january 2nd...

Genesis 3-4

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The creation story continues. The plot thickens. Creation is “very good”. Enter in choice. God gave us free will -- the ability to choose. And there was a choice to be made – a choice that came down to trusting God and being obedient or not trusting God and being disobedient.

Read Deuteronomy 30:19 and Psalms 1:1-6. Just like Cain and Abel, we have the choice between blessings and curses … life and death. The question is, “Do we trust God enough to obey Him?” Eve had a choice, but she allowed herself to get distracted. She listened to the deception of the devil, and he convinced her that God was trying to keep something awesome from her. Cain had a choice, but instead he put himself at the center of his own universe. He took things into his own hands and did not trust God. God warned him that “sin was crouching at his door.”

Where are you today? Are you trying to trust God and obey Him or are you listening to the deceptions of the devil? Are you distracted? Have you bought into the lie that says that Christianity is boring or restrictive and keeps you from the awesome things in life? Is God trying to warn you that sin is crouching at your door? It comes down to relationship -- a personal relationship with God where you learn to trust Him. And once you trust Him, obedience follows. Not as a way to earn your way to heaven, but as a natural response to someone you love and trust. It is a natural response because as you increase in your relationship with Him, you will return to your original image – one that is His. You have a choice. What will you choose … blessings or curses … life or death?

questions to consider:

what if man or woman weren't created deviant?

what if our real problem is that we're created needy?

what if our real foul up is that we are always seeking to fulfill our needs... and we choose the wrong way sometimes?

what if God has provided all our needs, and our "sin" (breaking God's commands) is trying to fulfill ourselves in ways that God did not create us for?

what if breaking those commands don't just mess up our spiritual connection with our creator, but decrease the quality of our life, and to those around us as well?

what if sin is as much about hurting us as it is about hurting God?

go back and read the story again...

some of those statements above could be wrong...

leave a comment if you want to share your thoughts.