# 44 Nothing But the Blood Of Jesus

The Book of Genesis Day 44 Ge 3:21 Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. Adam and Eve, with their flimsy little wilting fig leaves are in need of a greater covering for their sin, and God provides it! I wonder how many times this story is read and the importance of the material of these God-provided coverings is missed? “God made tunics of skin,” Where did He get them from? Some animal had to die. Blood had to be shed, and we get the first glimpse of what it will take to “cover” (forgive) sins. Throughout the Old Testament we read of the importance of blood and how it relates to God’s covenant of forgiveness. When Abraham covenanted with God, a heifer, a goat, and a ram were sacrificed. When Moses had spoken the commandments to the people, he took the blood of calves and goats and sprinkled the book and the people themselves saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” (Ex 24:8) According to the Law, all sins are cleansed with blood! Heb 9:22 says, “ And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission”. Then of course we have the ultimate shedding of blood of Christ in the New Testament. Heb 9:12-14 says, “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? With this simple act of providing blood bought clothing for Adam and Eve, they are assured that God has forgiven their sins. They can walk away with clear consciences, free to serve the living God, as they have been purged from their dead works (sins) The offer is extended to you and I even today. Christ shed His blood for your sins, allow God to dress you and your children in His skin! Put on His robe of righteousness, (Jesus Christ) and be saved! The Bible says in Ga 3:27, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” And, in Mr 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Reflect: Do you have a favorite piece of clothing you wear that has seen its better days? Have you any clothing made of leather? Even leather eventually wears out. Adam and Eve’s garments were temporary as were all the Old Testament sacrifices. In light of that fact, how is the sacrifice of Jesus different? God provided coverings for Adam and Eve, according to Gal 3:27, how does He provide covering for us? Pray: Father, thank You for the reminder that our sins are not covered by anything we do, all our righteousnesses (good works) are as flimsy, wilting, fig leaves and won’t stand on the Last Day! Thank You for the everlasting covering of our sins given to us through Jesus Christ. Amen

# 43 That Gal Who Got Us Kicked Out Of the Garden

The Book of Genesis Day 43 Ge 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. Adam was good at naming things. If you recall, God had entrusted him with naming all the animals, and Adam had initially named Eve “woman,” because she was taken out of man. (Gen 2:23) Now, after the Fall, Adam gives her a more specific name…..”Eve” which is Hebrew for “life,” or “living.” Obviously Adam had picked up on what God had said to the serpent and the Woman, and came up with the idea of naming her “Eve” or “life!” This name was very fitting for her in her role as childbearer, and you can sense the future hope that Adam places in her through the promised Seed (Capital S, Jesus) who would be the ultimate giver of eternal life! In giving her a new name, we are reminded again that “naming” something in God’s creation indicates lordship over that which is named, and this backs up what was just said in verse 16, “, “And he shall rule over you." Now before any of you guys decide to gloat over this role, I want you to consider how Adam named Eve. He didn’t call her “The Woman Who Ruined Everything,” or “The Gal Who Got Us Kicked Out Of The Garden,” No, when the dust had settled after the initial confrontation with God, he called her “life” or “living.” Out of her would come the Seed that would crush the real troublemaker….the serpent. The title “Eve” is one of great honor, and men we must learn from this as well. 1Pe 3:7 says, “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” The idea of the “weaker vessel” here is the vessel that is precious! No room for strong arm tactics in that description! Rather, men ought to be like Adam who clearly regarded Eve with love, tenderness, and awe! Ought we not do the same? Reflect: Adam was good at naming things, what are you good at? Have you any nicknames? How did you come by your nickname? Was there any negativity in Adam naming Eve? What kind of responsibilities come with lordship? Pray: Father, thank You for this example given to us by Adam. Help us to seek ways to love and tenderly treat those you have entrusted to us. Amen

# 42 You Gotta Pull Them Weeds

The Book of Genesis Day 42 Ge 3:17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return." As God cursed the serpent, he now curses the ground. Henceforth it will be hemmed in with the obstacles of thorns and thistles. The ground, and it’s fertility will have limitations. Thorns, thistles, weeds, blight, will battle Adam and mankind. They will steal and overtake his crop and he will have to sweat to put food on the table. God makes no bones about this curse, it is placed on the ground of the earth as a direct result of Adam’s sin. The ground which had been fertile and easy to work with will now resist Adam, and Adam will not have rest from his toil until he dies, and, ironically, returns to the very dust that he has battled. Sinful, contaminated man dies and returns to dust and simply adds to the contamination. Sin has entered the world through one man and death through sin, and this death spread to all men, and all creation! But praise be to God! For as by one man’s disobedience all were made sinners, so also by one man’s obedience, (namely the Lord Jesus Christ) many will be made righteous. So that as sinned reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord! Those words inspired by the Holy Spirit in Romans 5:12ff speak of the overturning of the curse of the ground. Yes, because of Adam’s sin, the earth will grow old like a garment, but thanks to Jesus, like a new cloak, the earth and the heavens will be changed. Creation and redeemed man will once again be clothed in His incorruptible robe of righteousness. The ground was cursed for Adam’s sake, and when you think about it, this was necessary because it would not do for sinful man to have dominion over holy soil, and because of that curse, creation itself groans and labors eagerly awaiting the Day of our Lord’s return. (Rom 8:22) In that Day, the war between man and the ground and all of creation will be over. It will be a return to the tending and keeping of the garden rather than the toil and sweating brought on by sin. Reflect: What is your experience with gardening? Have you ever experienced the loss of a crop because it was overwhelmed with weeds? What must you do to prevent the loss of your crop? Do you see the connection between weeds and sin in your life? What must you do to stay on top of the situation? Pray: Father, thank you for this reminder of the effects of sin. Help us to stay on top of our own daily battles through confession, repentance, and faith in Jesus. We look forward to the Day. When the battle will be over!

