First Actions. First Questions.

First Actions. First Questions.

Genesis 3: ⁸ And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

⁹ Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

¹⁰ So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

¹¹ And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”

¹² Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

¹³ And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

 

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Now the man and woman were spiritually awake, but in a bad way. They knew they had made a huge mistake and the first thing they did was hide. I feel like doing that too when I made mistakes. They hid their nakedness and then they thought they could hide from GOD.

 

My Observations:

• GOD is all knowing, all seeing and is everywhere.
• GOD knew where Adam was, yet HE asked a question so Adam could understand.
• GOD knew what happened, yet HE asked the woman a question, maybe to take responsibility.

 

Personally, I believe this was JESUS in the garden. HE knew HIS creation had fallen and knew HE was the answer for the huge problem Adam and Eve had caused. The first actions from Adam and Eve seemed so futile. Innocent people trying to develop a coverup with no plan, led to hiding from the one who could solve the problem.

 

Instead of asking for help, the first blame came out. “It was YOUR fault for giving me the woman who gave me the fruit from YOUR tree” it could read. Or “The devil made me do it.” BUT GOD handled it graciously. HE never accused them of doing wrong because they knew and so did HE. JESUS knew what HE had to do. HE had to die and be raised from the dead to repair the fall.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses this conversation?
• Have you ever messed up and tried to cover it up?
• Have you tried owning up to what you did wrong by uncovering “that” secret so GOD can heal you?

Alive and Well

Alive and Well

James 2: ²⁵ It was the same with the prostitute Rahab. She was put right with God through her actions, by welcoming the Israelite spies and helping them to escape by a different road.

 

²⁶ So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.

 

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Feeling shamed from the weekend of drinking and carousing, I did not want to be around church people. I felt they would be judgmental and try to tell me more about what I was doing than the hidden things they were doing.

 

• I did not want to be a hypocrite.
• I was ashamed of my sins and simply wanted peace.
• I tried to stay away from “perfect” people because I felt there was no help for me.

 

James used a shocking example of faith. He mentioned the prostitute Rahab was put right with GOD through her actions. He did not focus on her sin, rather on her faith in risking everything to hide the spies of Israel to help them escape. He concludes his warning by stating faith requires actions.

 

My Observations:

• Sin may make me want to stay away from GOD, BUT JESUS forgave me of all of my sins.
• Shame may try to stop me from doing what GOD wants me to do, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT brings me comfort that I am redeemed.
• Doubt may place uncertainty in my path, BUT THE FATHER gives me a firm foundation that keeps me sure that HE loves me.

 

Let’s face it, sin can be a barrier to doing what GOD wants me to do. I mean, when I get caught up in sin, I feel ashamed and start making up excuses for not serving GOD’s people. Blame arises and false statements about GOD’s love pop in my mind. BUT GOD brings me comfort.

 

In the middle of my sin, CHRIST died for me. Not after I stopped sinning, in the “middle.” JESUS was watching me and you sin and died for us anyway. HE didn’t wait for us to try to clean ourselves up or to become perfect. HE saw my imperfections and said “I love you.” HE then said “Go” I am glad GOD is the ultimate forgiver.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer used the label “prostitute” instead of simply mentioning her name?
• Have you ever went through periods of trying not to sin and thought more highly of yourself?
• Have you ever wanted to run away from GOD because of a certain sin?
• Will you seek GOD’s kingdom, knowing HE loves you no matter what today?

Trying Too Hard

 

Trying Too Hard

Romans 3: ²⁷ What, then, can we boast about? Nothing! And what is the reason for this? Is it that we obey the Law? No, but that we believe. ²⁸ For we conclude that a person is put right with God only through faith, and not by doing what the Law commands. ²⁹ Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles also? Of course he is. ³⁰ God is one, and he will put the Jews right with himself on the basis of their faith, and will put the Gentiles right through their faith. ³¹ Does this mean that by this faith we do away with the Law? No, not at all; instead, we uphold the Law.

 

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When they announced I got the position, I could not believe it. Many disappointments had happened before, so I decided to keep doing my old job. I showed up at a meeting and the attendees were puzzled but cordial. I was doing two jobs at once, my old job and the new. I had to be sure.

 

There were times when I was insecure so I held onto things I should have let go of.

There were times when I did not believe so I worked a little harder to “see” results.

There were times when I was given something and had been hurt once too often so I accepted the gift with caution.

 

Paul concludes his discussion about how we are “put right” with GOD. He refutes those who try hard to follow the letter of the Law but fail to see the heart of the Law. He states that every human, Jew or Gentile, has the same requirement, namely to believe.

 

GOD wants me to have faith that HE took care of all my sins.

GOD wants me to have faith versus trying harder to please HIM.

GOD wants me to have faith in JESUS so HE will give me the HOLY SPIRIT who will guide me to joyfully follow the Law.

