Origins: The Beginning (Genesis 1–11)Sample

By Danny Saavedra

“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose. And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.’” Genesis 8:20–22 (NLT)

What’s the first thing you do in the morning? What does your routine look like? For some, it involves making coffee and breakfast, prepping lunch for the kids, showering. Some people go for a morning run or swim. Some read and journal. Others like me hit that snooze button like my life depends on it. And yes, I’ve read the articles and seen the studies on how hitting the snooze button is bad for you, but I still do it! 

What is the first thing Noah does after stepping out of the ark? He builds an altar to make a sacrifice to God! I love this. As John Gill points out, “Not a house for himself and his family, but an altar for God; his first and greatest concern being for the glory of God.” Joseph Benson explains it this way, “The first thing that he did after his wonderful preservation was to pay this debt of gratitude so justly due to that God who had so wonderfully preserved him.”

Oh, my friends; this should be our lives every day. When we wake up, instead of focusing on building our “house” or our day; instead of looking at our phone, checking our e-mail, hitting the snooze button, or immediately heading off into action mode, we should first offer our day to God! What kind of offer are we to make? Romans 12:1 (NIV) says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” 

Consider this: God saved Noah from the flood, and it was an amazing display of His mercy. Through Christ, God saved us from hell even though God said, “everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood,,.” This is an unfathomable display of His mercy! This should make us want to offer ourselves to Him daily all the more.

So, my friends; starting tomorrow, I encourage you—and me—to create a new morning routine. One where we, like Noah, build an altar for our day unto the Lord. Get into the habit of starting your day with prayer and thanksgiving: with a dedication of your day to Him, remembering Psalm 118:24 (NLT), which says, “This is the day the Lord has made.” When you start your day that way, seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness, your priorities and attitude fall into their proper place. 

DIG: Why did Noah make an altar and offer a sacrifice as his first act after exiting the ark?

DISCOVER: What does your morning routine look like?

DO: For the next weeks, commit to starting your day with a sacrifice unto the Lord and see how your days unfold. Journal your time and see how different your days feel.