# 41 Man Up!

The Book of Genesis Day 41 Ge 3:17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Now, it’s Adam’s turn. Let’s look at the charges against him. He is charged with “heeding” the voice of his wife, and eating of what God told him not to eat. Why bring in the part about heeding the wife’s voice? Well, to “heed” is to obey, and Adam had a choice here to obey God or his wife, and he chose the latter, in so doing he abdicated his responsibility as the spiritual head of the household. It was Adam’s responsibility to draw the line on sin! Men, let’s be spiritual leaders in our households. Let’s get a good understanding of what constitutes sin, and pass that along to those under our spiritual care. We need to learn how to handle sin when it pops up in our family. Let’s teach by God’s Word and by the example of a life touched by the grace of God through Jesus! Let’s lay the Law down when we have to and be ready to apply grace and forgiveness as well. Let’s always be willing to “hear” our wives and children, but not “heed” them, when their words and actions fly in the face of God’s Word. Like it or not spiritual leadership is our responsibility. “For the husband is head of the wife,” (Eph 5:23) and “you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph 6:4) Martin Luther had a great handle on this God-ordained responsibility. At the head of each section of his catechism, dealing with such subjects as the Ten Commandments, the Creeds, and the Lord’s Prayer, and others, he specifically states, “As the head of the household shall teach it.” Men, stop shirking your God-given charge. Teach and lead your household with the love and grace of Christ. God has supplied the manual (the Bible) and the Holy Spirit to help……..start today! Reflect: Recount a time when you did not “heed” your father? What happened? What’s the difference between “heeding” and “hearing.” How does this portion of Scripture clarify the woman’s charge to “submit” to her husband? What can a man do to get started on the responsibilities of being the head of the household? Pray: Lord I pray that men would get a right understanding of their roles as spiritual heads of the household. Help men everywhere to know when to apply Law and when to apply grace. Amen

# 40 Where the Buck Stops

The Book of Genesis Day 40 Ge 3:16 To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." God’s judgment against Eve continues. Even though childbirth will bring great pain, she will have a tremendous attraction to her husband. The word “desire” here is found in the Old Testament three times. It means “stretching out after, a yearning, a longing. The Song of Solomon mentions this desire in Song 7:10, “I am my beloved's, And his desire is toward me.” Perhaps an even greater example of the intensity of this desire is found in Ge 4:7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." In this passage God warns Cain to rule over the desire that sin had for him. I don’t think I have to tell you how strong that desire is in our own lives, because temptation to sin is an almost constant companion longing to hold us captive. Oh, how it yearns to make us its own. Well, that’s the same kind of desire that God has placed in a woman’s heart for her husband. She will desire to “own” her husband, but God says in His very next breath, “sorry, Eve, but He shall rule over you.” What kind of “rule” are we talking about? The word “rule” here is the same word ascribed to the sun’s “rule” over daytime, and the kind of “rule” that Cain was supposed to exercise over sin. He was supposed to have the last say in the matter, and that’s the way it is for husbands and their role as spiritual heads of the household. The buck stops with them! This whole arrangement was set forth on this day when God judged Eve for her sin and is mentioned again in Eph 5:22,23, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body”. Yes, the buck stops with men, but how we spend that buck matters to God! He says this: in Eph 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,” and in 1Pe 3:7, “ Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” Reflect: Have you ever “yearned” for a glass of lemonade, tea, or soft drink on a hot day? What other kind of yearnings have you experienced? Is it easy or difficult to subdue these yearnings? Wives: How might you work out Eph 5:22 in your marriage? Husbands: How might you work out Eph 5:25? Pray: Father, Help us to overcome any yearnings that are contrary to Your Word, and help us to assume our roles in marriage in accordance with You

# 39 Childbirth and the Death and Resurrection of Jesus

The Book of Genesis Day 39 Ge 3:16 To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." Let’s keep talking about the pangs of childbirth today. Eve was told that she would have multiple conceptions and difficult labor in bringing forth children. Of course, not all women will be gifted with “multiplied conceptions,” but all women will travail in the process of giving birth. Jesus talked about this in Joh 16:21,22, "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 "Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” Imagine that! Jesus is speaking about His crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. His disciples were going to experience great child-birthing like sorrow as He was taken away from them, arrested, beaten, humiliated, and crucified. This sorrow (anguish) would be intensely felt, and Jesus likened it to the pangs of childbirth. This anguish would be felt until they realized that He came forth from the tomb in resurrection glory, victorious over death! Then the joy would overwhelm them in the same way that a mother is overwhelmed with joy when her child is delivered! Anguish replaced with unspeakable joy! Do you see the picture of our Lord’s suffering and resurrection that is painted for us with the birth of every child? Do you see that only the woman is allowed to fully experience this in childbirth? Only a woman can fully grasp how it was for these early disciples! The death and resurrection of Jesus is like the physical occurrences at the birth of a child! The earth shook as the stone was rolled away bringing forth the new life of our resurrected Lord! The pangs and tremors of labor mirroring that earthquake as new life is brought forth from the womb. It was the sin of woman (Eve) that made it necessary for our Lord to suffer and die, yet even in the pain of childbirth, she will experience the sweet release of new life like no other, and in a way no man could ever dream of. No wonder 1Ti 2:15 says, “Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.” It’s not child-bearing that saves her, it is the picture of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it is the death and resurrection of Jesus that saves if she continues in the faith! Reflect What do you know about childbirth? What advantage does a woman have over a man in the lessons of childbirth? Jesus told His disciples that upon His emergence from the grave, His disciples would have joy that can never be taken away from them. How does that kind of joy relate to childbirth? Pray: Lord, thank You for this picture of the death and resurrection that is played out thousands of times every day. May we rejoice in the birth of children and remember that by faith in Your death and resurrection we have joy that can never be taken away!

