DAILY READING
REFLECTION
He's Lying - Don't Fall For it!
By Elaine Pierce
What part of this familiar passage grabs your attention the most? I could write a blog post about any one of these stories:
Verse 7 - the poetic story of how God created Adam
Verse 15 - the Garden of Eden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
Verse18, followed by verses 20b -24 - how woman was created
3:1 - the crafty serpent
3:6-7 - how quickly Adam & Eve fell for the serpent's lies and justified their disobedience
My Bible has two headings for these verses: "Adam and Eve" and "The Fall of Man." God creates humans, he gives them a perfect garden, and they quickly find a way to destroy the paradise in which they are living. Sounds about right, doesn't it? Paul expresses it well in Romans 7:15, 18-20.
"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I not do, but what I hate I do.....For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me."
I don't think Eve set out intentionally to fall into the serpent's trap, but sin has a way of catching us unawares, doesn't it? What is the solution? Paul tells us that it's only through Jesus that we can truly live the life God intended for us:
"Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25).
Yes, God created a paradise for Adam and Eve. Yes, they blew it when they listened to the serpent rather than to God. But thanks be to God, there is a way out through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. The serpent is still alive and whispering lies in our ears, but God wins in the end. Take heart, and thank God for his grace, his mercy, and his forgiveness.
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PRAYER
Lord, so often I turn my back on you and follow my own way. I don't trust you to provide, and I doubt that you have my best interests at heart. Forgive me, cleanse me, and fill me with your love. Send your holy spirit - it's in your name I pray, Amen.
AUTHOR BIO
Elaine Pierce
It is a delight and joy to write Sunday's UALC Blog post. I have been a UALC member for 20+ years and I value our community of believers. I draw strength from God's
Word and it is my hope that you join me in seeking to grow closer to Him as we read, study and pray together. I've been married to Gene for 47 years, and we have 4 grown children and 9 grandchildren. It is an exciting time to be alive, and I count it all joy to serve him, even in the midst of challenges. To God be the glory, great things he is doing!
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