Don't look back

Scripture

Luke 9:62

But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Observation

Jesus is calling people to be his disciple and on a couple of instances, the men he has called want to return home to get their things in order. Jesus is pretty clear in that He tells one of the men "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:60)." On another occasion He says, "No one, having put his hand on the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Jesus is telling people that they need to let go of their old selves and follow Him.

Application

The concept of this is pretty easy. When we choose to follow Jesus, we let go of our old life and following Jesus takes precedence over everything else. The struggle is that this is harder than it sounds. Looking at my life, I have on more than one occasion, "looked back", on my past and in some cases relived it. One of the things that I see in this verse is that Jesus is saying, don't look back on your life, when you are following Me, look ahead to what I want for you. Don't fall into focusing on your past mistakes, focus on today and tomorrow. Jesus tells us that while we have changed and hopefully will change, He is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

Prayer

Father God,


Please allow me to focus on You and Your purpose for my life. Without you I am nothing, give me the strength and the wisdom to discern Your word from my own and the enemies.

Reaching out

Scripture

Luke 8:46

But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me"

Observation

Starting with verse 43, we meet this woman, who has been "having a flow of blood for twelve years". She has seen numerous doctors and they have been able to nothing to help her. She is desperate, so she reaches out and touches Jesus. In the instance she touched Jesus, she was healed. Jesus then asked, "Who touched me?" and the woman said it was her, and she declared to Him and everyone else, why she had touched Him and that she was healed. Jesus then said, "Daughter, be of good cheer, your faith has made you well. Go in peace."

Application

This woman sought out Jesus and reached out and touched Him. It was this faith that made her well. You see this woman reached out to Jesus, knowing she was going to be healed, she didn't ask, she didn't wait for Jesus to touch her, she took action and knew that she would be healed. I think I get this wrong a lot. I might pray that Jesus heal me, but deep down inside I am also plotting how another way to ask. It is like when I pray for someone that is going through a medical problem and they need healing, I might pray something in the lines of, "Father God, I pray that you heal this person in Jesus name, I pray that when the doctors go in they find nothing wrong, but in the case that they do, I pray that you help those doctors to know exactly how to fight this illness. Amen." Do you see what I did there I gave a half-hearted faith prayer. I had faith that God was going to heal this person, "BUT". I added a but because I probably didn't actually have faith. The way I plan on applying this is to be more proactive with my faith. I want to reach out and touch Jesus, instead of waiting on Him to reach out and touch me. I want to have the faith of this woman, who knew that Jesus was going to heal her.

Prayer

Father God, give me faith that can move mountains, give me faith that can heal my infirmities and the sicknesses of friends. Give me faith that allows me to reach out and touch Jesus, instead of waiting for Him to touch me.

Rejoice and be glad

Song: Your Grace Amazes Me

LESSON:

Genesis 20-22 & Luke 8

SCRIPTURE:

Psalm 6:8

"Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping."

OBSERVATION:

This psalm is particularly fascinating as someone who studied literature. When David starts, he's in a deep state of despair. For some background, he lusted after Bathsheba and got her pregnant when she was married to Uriah (he also had Uriah killed in battle and made Bathsheba his wife. Heavy stuff).  As a result, she gave birth to a baby that was sickly and about to die. So David is pretty reasonably upset so he's praying and asking forgiveness.

This is the first of the "penitential" psalms. This, like Psalm 51 and some others, is a Psalm of seeking forgiveness and begging restoration and was often used after a time of backsliding. It's one that resonates with me deeply, not because it's penitential, but because the tone of it changes sharply 2/3 of the way through. Where in the beginning, David is crying out and desperate, by the end he's resolute saying "Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping." David is resolute; sure in the power of our God. There's no need to weep anymore because he has faith and confidence.

It's a lesson we all should pay attention too. Often, in church, I see people who cry and cry and poor their hearts out and strive for forgiveness for the sinners they are. These same people don't usually show JOY in church. They're so focused on their sin that their psalm never becomes confident and assured and resolute. They never get to the point of understanding grace, because their guilt is overpowering them. They never focus truly on God, because they're too focused on their sin so the joy never comes.

APPLICATION:

Be transparent about your sin and ask for forgiveness. We've all sinned. Jesus came to earth as an infant so he would understand humanness. It's okay. This doesn't mean do it again. The caveat of God's forgiveness is that we actually have to learn from our mistakes. Be sincere in your penitence and be forgiven. And then REJOICE. Rejoice and focus on Him and leave the past in the past. It's a new day and God is great!

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for everything you are and everything we will be because of you. Thank you for filling my heart with gladness and joy and showing me how wonderful you are. I'm so grateful to know you.