# 38 Worry: The Companion of Mothers

The Book of Genesis Day 38 Ge 3:16 To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." Now God passes judgment on Eve, and this judgment has been experienced by all women ever since the fall. Men do not experience the pain of childbirth. Men know nothing of the labor of bringing forth a child. But there is more going on here than birth pangs! First of all, God promises Eve that she will have many children, (multiplied conceptions) and these children will be the source of “multiplied sorrow”. The word “sorrow” here, literally means “worrisomeness.” This is a maternal curse for all time! Mothers worry about their children, and the more children they have, the more they will worry. Fathers worry about their children too, but not in the same way that the mother does. There is not one area of that child’s life that doesn’t cause the mother to worry. She worries from conception on about her child, and that child’s future. Think about the worries of Eve as she saw the potential for conflict between Cain and Abel. How she must have worried about Cain as he was sent packing by God after slaying his brother. Think about Mary, the mother of Jesus and all the worries she had concerning Jesus. It’s interesting to note that the King James version of the Bible says, “ I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children;” “Sorrow” shows up twice here. This is significant in that it shows the depth of worry that the mother carries in her heart for her children. Her worries (first use of the word sorrow) are as sharp and as real as the physical pangs (second use of the word “sorrow”) of childbirth itself! Fathers and husbands would do well to remember the depth of the worries of the mother regarding her children, and learn to respond accordingly. These “pangs” of worries of motherhood drive mothers to their knees to pray for their children. They look to the Lord, pleading for their children on every occasion. I remember a song by Phillips, Craig, and Dean that came out in 1992, and the chorus went like this: Mama liked to burn the midnight oil down on her knees in prayer If you asked her why she did it, she said she did it because she cared. Now mama always talked to Jesus , when she knelt by her rocking chair Oh I’m glad my mama was willin’, to burn the midnight oil in prayer. Mothers worry! It is their lot, but God has provided the gift of prayer to help all mothers for all time. Ps 55:22 says, “ Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Reflect: Here’s a classic line that speaks of the maternal curse of worry. “Be sure to put on clean underwear in case you’re in an accident.” What kind of things did your mother say to you, that speak of her worries? If you are a mother, what kind of things do you worry about for your children. If not yet a parent, what kind of things do you think you would worry about for your children? Do you beat yourself up over your constant worrying or do you embrace God’s advice for dealing with it? (See Ps 55:22, 1 Pet 5:7) Pray: Father, thank You for Your help in dealing with our anxieties for our children. Let us learn to pray for our children knowing that You love them even more than we do!

# 37 No Sitting On the Fence

The Book of Genesis Day 37 Ge 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." Why can’t we just get along with the devil, his demons, and his human pawns? Because God has not set it up that way. We are told here that henceforth God will array hostility between the two forces in this world. One force is all that belongs to the devil, his seed (demons and unregenerated man) The other force is the capital “S” Seed of the woman, namely Jesus and all who acknowledge Him as God! There is no getting around this arrangement. This is how God has set it up! Stop thinking that you can sit on the fence on this one. Jesus Himself would say in Mt 12:30 "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” And even more to the point, Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. It’s not “all roads lead to God” as some would preach and believe, there is only one way! This insistence on only one way to eternal life through the Seed (Jesus) is the flashpoint for all hostility between the two forces. Joshua, challenged the people this way: "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." ( Jos 24:15) What’s it going to be for you? Who will you serve, the devil and his seed, or the Seed of the woman, Jesus Christ? Before you make that choice consider the rest of this passage. The devil and his seed will nip at the heels of Jesus and His followers. He will make life rough for Jesus (and he did, all the way to the cross) and life will be rough for the Seed’s followers as well. Joh 16:33 says, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." This is an undisputable fact. But pay attention to what the Seed will do to the devil and his followers: “He will bruise his head!” This is a fatal blow! A blow that was guaranteed when Jesus rose from the dead! The point simply put is this: Though the followers of Jesus may have it rough in their earthly life, in the end……they win! And the victory is enjoyed forever and ever. This too, is an indisputable fact! Reflect: Children often play games involving “choosing sides” How did that work for you? Have you ever felt persecuted because of your faith? Insisting Jesus is the “only way,” will bring persecution, how is Mt 5:10-12, helpful in the face of persecution? Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Pray: Father, help me to remain steadfast in the faith, looking only to the finished work of Jesus on the cross for my salvation.

# 36 Hemmed In With Obstacles

The Book of Genesis Day 36 Ge 3:14 So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life." The blaming has been done, the confessions have taken place and now God metes out His judgment. He starts with the serpent, “you are cursed, (the word in the Hebrew language means to be hemmed in with obstacles) “you are hemmed in with obstacles more than all the cattle and more than the beast of the field.” Henceforth the serpent would have to get around without any legs. In addition, this curse would literally make it eat dust, which is a sign of humiliation! Every time you and I look at a snake we should consider this curse, remembering that at one time snakes were able to get around in a much more dignified manner! That’s what sin does to you! It destroys your dignity! It hems us in with obstacles, preventing us from being all we were created to be! Then there’s the matter of dust. Dust should make us think of death, for dead things return to dust, and the ultimate result of sin is death! Snakes are a forever picture of the effects of sin, namely death and undignified living. No wonder most people have a natural aversion to them! Reflect: What’s the most “undignified” thing that has happened to you? How do you feel about snakes? In what ways does sin cripple? According to Rom 6:23, what’s the difference between a “snake” life and a “God” life? Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Pray: Father, nature teaches us many things, help us to learn from observing the snake. Help us to turn from hemmed in living to living free in Christ Jesus. Amen

