December 1st “Making Room for God Again”
Genesis 3:1-7
Ian Furgason
Devotional Reading
The story of the fall of mankind is usually seen as man’s biggest mistake. While this may be true, when seen in another light, it is also a story of longing unful lled. The serpent comes to Eve o ering a be er life, a fuller life. A divine life. “You will be like God” sang the siren serpent. Something inside Eve came alive at these words. What must have been racing through her head as she heard this statement? Was she not a daughter of God? Was this not her des ny, to be lled with the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; to taste and see the goodness of the Godhead; to have Life, and to have it to the full? This God-given longing for more was exploited and en ced o the narrow path of holy consumma on. It is not the longing that is to blame, or else we would have to blame God, the Giver of this holy desire. No, it is true that as sons and daughters of God their place was and is seated with Him, ruling and reigning, par cipa ng with Him in His divine nature with the very seed of God ourishing within them.
We see throughout scripture that the devil o en takes a truth and twists it. He is the cra iest of all the beasts, the father of lies. In this case he tempted Eve with what looked like a short cut, a quicker route to her des ny. But it was her des ny. The problem, what the serpent conveniently forgot
to men on, is that in order to a ain to the fullness of the stature of the Divine, there is a training and equipping that must take place. This must be done by God Himself through the person of the Holy Spirit. He is the only Way. In that moment God gave man a choice: trust God and wait on Him to faithfully accomplish what He started as Author and Perfecter, or use their own God-given strength to bypass the process, reach out, and make it happen.
Well you know the story, they missed the mark. They took the fruit and ate. They were deceived, and sin, seizing the opportunity, brought them and all their descendants’ death through the very com- mandment that was to give us life. Not only did this impact man, but as the righ ul rulers of earth, from their ac ons came a curse that placed all of crea on in bondage to decay.
Making Room
1. I think many of us tend to look down on Adam and Eve and somehow think that we would have done things di erently. But I think the reality is that we take and eat the fruit every day in place of wai ng and leaning on God to work in and for us. Ask God to show you ways that you, like Eve, take the easy way forward instead of the narrow and maybe more trying way of God.
2. Take a minute and think about the results of their sin. If their sin had repercussions unfortunately ours does to, whether we like it or not. Take a minute to pray through the following verses. Take your me.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any griev-ous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Ps 139:23-24″
Thank you Patrick..I have missed your words. LOVE YOU! Going to spend the 17th n 18th with your mom. It’s been ohhhh to long! I have missed her! Excited to see my friend and get caught up!!! Pray you n your famly is well.Love my journey with Jesus!!!
Chris, thank you for the kind words and for checking out what me and my friends had to say about Advent this year. So cool.
I pray that all is well, and release the Holy Spirit on my mom during your time with her. You guys are like Thelma and Louise.HAHAHA
Hope to see you soon!