With your whole heart

Song: Find You

LESSON:

Genesis 20-22 & Luke 8

SCRIPTURE:

Luke 8:10

"And He said, 'To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is

 given in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'"

OBSERVATION:

Have you ever noticed how, if you're reading the bible, but you're not actually focusing on God, none of it makes sense? Or better how non-believers are convinced it's just a book of children's stories? It doesn't make sense to them, or to us when we're not seeking Him, because it's a living word. Jesus says this much in Luke 8:10; that those who don't believe WON'T see and WON'T hear. You have to accept Him to understand his word.

APPLICATION:

In those moments when the bible isn't making sense to you, or you're just not connecting, stop and pray. Pray for guidance, so that God shows you what it is you need to see.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for giving us a living Word to read and use to grow closer to you. Help me to truly hear the words you want me to hear and understand the messages you want me to understand, so that I can be more like you.

I tried to win this war, I confess

Song: Trust in You

LESSON:

Genesis 15-17 & Luke 6

SCRIPTURE:

Luke 6:46

"But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?"

OBSERVATION:

Right in the gut, this one. It's hard to live a righteous life. The world is full of temptation and, usually, that temptation doesn't look like it's wrong. Most of the time, it looks like the right decision. Make more money. Buy a big house. Get married. Look good. Do the things your parents taught you to do. Have all the experiences so you can gain all the wisdom. These things can be righteous, if they're blessings. Or they can be sins, if God isn't put first. It's hard to give up what you've always been taught is right for what is ACTUALLY right and it's hard to know the difference between the two.

APPLICATION:

I want to call my Lord, Lord AND do the things he says without complaint, or willfulness, or doubt, or pride.

PRAYER:

Lord, help me to strive to be more like you. Help me to weather my pride and stubbornness and to focus on Your spirit and no just on the tip of my own nose.

We're never too tired to pray

Song: Nothing Like Your Love

LESSON:

Genesis 12-14 & Luke 5

SCRIPTURE:

Luke 5:5-6

"But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking."

OBSERVATION:

Simon starts here by complaining. They'd been up all night trying to catch fish so they had food, and had caught nothing. They were tired, probably grumpy, and probably hungry. Simon tells Jesus this because, presumably, this is an excuse no to stay and listen to what Jesus has to say. But by staying, Jesus shows them the value of His word by giving them more fish than they know what to do with. 

This is true for all of us. So many times in life we feel tired, irritable, anti-social. These are the moments when we should focus on being in the presence of God. These are the times when we need Him most. 

APPLICATION:

Don't skip church because you're tired or a small group (like I did) because you're feeling anti-social and don't feel well. These are the moments when we need Jesus and our community the most.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for giving me a community I've long hoped for. Help me to immerse myself in it and seek you more.

We're only given one body

Song: Multiplied

LESSON:

Genesis 9-11 & Luke 4

SCRIPTURE:

Genesis 9:3

"Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything."

Genesis 9:21

"When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent."

OBSERVATION:

These passages made me think about what Noah ate before the flood and how important it is to have a pure body. Gluttony and lack of moderation are a big problem (for me and the country I live in). I don't focus on my body being a temple as much as I should. There's a saying that goes, "God made it, Jesus died for it, and the spirit lives in it. So I better take care of the body I have."

APPLICATION:

By focusing on our faith, we can better take care of our bodies, by treating them as the sacred vessels they are.

PRAYER:

Lord, help me to recognize the sacredness of the temple you gave me, to treat it kindly, to nourish it properly, and to value it the way you do.

Salvation

Scripture

Psalm 3:8

"Salvation belongs to the Lord, Your blessing is upon Your people"

Observation

This verse is a response to Verse 2, where David says Many are they who say of me "There is no help for him in God." David uses this Psalm to say that God is his shield against all of these attacks. David says that "he laid down and slept the Lord sustained him". The fact that David says there are ten thousands of people that are coming after him and he is content because he knows that God has him covered.

Application

In the ESV the term in both verse 2 and verse 8 is Salvation, in the NKJV the term in Verse 2 is help and Verse 8 is Salvation. What is interesting is the Hebrew used here is yĕshuw`ah. I know that yeshua or as we call Him now (Jesus) is my salvation. Jesus is my rock and He will protect me and comfort me, when all else fails. Laying all of my problems at Salvations feet, allows me to sleep better at night. When I lay it all down, I don't have to worry about anything, because Jesus has my back.

Prayer

Jesus, You are always there for me and I know that your Salvation is permanent. Nothing I can do can change your love for me. Continue to protect me and watch over me.

The Ruins

Worship

The Ruins (Jonathon Thulin ft. Moriah Peters)

Scripture

Luke 6:46-49
"But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

Observation

The Sermon on the Plains is a big teaching moment for Jesus. Unlike in the Sermon on the Mount, Luke seems to omit a lot of teaching to the Jews. These teachings are a guide for us to follow as Jesus' disciples. Jesus wants us to live a life that is convicting and that may cause people to hate us (Luke 6:22-23). On a side note, this verse is always eye opening to me, because so many Christians complain about a coming persecution in America, but that is exactly what Jesus says will happen. Verses 46-49, talk about those that hear Jesus' words and heed them and those that don't. In the song The Ruins, Jonathon Thulin sings "I am the one who builds my home Stone by stone on the shore I always thought my house would stand But every wave swept it all away". Thulin is singing about these verses, he is saying that he didn't heed Jesus' words and then he says something else that is profound, "I find you in the ruins that remain". When we don't heed Jesus' words, our lives will eventually crumble. We will fall and we will be consumed by the house that we built. The amazing thing is that so many of us, find Jesus in that rubble. So many of us find Jesus when we least expect it. And then we learn that doing things right and building the house on a solid foundation (Jesus) or as scripture calls it a cornerstone. 1 Peter 2:6 "Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” We must build our house on the chief Cornerstone. He will ensure that our foundation is sturdy and will protect us from the waves.

Application

For many years, I have built a house on sand that I thought would hold up. Whether that be trying to build a life with the wrong women and doing it the wrong way, or falling into gambling and drinking because it was "fun". I was searching for happiness in all the wrong places and I was leaving Jesus out of it because I know what I was doing was wrong. I was the person in the scripture, "But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great". What I noticed is that every time the house fell, I was stuck looking up and reaching my hand out to Jesus. I don't want to only reach out to Jesus from the ruins I want to reach out to Him and ask Him to guide my decision making. I want to build my house on Him and His foundation.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, continue to be the cornerstone of my life. Allow me to continue to focus on you and make decision that I know come from you. Give me the wisdom and the strength to stay focused on your word and allow me to continue to learn how to pray and spend time with you.

Withdraw and Pray

Scripture

Luke 5:16
"So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed"

Observation

Jesus is a popular man and people are coming to get their friends and relatives healed. He is preaching to the masses and He is performing miracles. In Chapter 5 we see that Jesus calls four fisherman as disciples. It is in this that we see Jesus get on a boat and preach to the multitudes and then He tells Simon to cast out his nets and fish. Simon doubted because they had caught nothing up until this point. But when he  cast his net out, they are over flowing and he has to call the other boat over to help. After this Jesus tells Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men (Luke 5:10). You have to wonder that after all this ministry, Jesus must have been exhausted, but instead He went out and healed a leper. What we see next is something that all of us need to learn and become good at. Jesus withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Application

The amazing thing about Jesus is that He set forth the perfect example of how to do ministry. The thing that I like most is that Jesus knew the importance of prayer and alone time. Scripture says that "He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed (Luke 5:16). Something that I think a lot of Christians struggle with is sitting still and spending time with God. Jesus shows us the importance of withdrawing and talking to God. This is something that I need to do a better job of. It actually reminds me of the movie War Room. The little old lady in that movie, has a prayer closet, set up and she spends a ton of time in that room. She teaches the younger woman the importance of this, who in turn shows her daughter and her husband how important it is to pray for people and spend time with God. This is something that I want to get better at. I want to feel joy about stepping away, every day and spending time with God. I want to make prayer life a priority so that I can pray for the people that are important in my life. I also want to learn how to pray specifically for my ministry and my calling. I have trouble praying for me. I struggle talking to God about the things that are going on in my life. This has to change. I need to take Jesus' example and run with it.

Prayer

Father God, Thank you for sending Your Son, to show us how to live here on Earth and thank you for allowing Him to show us the proper way to pray and withdraw into the wilderness. Lord continue to mold me into the man you want me to be and give me the ability to grow in my prayer life.

Embrace the Calling

Scripture

Luke 4:42-43
"Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving; but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."

Observation

Jesus was baptized and then He was tempted in the wilderness by Satan. After this happened Jesus started His Galilean ministry. During His Galilean ministry Jesus performed many miracles. He even proclaimed that He was the Messiah. This was not taken well and He was cast out of His hometown, this was pretty indicative of how many of the religious leaders treated him. He was in essence treated as a Gentile and cast out. As Jesus left His hometown and continued performing miracles, He started gaining popularity, but as we see in Verse 42-43, Jesus wasn't content to take His popularity and stay put. Jesus knew that He had a calling and that He had to continue to "preach the kingdom of God to the other cities".