# 35 The Blame Game

The Book of Genesis Day 35 Ge 3:12 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." And the blame game begins! I remember when my children were very young. My oldest decided it would be neat to write all over one of our apartment walls. My wife and I obviously knew that he was the culprit because our one year old was not into writing letters of the alphabet or even climbing onto chairs in order to get high enough to do the writing. But, rather than accusing him, we just asked the question, “Who’s been writing on the wall?” You already know his answer don’t you? It was, “that sister you gave me!” Where did he learn to do that? Where did he learn to blame others for his sin at such an early age? Same place you and I learned it…..from Adam and Eve. It’s called original sin and it’s in our genes! Just listen to these people! God asks Adam, “Did you eat from the tree?” Adam replies, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” Then God turned to Eve, “What have you done?” and she says, “yes, I ate of the fruit, but it was the serpents fault, he deceived me!” The “blame game”, as you can see has been around for quite some time. It’s like an oral fig leaf! We will do almost anything to avoid admitting we are wrong. It seems we are always really good at blaming our parents and the society that they created for our sins. “No wonder I drink, no wonder I am a striker, it was those parents you gave me!” While it’s true that society and parents have an influence on our behavior, let’s stop playing the blame game! Did you sin or not? If you did, stop blaming others. Instead, confess, agree that you have sinned. Then claim the promise of God that He will forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn 1:9) No sin has ever been removed by shifting the blame. Reflect: Have you ever sought to shift the blame away from one of your mistakes at home? School? Work place? Have you ever spoken poorly of others in order to make yourself look good? What kind of behaviors seem to get passed down from our parents. Do you have a choice in how you behave? Pray: Father, I am so quick to point fingers at others. Help me to own up to my own shortcomings, and seek Your forgiveness when I fail.

# 34 It's Called Conviction Of Sin

The Book of Genesis Day 34 Ge 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? Adam and Eve have defied God and tasted of the forbidden fruit. God had told them from the get go, that if they ate of it they would die, then they heard the sound of God walking in the garden. “Gulp!” What would you do? I know I’d be hanging on to my fig leaf for dear life and looking for someplace to hide! Then God calls to Adam. “Adam, where are you?” The first of many all knowing God questions in the Bible. Why does God ask these questions if He is omniscient? In this case, He asks Adam because Adam needed to stop and consider where he was. God asks us these questions because he wants us to learn from our answers. Adam needed to stop and consider where he was in his relationship with God. He needed some self-examination! What happened that his relationship with God had changed from perfect love to abject fear? Adam is dazed and confused at this point. He really can’t explain things, only that He heard God’s voice, and became fearful because he was naked, and so he hid. He knows something is wrong with his relationship with God, but he hasn’t connected it yet to his disobedience. So God connects the dots for him. It’s called conviction!. “Have you eaten from the tree I told you not to eat from?” (Which is really another way of saying, “Have you sinned?”) It’s a question God brings to every person who is out of fellowship with Him. I’m speaking to those of you reading this now who know something is wrong with your life. God did not intend for you to live in fearful hiding from Him! How long will you continue the charade? How long will you try to hide from an all-knowing God? He knows your sin, and deep down inside, you know it too! Stop trying to cover it with your flimsy little fig leaves of good works and excuses. They will not restore your fearless intimacy with God. Rather, admit “against You alone have I sinned O Lord,” and then turn to Jesus, so named because He shall save us from our sins.! Reflect: Have you ever been frightened by a sound? How were your fears relieved? How would you describe your relationship with God? Is it fear based or love based? What can we do to move toward a more love based relationship? Why is it important to have both a healthy fear and a healthy love of God? Pray: Lord, grant to me a healthy fear and love of You. Thank You for the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit, help me to be open to correction, and trust in Your loving forgiveness, that I may repent of my sins and walk in fellowship with You! .

# 33 Shrouded Intimacy

The Book of Genesis Day 33 Ge 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. Adam and Eve have now both tasted of the fruit. They now have intimate knowledge of what is good and what is evil. The Law of God has entered the DNA of mankind, and it is written on the hearts of every conceived human being. Ro 2:15 gives mention of this fact: “who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)” What’s the first thing that their eyes notice, that they had never paid much attention to before? They look at their reproductive organs, which, when you think about it, serve as a picture of intimacy or a joining together of two human beings. So this nibbling of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil has somehow revealed to Adam and Eve that intimacy has been tainted. Perfect intimacy with each other has become soiled, and perfect intimacy with God has been marred. What to do? How about covering up these symbols with fig leaves. Perhaps then the imperfections won’t be noticed, and you know, out of sight and out of mind, and we can just continue living as we were before we sinned. This whole scenario is so sad. Adam and Eve were living in a world with perfect intimacy with God, each other, and nature, and now it’s all gone! Maybe, with these coverings on, they might still be able to dwell in intimacy, but alas, perfect intimacy is now shrouded.. You know, we try to do the same thing even today. We go through all sorts of exercises to cover our sins and we think somehow that it’s possible to have “partial intimacy” with God. But Isa 59:2 reminds us: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear”. We justify our sins, we try to make up for them by being a “good” person in other areas of our lives, but we need to stop kidding ourselves. Intimacy with a holy God can only be restored through a complete absence of sin, and complete absence of sin or righteousness can only be imparted by grace through faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ! Fig leaves won’t cut it on judgment Day, only the robe of the righteousness of Christ will suffice. Ro 13:14 says, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” We put on the robe of Christ when we are baptized, Ga 3:27 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” And we keep Him on through enduring faith! Reflect: Have you ever had an epic fail when trying to patch something up? In what ways do you see people, (maybe even yourself) trying to cover sins? Speaking of heaven, the Apostle Paul writes in 1Co 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.This speaks of restored perfect intimacy. What would be” heavenly” about that? Pray: Father, thank you for the gift of Jesus and the promise of restored intimacy. Forgive us when we sin, and convict us of any and all attempts to cover our sin apart from the death and resurrection of Your Son and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen

# 32 Peer Pressure

The Book of Genesis Day 32 Ge 3:6b, “ She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. So, how did Adam get sucked into this? The Bible doesn’t say much about Adam’s involvement. We are told here that he merely was “with her and he ate.” We get a little more of the story in Ge 3:17a: “ Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': Here we find that Eve audibly asked Adam to partake of the fruit. And in 1Ti 2:14, we see that Adam was not tempted one on one by the serpent, “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” Perhaps we can say that even Eve didn’t try to delude, deceive, or trick Adam into eating it. She just invited him to try it, and he did. Was Adam with Eve when the serpent tempted her? Was he Evesdropping? (Pun intended) We really don’t know, the timing of this event is not included in the narrative, and it would be foolish on our part to speculate. One thing we do know, Eve had already “fallen into transgression.” She was up to her nostrils in sin, and have you ever noticed that people caught up in sin, will try to get you caught up in it as well? Call it peer pressure if you will, but you’ll see it in the bars and at parties where alcohol and drugs are available. You’ll see it in sexual promiscuity, you’ll experience it when filling out your taxes, or pilfering supplies at work, “C’mon, everyone else is doing it!” It’s like, if we can get others to sin with us, it won’t be so bad. This “peer pressure” is as old as the hills. The writer of Proverbs tells us in the very first chapter, “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.”(verse 1) ; “Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse" –“ (verse 14) “My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path;” (Verse 15) And in Ps 1:1 we read, “ Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners,” How about that! The first words of the Psalms, and the first chapter of the Book of Proverbs, deal with this subject and warn us against yielding to the social pressure to sin. Seems to me, this is rather important stuff. Knowing the pressure to sin will come from all quarters, (even your closest friends) and knowing the place God gives this topic in His Word will help you to resist when the pressure is applied to you! Pray the Holy Spirit will give you the will to resist when those temptations come your way. Reflect: Give some examples of peer pressure that you experienced when you were young. Give some examples of peer pressure that you have recently experienced. What are some ways to handle peer pressure? Memorize Pr 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. Pray: God, forgive me for the times I have put the pressure on others to join in my sin, and give me the strength to resist the temptations of society whenever they come my way. Thank You for forgiving me when I fail.

# 31 The Surest Defense Against Temptation

The Book of Genesis Day 31 Ge 3:4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Satan not only assures Eve she will not die if she eats of the fruit, (for he is a liar and the father of it Jn 8:44) but tells her that God only placed that warning on the fruit so He can have all of its benefits to Himself! He convinces Eve that by tasting the fruit she will be like God, knowing good and evil! Hmmmmm, what a deal! Eve then tosses a few things around in her mind before she eats of the fruit. #1. “It sure seems like it would be good for me.” That is what 1 Jn 2:16 calls “the lust of the flesh.” “ For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world”. #2. “It’s very pleasant to my eyes.” John calls that, “the lust of the eyes.” #3. “This would make me as wise as God!” and the Holy Spirit, speaking through John calls that “the pride of life.” Why is this important to know? It’s important because these are the three basic temptations we will face in the world. Satan used the same three angles to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. #1. He said, “turn these stones into bread,” appealing to the yearnings of the flesh #2 “See the kingdoms of the world I will give them to you.” Appealing to the lust of the eyes. #3. “Throw yourself off this temple and don’t crash land! Show the people in spectacular fashion that You are God!” Appealing to pride. Jesus answered all three times with this simple statement. “It is written!” and then quoted appropriate Scripture! If Eve would’ve only remembered that response, paradise wouldn’t have been lost. The devil: “This fruit seems good to eat Eve.” Eve: “It is written, you shall not eat of this tree.” Devil: “This fruit is pleasing to the eyes.” Eve: “It is written, don’t eat of this tree.: Devil: “This tree will make you wise.” Eve: “I don’t care what you say it will do, it is written, do not eat of this tree.!” That’s all she had to remember, and she couldn’t do it! Well, the Book has certainly gotten bigger since the days of Adam and Eve and there are a lot more things that have been written concerning how we are to live God-pleasing lives. That’s why it is so important that you and I get familiar with the Word of God and “what is written.” Because temptations will come to our flesh, our eyes, and our egos, and we need to be ready for them. Ps 119:11says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!” And when we fail, as Eve did, remember it is written in 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Reflect: What are some things (other than verses from the Bible) that you know by heart? Do you know any Bible verses by heart? How would memorization of key verses help you in your Christian life? Pray: Father, Your Word is indeed a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Help us to have the discipline to spend more time in Your Word storing it up for our time of need. Amen. Amen.

# 30 Beware of Man-made Rules

The Book of Genesis Day 30 Ge 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 "but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" As I read this, I can’t help but wonder if Eve has been skipping her morning devotions! Either that, or Adam has been remiss in his duty as spiritual head of the household! It seems that God’s Word concerning the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil has become a bit muddled, or a vague recollection to Eve. Note what she says concerning God’s rule about the tree. She doesn’t even mention it by name! It has become a tree somewhere in the “midst of the garden.” Notice too, that she has added to the command of the Lord. God never told Adam that he could not touch the tree or the fruit. He said he could not eat of the fruit! This rule was likely added with good intentions I’m sure, after all, you can’t eat something if you don’t touch it first! It’s a safeguard right?.......Wrong! A man-made rule, cannot keep you from sinning! Only the power and grace of God can do that! Think about the effect of this man-made rule. Once Satan has convinced Eve that she will not die if she tastes of the fruit, and in fact convinced her that the fruit will be good for her, she decides to pluck one off the tree. If God had made the “no touch” rule, Eve would’ve felt some conviction before touching it, but since there was no conviction she picked the fruit. Nothing happened! Of course nothing happened! This was not God’s rule, but she thought it was, and now she was really questioning God. Why can’t I eat this? The fruit looks good for food. It certainly is pleasant to the eyes. I touched it and nothing happened……”Did God really say?” And crunch she bites into the fruit, the hook is set, and sin enters the world. Man-made rules or legalism never keep us from sinning, in fact, it’s just the opposite. They pave the way for rebellion. Let us purpose to keep God’s Word fresh in our hearts. It is the surest defense from committing the grave error of adding to it or subtracting from it! Reflect: Warning: Wet paint! Have you ever touched the paint anyway? What do you think compels us to do that? The Pharisees had 39 categories of work that was forbidden on the Sabbath, and hundreds of man made rules added to those categories. Do you think these rules helped them observe the spirit of the Sabbath? What are some man-made rules that have surfaced in the church? What’s the best way to tell the difference between “man-made” rules and God’s rules? Pray: Father, forgive us. Often in our zeal to please you and guard against sin, we add rules that You never intended. Help us to discern the difference and experience the joy and freedom that living by Your rules was meant to bring us! Amen.