 

Doing right does not save me eternally. Only belief in JESUS does that. But there are times when things go wrong that scare me straight. I then try hard to “please” GOD by quitting certain sins temporarily. GOD sees through the ploy and forgives me for trying to manipulate HIM.

 

GOD wants my whole heart, not just the scared one. HE wants me to praise HIM when things are going well and when they are not. HE desires that I choose to follow HIM versus being coerced. “MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light” HE says to me. I am grateful GOD has taken care of everything so I can rest in HIM.

 

Are you scared?

Are you trying hard to make GOD do something and missing out on praising HIM for what HE is doing?

Will you praise GOD for what HE has done and is doing in your life and turn away from your complaining spirit today?

Truth of Being Good

Mark 14: ²⁷ Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

‘I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep will be scattered.’

²⁸ “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

²⁹ Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.”

³⁰ Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

³¹ But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

And they all said likewise.

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Giving up the clubbing lifestyle was pretty drastic for me. With my renewed faith, I vowed to leave the “hanging out” scene alone. Weeks passed and I was doing pretty good then one person asked, “Do you want to come out with us?” I was single and there were going to be a bunch of women and booze there. “Yes!” I answered, knowing the crowd.

• There have been times I have tried to be good and failed.
• There have been times when I told GOD, “I am not going to ever do ‘that’ again” and did “that” hours later.
• There have been times when I hid my relationship with CHRIST.

JESUS points out the main reason HE became a human, namely to die for our sins. HE tells the disciples that they would deny HIM just like everyone in the world. HE knew the poison racing through their veins causes every human to sin and there was no exception.

• GOD says to me “I know your ways and I forgive you.”
• GOD says to me “I understand how you were made and I love you.”
• GOD says to me “I know the struggles you go through and I have a wonderful plan for you, plans to grow you for the good of the kingdom.”

In the middle of my sin CHRIST died for me. HE doesn’t stop me from sinning rather HE allows me to go right ahead and sin my brains out and turns right around and says “you are forgiven.” HE then draws me to HIM rather than pushing me away. HE comforts me when I do not deserve comforting and heals me when I make the wounds. My good can never match HIS love for me.

• Do you think you are good?
• Do you beat yourself up for your good being faulty?
• Can you stop thinking you goodness can save you and look to CHRIST who has truly taken care of it all for you?

Think Like One

Matthew 27: ⁶² The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. ⁶³ “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ ⁶⁴ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

⁶⁵ “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

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“What will I say to them” ran through my mind. I thought up my “story” and worked it out in my mind. When I told the person what had “happened” they began to question and I had no good answers. My lie had not gone that far.

• There were times when I lied to cover myself.
• There were times when I made up stories just to be seen in a good light.
• There were times when I tried to get others to say a lie with me.

Unfortunately for the Pharisees and chief priests, they were thinking like liars and thieves. They thought they could cover their murder by sealing the grave. They even agreed on their lie. GOD saw it all.

• GOD wants me to tell the truth even when it hurts me.
• GOD wants me to not hide my sin so others can be healed.
• GOD wants me to stop being a fraudulent religious person and be transparent.

What good is it to be evil and attend church regularly? I mean on the outside I may look good, BUT GOD sees my heart. HE knows when I am covering something up and will not stand for it. “Every hidden thing will come to light” GOD says, so it is better to bring my sins to the surface than have GOD expose them in a more difficult way.

• Are you covering something up?
• Do you think your lie is not going to be found out?
• Will you stop hiding your sin and confess it so GOD can use it for good?

Dilemma Answers

Matthew 21: ²³ Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

²⁴ Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ²⁵ John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ²⁶ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

²⁷ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

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“Have the answer before you ask the question” was the advice of the person who seemingly had “made it.” I tried it and I could suddenly tell when a person was lying. He then told me I could use this as an advantage to put people in a dilemma they could not get out of.” Hmm, this may be a good idea” I thought to myself.

• There were times I listened to hear what politics were being played.
• There were times I tried to hear words so I could have a better political stance.
• There were times I would collect my position way before I met with “that” person.

Twisted thinking brings out twisted words. Trying to “think ahead” of GOD is very impossible, but that is what the Pharisees were trying to do. They tried to twist JESUS’s words against HIM so their questions were well thought out for their advantage.

JESUS saw right through their twisted plot and did not answer their question. HE knew they were not “with” HIM rather their questions were only collecting evidence against HIM.

• GOD wants me to ask questions that come from HIS words.
• GOD wants me to ask questions that inspire people to love HIM.
• GOD wants me to ask questions that enable people to be drawn to HIS love, not repel them.

Twisting words and acting political is not trait of GOD and HE doesn’t like it when I am trying to do the same. HE wants me to hold onto the truth HE gives me and then I don’t have to twist or mince words. HE leads me to a place that leads others to HIM.

• Are you twisting words for your gain?
• Are you manipulating the situation for yourself?
• Can you stop your political thinking and start bringing people to GOD today?