told him to live in a way where nothing negative can be said about him. To live so purely, and with so much integrity that nothing can be pinned on him. It is the guidance to be blameless. And both of these are only possible if we walk with God.

We cannot be righteous without God. We live in a fallen world corrupted by sin, so we cannot have a right standing relationship with God if we don't walk with Him. We cannot be blameless and innocent without God cleansing us and giving us new life, and the strength to live like Christ.

Would you be righteous? Walk with God. Would you be blameless? Walk with God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Honor

The second thing that all men want. All men want to be respected and admired, at least to an extent. All men want to be thought of as men of honor, even if its just a front to hide what they are doing behind the scenes. Honor is something men will spend their lives for, but it's something we cannot keep, nor are we worthy to receive.

Let's look at the example of Jesus in Philippians 2.9-11, "For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Jesus is exalted and it is for the purpose of glorifying God the Father. After everything Jesus endured He is exalted to the place of honor and glory, and He immediately returns the honor and glory given to Him to the Father. Jesus Himself gives glory to God the Father. And we are to become like Christ.

Honor comes from living for something greater than yourself. A solider receives honor for serving his country. As a man of God our honor comes from serving the King. God must be honored and glorified. He must be worshiped. His holiness demands worship, not in as a dictator demands loyalty, but simply because of how great His holiness is, He must be worship. 1 Chronicles 29.11-13 declares, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name."

Philippians 2 tells us that one day every tongue will give praise to God one day. Every knee will bow in respect and worship to Him. But the Bible tells of the honor God gives to those who choose to worship Him now. 2 Timothy 4.7-8, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." God bestows on the faithful a crown of honor. In Romans 8 we are told that we will be glorified with Christ.

But Proverbs 15.33 tells us, "The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility." To receive real honor that no one can tarnish or take away, we must first humble ourselves before God in worship to Him. And as we worship the King we receive life, and with life comes honor and glory. And with these comes the privilege to be able to serve and honor God for all eternity. Honor comes in living for something, in serving something greater than yourself.

Honor is not found in success or the praise of man, but in the humble worship offered to the Father.

Psalm 62.5-8, "My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us."

Philippians 4.8, "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor