This is the account of Noah and his family.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. (Genesis 6:9 NIV)
It is apparent from this scripture that Noah was considered righteous before God and it was made noticeable in two areas. First, Noah was RIGHT with others. It says that he was a blameless among the people of his time. In other words, he had the respect of those around him. He had the respect of those with whom he did business. He had the respect of his neighbors. He had the respect of his family. People may not have liked his personality, leadership style, or fashion sense but they couldn't deny his integrity. Noah was RIGHT with others.
The other area that noticeably displays Noah's righteousness is that he was RIGHT with God. The scripture says that "he walked faithfully with God." Noah wasn't the type of guy who was passionately in love with God one day and skipping out on his devotions the next. Noah was faithful in his relationship with the Lord. That doesn't mean he didn't have his off days but that even when his senses didn't "feel" like it, his faith never failed.
So, what does this have to do with us?
Well, I want to be known like Noah. I want others to say of me after I'm gone that I was a righteous man. If I want that reputation in times to come I must cultivate the two areas of my life like Noah did his. I must make sure that I walk with integrity before god and people. I must do whatever it takes to gain the respect of those in my world and any areas that my integrity has been compromised already must be made right. We must work on our integrity financially, socially, and with our family. We must be RIGHT with people.
Second, we must continually be faithful in our relationship with the Father. We won't be perfect but we can be faithful. Faithful in our prayer lives. Faithful in our bible reading. Faithful in our serving. Faithful in our giving. We must be RIGHT with God.
Pray with me right now:
Father, forgive me for every area where I have allowed my integrity to be compromised. Help me to make things right and begin building my reputation as a person of integrity back again. Where it has been hurt beyond repair with others, please extend the grace to forgive to those I've hurt. Where I have been unfaithful in my walk with you, please forgive me. I stand before you now asking to be right again with you. Let nothing in my life under my control hold me back from living a life that can be described as a righteous life. Thank you for it now. Amen.