#29 The Oldest Trick In the Book

The Book of Genesis Day 29 Ge 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" So here we are, man and woman, man and wife. There is no shame in their lives, no guilt, because up to this point they are without sin. We are not told how long this state lasted. We only know that it changed, and this portion of Scripture tells us how that change took place. Of all the animals in the world, that God had created, the serpent was the most cunning. By “cunning” , we mean that it was sly, smooth, subtle. The physical characteristics of a snake fit the personality of the devil and his mode of operation perfectly. It’s slithering movement on the ground speaks of smoothness and stealth. It is a very clever hunter. It disguises itself well through camouflage. ( 2Co 11:14 “For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”) Snakes have clear eyelids giving the impression of constant vigilance. (1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”) Yes, he doesn’t miss a thing, constantly observing our actions and habits, knowing our weak points and exploiting them whenever he can! How appropriate that Satan would choose the serpent to possess in order to accomplish his fiendish work of temptation with Eve. Listen to the first words that he hisses out of his mouth, “Has God indeed said you shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” With those words, he planted the seed of doubt, that great enemy of faith! This is still one of his most effective weapons against you and I as he seeks to entice us to sin against God or to keep us from stepping out in faith and doing God’s will, or to not trust God’s promises! How often has the word of the Lord come to you while reading Scripture or hearing it preached and you know God is speaking to you! He is telling you to do something, or not do something, or to trust a promise, and you walk away with good intentions, but as time goes by, you get caught up with the affairs of this life, and God’s commands and promises become distant, and suddenly Satan is right there whispering, “Did God really say?” You start to doubt, and waver. Sin follows, or a blessing is missed because you doubted God’s word! That’s why it is so important for you and I to get into the Word of God and let it get into us. We need to learn to act on it when it’s fresh, and we keep it fresh through daily meditation and prayer. When we don’t, that ever open eye of the devil sees it, and it is just a matter of time before he’ll come slithering our way hoping to trap us, entangle us, and squeeze the spiritual life right out of us! Reflect: What comes to your mind when you think of a snake? Have you ever had an encounter with a snake? When the devil tempted Jesus, what was our Lord’s response? (Mt 4:4) Do you presently have a daily time of prayer and meditation? Pray: Father God, forgive us for not spending time with You and Your Word. Help us to store up Your Word in our hearts so that we may not sin against you. Help us to be all we can be as Your children while we learn to trust and obey Your Word. Amen

# 28 The Cruel Message of Disappointment

The Book of Genesis Day 28 Ge 2: 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. From Sunday School on, we have heard these words, but not many of us stop and ponder the depth of what is being said here! Let’s try to fix that today! So, Adam and Eve are running around naked and weren’t ashamed, what’s the big deal about that? I mean, who needs modesty when there is no one else around? But listen, and this is very important, even if there were thousands of people around at this time, they would not have been ashamed! Remember, this is before sin entered their souls. The nakedness of others would not come into play because as the song goes, “I Only Have Eyes For You!”It was one man, one woman, for life! The word “ashamed” here, means “disappointed.” In this perfect world Adam and Eve were not “disappointed” with each other, but then sin came along, and man’s heart was open to the possibility of disappointment, and you begin to see why clothing was brought into the picture, lest the door to disappointment was blown off its hinges! (A good reminder to all of us to dress modestly, stop stirring up the pot of disappointment in others! This “disappointment” is the cruel message that the unfaithful spouse sends to his or her mate. “I am disappointed with you.” Can there be anything more devastating to another’s self-esteem? Every time a spouse is caught in unfaithfulness, this is screamed into the other spouses ear! Every time a spouse is caught viewing pornography, the message is megaphoned home, and every time a head is caught turning to check out someone alluring, the message is the same. “I am disappointed in you!” Do you see why Jesus said even the lustful look constitutes adultery? It gets back to the truth that the person who is your spouse was made in the image of God. God brought the two of you together and made you one in matrimony. Your marriage is God’s doing and adultery not only says “I’m disappointed in my spouse…..but I’m disappointed in God! Well, what to do? Do what you do with all other sins! Confess them, turn away from them, receive God’s forgiveness, and then like that woman caught in the act of adultery, (being a party to spousal disappointment) go, and sin no more! And what do we do for that spouse who was so deeply hurt? Ask for forgiveness, then live like you mean it. Ask God to help you get back to the original intent of this command. He meant for spouse to become one in body and mind without a thought of being disappointed with each other. Let your spouse know at every opportunity that you are not disappointed with him or her! As the Holy Spirit spoke through Paul in his letter to the Ephesians: Eph 5:28,29, “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.” Think this through! The one who commits adultery in mind or body is really saying that they are disappointed with themselves because in marriage, they have been made one with their spouse! It’s just as Solomon wrote in Prov 6:32, “ a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.” Disappointment with each other will come, and the devil is more than eager to go to work in these cases providing opportunities to express that disappointment. Let us battle through them with mutual forgiveness and a commitment to remain one. God would have it no other way! Reflect: Name one of your biggest life disappointments Have you ever experienced a disappointed look or reprimand from someone? How can this verse in Genesis help you in the way you treat your spouse? Pray: Oh God, help us! Help Your married children to stop sending this signal to each other and help us battle through the times that we fall short! Help husbands to stop sending signals that they are disappointed with their wife, and help wives stop sending signals that they are disappointed with their husband, because we are destroying ourselves and each other as we make a mockery of the institution that You love. Amen

