The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 19 May 2020 – A Pleasing Aroma To The Lord
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TOPIC: A Pleasing Aroma To The Lord
READ: GENESIS 8:20-22 (NKJV)
- Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
- And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart [is] evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.
- “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”
THE MESSAGE:
Noah’s obedience to God resulted in the deliverance of his family, and pairs of several animals (Genesis 6 to 8). All other people and living creatures perished. They spent 244 days (over 8 months) in the ark, consisting of 40 days torrential rains, 150 days of flooding, and 54 days of waiting for dry land (Genesis 7:17, Genesis 7:24; Genesis 8:6, Genesis 8:10, Genesis 8:12). Once outside the ark, Noah built an altar to thank God for such a mighty deliverance!
Why was Noah’s sacrifice “a pleasing aroma” to the Lord (verse 21), unlike that of Cain or Nadab and Abihu? (see Genesis 4:4-7; Leviticus 10:1-2). 1 Samuel 15: 20-23 and Psalm 51:16-19 show that God’s interest is not in the sacrifice itself, but in the worshipper’s obedience, dedication and consecration. God owns all “cattle on a thousand hills”, ourselves and all that we have (Psalm 50:8-13). God accepted Noah’s sacrifice and made a solemn pledge in verse 21 never again to destroy all living creatures! God also said that the earth’s seasons and day/night will never cease (verses 22)! Is each sacrifice, offering or contribution you make for God’s work a pleasing aroma to Him? To ensure this, be a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2).
PRAYER: Take my life and let it be, Consecrated, Lord to Thee… (A&M 361)
