When God Remembers: Stepping Out of the Ark

Not broken by accident. Not broken by defeat. But broken on purpose. Broken in love. Broken so that we might be made whole. Later, after supper, took a cup and he said, this cup is the new promise sealed in my blood. Do this whenever you drink in remembrance of me. And so, come to this table not because we are worthy, but because it is Christ who is generous. We come not with clean hands but with open hands. And we remember. [01:10:38] (43 seconds)  #BrokenMadeWhole

We remember the one who broke the bread as the one who holds our broken world together. So come. Because the table has been prepared and all are welcome here. There is no bill to pay at this table. Only grace to freely receive. The grace Christ freely gives offered to us this day. So come, carry that grace and his spirit into the world. Come lay your burdens down and be fed. For here, in this bread and this wine, you find rest for your weary souls. [01:11:20] (43 seconds)  #GraceAtTheTable

Here's the thing. All of those years of hard work. All of those years that went into him building the ark, planing the wood, fastening it together, making sure everything was just so. But, the ark was never meant to be forever. It was a shelter for a season and for a time. And, that's why the opening line of our passage today is so important. Because, it tells us so much of the story in just three simple words. God remembered Noah. [00:47:32] (48 seconds)  #GodRememberedNoah

The ark is not, as I said, being battered by the storms. Instead, everything is quiet and calm as they wait through month after month of stillness. But, Noah doesn't burst out of the door. He doesn't swim to that first bit of dry land that he thinks he might see on the horizon. Instead, he waits. He trusts. He stays inside until God calls him out and tells him it is time. [00:46:09] (32 seconds)  #WaitingOnGod