Everyone loves a good story. That is why we spend a great deal of money on movies and books. It is why we subscribe to podcasts, blogs, etc. We want to know about the difficulties others go through, what happened, and how it all ended. We feel a little bit connected knowing we are not alone in our troubles, right?
The Bible is filled with many, many stories. Some with good endings and some with not-so-good endings. When we learn these stories, we can learn more about God. We can learn from stories what we are to do and not do. We can use these stories to share with others. We can also see how the stories apply to our own lives.
The first story in the Bible is the creation and downfall of man. Genesis 1-4 tells us God created man and woman; they disobeyed Him and were punished. After that, their son, Cain killed his brother due to jealousy. So many lessons from God in these four chapters! Read through them and pray for understanding and direction.
SCRIPTURE:
Genesis 2:7, 22 “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person…Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.” (NLT)
ACTION STEPS:
1. Write about the reason God created us.
2. List what ways these people sinned against God.
3. Look at your life and see if there is any unconfessed sin.
4. Remember that with sin comes consequences.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank You for the story of how you created man and woman. Help us to see in these four chapters of Genesis what you want us to do. Help us remember that there are consequences for our sin. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
REMEMBER:
Genesis 2:15-17 “The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.’” (HCSB)
James 1:15 “Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death” (CSB)
Genesis 3:3-5 “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.’ ‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” (NIV)
FOCUS:
2 Corinthains 11:3 “But I am afraid that your minds will be led away from your true and pure following of Christ just as Eve was tricked by the snake with his evil ways.” (NCV)