# 27 The Wow Factor

The Book of Genesis Day 27 Ge 2:22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. I love to hear the stories of how “husbands and wives” meet. Everyone has their own unique story, but it’s usually not too difficult to see God at work in the situation. He “brings!” I met my wife to be, when I was in the Navy stationed at Great Lakes. I had a weekend pass, and went to a teen bar not far from my home in Milwaukee in Hartford, Wisconsin called Marty Zivco’s. My wife didn’t do teen bars, but on a night out with some college friends she made an exception, and the moment she walked into this very crowded dance hall, I spotted her and my heart skipped a beat! I felt a very strong attraction to her. Fifty years later, here we are, married for 47 years, and my heart still skips a beat when I see her walk into a room. I believe that God brought her to me just as sure as he brought Eve to Adam These words of Adam, are the first recorded words spoken by man. “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” These words are Old Testament talk for “Wow!” Can you catch the tone of wonderment in his words? Do you see how special she was in his eyes? “This woman came from me! She is part of me! I will treasure her, and handle her with care. I will protect her and love her as I would protect and love myself! And God replied and said, “That’s right Adam! This is the very reason that a man will leave home and be joined together in marriage with his counterpart. They will be re-joined and become one flesh again!” Adam’s rib becomes part of Adam again, and he is to ever view her as part of him. She shall become like his own flesh to him. Eph 5:28,29 puts it this way: “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.”Guys, we need to let these truths sink in! Remember the wow factor when God brought you and your wife together to meet for the first time! Then remember the reality of God-ordained marriage! The two become one flesh! Treat her as such! Cherish her, love, her, honor her, protect her, she is part and parcel of you! Reflect If you are married, recall how you and your spouse first met. How was God’s hand at work? What would change in your marriage if you both knew and believed that “the two become one?” If you’re single, how will these truths change your outlook on marriage? Pray: God, it’s a miracle, from the bringing together of male and female to the joining of the two to become one in marriage, it is something we may never fully understand, but let us acknowledge it and cherish it, till death do us part. Amen

# 26 Marriage: Treasuring and Yielding

The Book of Genesis Day 26 Ge 2:22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man Woman, made from man, and this truth is further put forth for us in 1Co 11:7-9 where we are told that a man ,”is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.” “Woman is the glory of man,” Men, we have fallen so short in this area of the treatment of the opposite sex. Woman are our glory! They are to be honored, treasured, loved to the point of us willingly laying down our lives for them as Christ laid down His life for us. Wives on the other hand, are charged with submitting to their husbands. Eph 5:22-25 says, “ Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,” When you think about it, in a perfect world, the women get the better deal in the area of responsibilities and duties, just as we got the better deal with Christ. He laid down His life for us, and only asks for our submission which we willingly give as we realize what He has done for us. (There’s a little hint for us in that statement guys) Better deal or not, Christ did not consider it robbery. He considered it the will of God and so should we, no matter what our role is as man or woman. Please note, I said “in a perfect world.” Our world is not perfect. Women rebel against submission and men rebel against sacrificial love. This rebellion is not cause for the other party to abdicate their responsibility, rather we seek to fulfill our role no matter what, and when we fall short, we confess our sin, receive God’s forgiveness and try again. It is mind boggling to think of how God can act on our behalf when we submit to His will in these matters. Submissive wives can win their husbands to Christ! 1Pe 3:1 says, “ Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,” Loving husbands can have unhindered prayers! 1Pe 3:7 says, “ Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” Our temporary obedience in the here and now can make an eternal difference in the lives of others, as souls are saved and prayers are answered! Reflect: What do you do when you come upon a traffic sign that says “yield” What does the law tell you to do? Do yhou know the difference between a vase and a vas? Quick answer is a vase is something you can buy at Hobby Lobby, a vas is something you can behold in an art museum. The essence of honoring one’s wife as the weaker vessel is to treat her and treasure her as a vas. How can one exercise yielding and treasuring in a marriage. Prayer: Father, thank You for this reminder of the roles and responsibilities of husbands and wives. Forgive us when we fail to yield. Forgive us when we fail to treasure. Help us to overcome this rebellion, that we might showcase marriage as You intended it to be!

# 25 Something To Consider In the Matter of Transgenderism

The Book of Genesis Day 25 Ge 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. There is a specialness involved in the creation of woman that we need to pursue. We pursue it because in God’s perfect world it makes women and men special to each other due to the uniqueness of God’s creative act. (Woman from man) Sin has brought rebellion into the picture and what God intended to be a beautiful special relationship in the realm of responsibilities and duties between man and woman has become tainted. We have clouded the roles of men and women in accordance with God’s design and now we wonder why all the confusion about gender identity. Often times the judgment of God comes upon us in the form of giving us what we want. A good example is when the Israelites were whining about the lack of meat, God gave them so much they choked on it! We read about it in Nu 11:19,20, 'You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 20 'but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the LORD who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, "Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?" And so in our world today, men have abdicated or abused their responsibilities, and women have overstepped their boundaries, and God says, “Do you want to confuse the roles and responsibilities that I have given you? Let me show you what that looks like,” and suddenly we are being choked with an overabundance of gender confusion. I wonder how different things might be if instead of cursing the gender confused, we might rather confess that we are the ones who began this gender confusion business with our own neglect of God’s creative order. Let us confess this sin, and seek to right the wrong as men and woman, with the help of God the Holy Spirit, once again assume their God-given roles and responsibilities. The whole basis of this man/woman relationship stems from the fact that woman was created from man. The Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Paul says in 1Co 11:3 “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” That is the order we are to portray to the world because it is to reflect the order of God to Christ and Christ to His church.To complain about it makes about as much sense as Christ complaining about the Father’s headship over Him. (By the way, that was Lucifer’s sin) On the other hand for a man to lord it over a woman because of this arrangement would be just the opposite of Christ’s example of serving, “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve! (Mt 20:28 "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Let’s stop the confusion on our own part! Let’s do what Jesus usually tells us to do when we become confused about the will of God. He said in Mt 19:8, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” Let’s go back to the beginning, and let’s reflect on this very special creative act of God, and begin anew to treat each other as God intended. Reflect: Have you ever over-indulged on something to the point that you can’t stomach the taste of it? Read Ro 1:22-26, “Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.” “God gave them up” is mentioned twice in this passage. How does that speak to you? Pray: Lord, we have sinned against you in our view and application of Your created order. We are not picturing the relationship between You and Jesus and Jesus and the church as You intended. Forgive us, and help us to gracefully return to the proper order in accordance with Your Word. Amen.

