Daily Devotional

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a tough, no-nonsense kind of dad. I’m a bit old school when it comes to my parenting style. However, I often ask my sons to do things instead of command that they do them. Not saying this is always the case because I’ve caught myself using my mom’s line, “Because I said so,” but I do regularly ask as opposed to tell. The reason is, not only do I want to reward their obedience, but I want to cultivate servants’ hearts, so they learn to serve joyfully.

 We can often get into doing things because we were asked and sometimes feel forced into doing them. This happens with folks we’re close to like a friend, a boss, a loved one or sometimes even with God. But when it comes to God, He cares just as much about the heart that’s behind the action as He does the actual deed itself. Now don’t get me wrong, God expects our obedience, but we are also expected to obey Him with the right heart.  

Many look at Noah and are blown away by his faith. While God did give Noah very detailed instructions, it was a pretty strange assignment and Noah had every reason to be skeptical, right? God told him to build something he’d never heard of before, that was going to protect him from something that had never happened before. It had never rained. Not only that but some people mocked and ridiculed him while he was building. Yet Noah never objected. Over and over the Bible says, “Noah did as God commanded.” Without hesitation. Without objection. With the utmost confidence in God. May we learn from Noah’s example. When God reveals something to us, we shouldn’t pass on the opportunity. May we find ways today to willingly serve the Lord with joy in our hearts knowing His ways are always perfect.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.