Episode 247

TODAY’S READING:

1 Now, the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 

Genesis 3:1-6

 

Continuing our study on Adam & Eve. This story always amazes me. It speaks to our true nature of curiosity and how we use our free will. In the devotional series that I wrote, I said that our free will was one of the most beautiful gifts we have been given.

 

It’s what allows us to choose to live a life with God in the center. We aren’t forced to do so.

 

When God gives us instructions, and when He prevents us from walking through certain doors, or when He doesn’t give us what we’re hoping for and expecting, we are quick to think He is a father that withholds from us.

 

What we need to understand is that He isn’t a father that withholds a blessing; he is a father that withholds a heartbreak. When He prevents us from doing certain things, He doesn’t want to hurt us; He wants to protect us.

 

A lot of the time, we are like Eve. We rationalize God’s instruction. We give in to society and what it has to say about certain topics, and we weigh it against what was said. We twist His words, and then we are surprised that we get hurt.

 

Our takeaway today should be very simple, may we listen carefully, may we run into Him freely, may we surrender our ideas of what is right and wrong, and may we just be obedient—one day at a time. 

 

PRAYER

Father God, we know there are consequences we are disobedient, yet so many times disregard your word. We may feel as if you are withholding from us, but deep down inside, we know that you are protecting us. We pray today to have the strength to surrender our opinions and to be obedient. We know we will be blessed because of it. We thank you for our Free-Will it is because of that that we can freely live with you at the center of our lives. We pray all of this in your son’s Holy name, AMEN!