# 24 The Glory Of Man

The Book of Genesis Day 24 Ge 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. I couldn’t help but chuckle as I read this portion of Scripture. God decides to create a helpmate, a counterpart, for Adam, but before He does that, Adam has work to do. It’s work, sleep, then the woman! Sounds like the honeymoon is over hey ladies? Seriously, this is a very special moment and we need to dwell on it for a while. When God made the animals (male and female) He formed them both out of the ground. No deep sleep, no removal of a rib, just another hunk of clay. He could’ve made woman the same way as the female animals, but He didn’t! He did something very special. He took a part of the man and made it into a woman. This act speaks of a natural intimacy that remains with humankind forever. There is a special connection between man and woman that is not found anywhere else in nature. While some animals and birds may mirror some of this intimacy, with man and woman , it is so real, it’s in the original shared DNA! Woman is part and parcel of man. I’ll say it again. Woman is part and parcel of man. Why did God do it that way? We get a clue in 1Co 11:7-12, “ For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.” Forget about arguing over wearing hats in church, let’s just remember that man is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man, for man is not from woman, but woman from man! By doing it this way, God established relational guidelines for all times for men and women, man and wife. As man is the glory of God, so woman is to be the glory of man! This is the right and proper order, and men, it’s time we got that straight. God doesn’t look at you as a sex object or slave, He looks at you as His glory and men we ought to look at women the same way. The degradation of women stops when we grasp this truth. Husbands, look at your wife, She is your glory! Love her as God loves you for you are His glory. He laid down His life for you in part to serve as an example for you to do the same for your wife. Eph 5:25 says, “ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,” Reflect: My daughter has a teddy bear that was made from her grandfather’s sweater. It’s a constant reminder to her of his presence in her life. Do you have any similar remembrance of a loved one in your life? What kind of thoughts flood your mind when you remember that loved one. How do you treat any article that you use for a remembrance? How could this portion of Scripture be used to change your attitude about the opposite sex? Pray: Father, thank You for this reminder of the intimate connection between, You and man, and man and woman. May it forever change the way we view others. Amen

# 23 The Missing Piece

The Book of Genesis Day 23 Ge 2:18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." 19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. Doesn’t this seem a little bit out of order? Why is it necessary to put verse 18 in here at all? Wouldn’t it make more sense to move v18 to v21 when God goes through the process of creating Eve? Well, that’s not the way it is! God starts out with the pronouncement that ”it is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” First of all, this “helper” was to be a counterpart, a complementary piece, a mate. But before God makes this mate for Adam, he assigns Adam the task of naming all the animals. What a fun job, and what a keen mind Adam had to come up with all these great names! Aardvarks, to Zebras and everything in between! But as Adam is naming all these animals, he must’ve been struck by the fact that there was a Mr. and Mrs. Hippopotamus, and a Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, and so on…..but, where was the Mrs Adam? “But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.” All these animals had their counterparts of the opposite sex, perfectly suited to be fruitful and to multiply and perfectly suited to serve as a team in raising their families and mastering their environments. But Adam had nothing of the sort, and one can almost hear the longing of his heart after his task of naming all the animals was finished. “Where’s my Mrs.?” Here’s where it gets real special! God did not make female animals using the ribs of the males. He created them separately out of the clay. Eve, on the other hand was to be very special. She would be created out of the very substance of man, and you know what? Husband/wife relationships would do so much better if we would remember that in our world today. How much more honor would the man bestow upon the woman, and how much more respect would the woman show the man, if they but remembered how it was before Eve arrived on the scene. Reflect: What’s your favorite animal at the zoo? Why? If you’re married, how do you and your mate complement each other? If single, can you recall how your parents complemented one another? How can a review of the beginnings of man and woman help us in our roles as men and women? Pray: Father God, thank You for this reminder of the charge you have given us to be fruitful and multiply and subdue the earth. Thank you for providing the complementary pieces of man and wife to help get the job done. Amen

#22 Amazing Grace

The Book of Genesis Day 22 Ge 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." I love the use of the word “freely” here. Why? Because it wasn’t necessary to use it! Go ahead, take it out of the passage and read it without “freely.” (make sure you put it back though, we don’t want to be messing with the Word of God! De 4:2 says, "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” Adding and subtracting from the words of the Bible is not a good idea.) My point is, that the inclusion of the word “freely,” matters. The word in the Hebrew language means “gratis.” And gratis means “without charge or free.” Hmmmmm, kind of sounds like grace doesn’t it? It’s like God is even here, at the very beginning, reminding us and Adam of His amazing grace! This Garden was just like His Son Jesus…full of grace. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1:14) This fruit was all that Adam needed for his physical survival, and this grace is what we all need for our spiritual survival. Eph 2:8,9 says, “ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” The fruit of the Garden was sufficient for Adam, God’s grace is sufficient for you and I (2 Cor 12:9) God’s instructions to Adam were simple. He was to tend the garden and keep it. He could freely eat of all the fruit in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. To eat of this fruit would introduce death into God’s perfect world. Sin, simply put, is disobeying God, and sin entered the world when Eve took and ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Bible tells us in Rom 6:23, that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” “Gift of God,” it’s freely given, and pictured for us in the original Garden. So that when law and sin entered the picture, we may all be assured of the abundance of God’s grace, freely available to all who turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you trapped in your sins? Receive the gift of Jesus Christ “freely” offered to you, and live on God’s grace! Reflect: Have you ever received something for free? Was it easy or hard to receive it? Have you ever received something for free, only to find out there are strings attached? Has God attached strings to His offer of salvation through faith in Jesus? Why is it difficult to receive His offer? Pray: Father, thank You for this reminder of the abundance of Your grace from the very beginning. Help me to receive it, without attaching my own little strings. Let me ever praise You for this free gift that cost You, Your only begotten Son.