Forbidden Fruit
Opening Prayer
Lord, I surrender my temptations before you today and believe Your promise to always provide me with a way out (1 Cor. 10:13)
Read Genesis 3:1-13
[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. [7] Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. [8] Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. [9] But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” [10] He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” [11] And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” [12] The man said, “The woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” [13] Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
In what ways does the deceiver tempt you today?Have you ever seen a lush patch of lawn that looked enticing to your bare feet, but was marked with a sign saying “DO NOT WALK ON THE GRASS?” That’s how it must have felt to the first man and woman in the Garden. Why would God place a tree in their home with a prohibition attached? Surely the Lord knew beforehand that this was a recipe for disaster. The tree brought home the reality that they must choose- God as king or self-rule.Ours is a God who desires to be with us in relationship. He gives us freedom to choose him and to live in obedience. It is our decision whether we give Him our love freely and follow His ways or turn and walk away. We cannot have true love and commitment without free choice. God, in His desire to be in an authentic love relationship with us was willing to let humankind face the consequences of our disobedience and sinfulness, even if it ultimately led to a rift that can only be healed through the sacrifice of His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.Have you ever seen a lush patch of lawn that looked enticing to your bare feet, but was marked with a sign saying “DO NOT WALK ON THE GRASS?” That’s how it must have felt to the first man and woman in the Garden. Why would God place a tree in their home with a prohibition attached? Surely the Lord knew beforehand that this was a recipe for disaster.
The tree brought home the reality that they must choose- God as king or self-rule.Ours is a God who desires to be with us in relationship. He gives us freedom to choose him and to live in obedience. It is our decision whether we give Him our love freely and follow His ways or turn and walk away. We cannot have true love and commitment without free choice. God, in His desire to be in an authentic love relationship with us was willing to let humankind face the consequences of our disobedience and sinfulness, even if it ultimately led to a rift that can only be healed through the sacrifice of His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Apply
Think about your words and actions that may be causing the Lord distress and ask for self-control when facing temptation.
Closing prayer
Father, I marvel at your continued patience with me and choose my relationship with You above all else.
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