Walking with God
by Pastor Mark Lieschke
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
And he [Noah] walked with God (Genesis 6:9b).
In the 2007 comedy film Evan Almighty, Steve Carell plays a modern-day version of Noah. There are some similarities to the original Noah narrative, but the whole focus in the movie is very different to the biblical account.
One similarity that does come through in the film, though, is the obedience of Evan (Noah), as he responds to God’s command to build an ark. And no matter what kind of opposition he faced from family, friends and community, he persevered and completed what God told him to do.
Noah (the real one), no doubt, faced opposition and ridicule too. We are not told how long it took him to build the ark, but commentators suggest it could have been anything up to 75 years. Even a tenth of that would have been a long time! Can you imagine what kind of opposition he may have faced? But he was faithful to the will and command of God.
Genesis 6:9b gives a clue to how he could have remained faithful: ‘He walked with God’. We are told that he found favour with God. He was righteous and blameless. This description of Noah does not mean that he was sinless but that he was in a close relationship with his Heavenly Father.
The source of his obedience and faithfulness was his walking with God. He was in God’s company and received guidance, direction, patience and strength – right in the middle of struggle and opposition.
We, too, have the honour and privilege of walking with God. We have been brought into God’s company through Jesus Christ. We have divine guidance, direction, patience and strength as we walk through difficult times – especially through the valley of the shadow of death.
And in and through Jesus Christ, we can grow in our faithfulness to our calling, obedience in our response to God’s Word, and more intimate in our relationship with our Lord.
Lord Jesus, thank you that you enable us to walk with our Heavenly Father. Help us look to him for patience, direction and strength so that when we face difficulties and opposition in our lives, we can continue to remain faithful to our calling and obedient in our response to his word. Amen.
Mark Lieschke is a retired pastor living on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. He served in parishes in Adelaide, Palmerston North and Marton (both in New Zealand) and Wagga Wagga (school and congregation) before being elected as bishop of the New South Wales District of the LCANZ. He and his wife Meredith have four children (two of which live in Canada) and two grandchildren. Mark enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, walking on the beach and resting.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