Application

This is really hitting home, mainly because I know that I am popular around my church and with my friends. Honestly one of the main reasons I am popular is because of my ability to cook. Now I am not saying that Jesus performing miracles and me cooking are even close to the same thing, but I do know that getting stuck in one place (ministry), because you are good at it, can draw us away from the calling that God has on our lives. For me this verse is important because it is a great reminder that just because I am comfortable and doing something that makes me happy, it doesn't mean that it is the will of God that I continue to do it. It is important that I keep seeking God's will, so that I am able to fully embrace the calling on my life. Maybe I was sent to ALFC to cook, or maybe I was sent to ALFC to learn how to preach the kingdom of God throughout the world.

Prayer

Father God, Only you know why you created me. I pray that you continue to show me my calling and allow me to grow into the man of God that you want me to be. I ask that you show me where you want me to serve and how you want to use me in the kingdom.

Grace

Scripture

Genesis 6:8
"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord"

Observation

Genesis 6 we see that God is getting angry with humanity. Scripture even says that "the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (Genesis 6:6)". God could have easily just wiped out all of humanity and all of His creation and started over, but that isn't what happened. In Genesis 6:8 we see God show grace for the first time. This is the first time that the word Grace is used in the Bible.

Application

Around 8 months ago, I went through a season of growth. I had finally confessed some unrepented sin and was in a dark place emotionally. That is when I read the book a "Case for Grace" by Lee Strobel. After reading this book I wrote down my definition of grace. This is what I came up with:


"Grace isn't fair... Grace is something that is given freely from God to us, through Jesus... Grace is something that we as believers are supposed to give to others, freely... The hard part is that if you can't accept God's grace as being free, then you can't give grace to yourself and you definitely can't give it to other people...

To me grace is one of the most important aspects of our Christian faith and it is one of the hardest aspects of our Christian faith. Grace goes against everything that seems natural in "relationships". Grace is saying I forgive you and I accept you as family even though you have hurt me. Grace is showing someone unconditional love, instead of offering love with conditions."

God showed Noah grace because Noah was found to be righteous. For us today, the only thing that we truly have to do to be shown God's grace is "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9)".
It is interesting my friend Elle brought up a good point that the flood was like a large baptism, where God flooded the land and cleansed it. I think this is an incredible analogy, part of our journey as Christians is repentance, acceptance and then baptism. The symbolic washing away of our old selves. After we receive Jesus we are seen as righteous in God's eyes. Just the same as God saw Noah. The struggle is that we not fall into the same trap that Noah did and wind up falling into sin (Genesis 9).

Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank you for showing me grace, knowing full well that I don't deserve it. Father I pray that I am able to continue to live a life that is pleasing to you. Bring out the good in my life and continue to prune my life of the bad.

Pursue Wisdom

Scripture

Genesis 3:6
" 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."

Observation

In the Chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis, we see the creation of everything unfold. In Chapter 3, we see the fall of man. This verse says that when the woman saw that the tree was "pleasant to the eyes" she was tempted to eat of the tree that she was forbidden to eat of. This temptation is no different than how God tempts us now. The issue is that Eve in her flesh, only saw the temporary instead of the eternal. 1 John 2:16 says, "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." This is how Satan tempts us, whether it be with a person, or an object, he puts something in our path, that can distract us from God. In Eve's case, he offered her wisdom, but not Godly wisdom, but wisdom of this world. He offered her the ability to have human self-rule instead of being ruled by God.

Application

The truth is that things in this world are distracting. I have been distracted by many things in my life, whether that be the pursuit of money, woman, or happiness. I seem to have always given into the temptations that come bring temporary relief from my problems. What I really need to do, is turn my mind to Jesus and focus on His rule and His ways instead of focusing on my rules and my ways.

Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father, I am sorry for continually choosing my way, instead of your way. I pray that you give me the wisdom that only comes from you, so that I can better face Satan and his temptations. Grant me the ability to turn to you, when times are tough or I am presented with an opportunity that seems too good to be true. Keep me focused on you, instead of focusing no the things that don't really matter.

 

Created to Lead

Scripture

Genesis 1:26 (NKJV)

"Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth"

Observation

Creation is a beautiful thing, God created everything just by speaking it. We see that in the first 5 days of creation but then He gets to the sixth day and God creates man. What we see in the creation of man is that God says "Let us make man in Our image." Jack Hayford says that "Through the two of them (man and woman), He intended to live and reveal Himself in the world. Through them God intended to manifest His character and authority (image), express His dominion over the Earth, display His indisputable power over the works of darkness, and subdue His archenemy, Satan."
It is important that we realize this, that God created us to be a shining example of Him. We are not created in God's image because we look like Him but because we are able to display God's character and will. Another difference in the creation of man is that Genesis 2:7 says that God breathed the breath of life into man. While the phrasing in Hebrew is not the same, I believe that the meaning here is the same as Ruach. When God says he breathed the breath (nĕshamah) of life. I believe that He is breathing His spirit into man, and this is why we are different than all of God's creations. God establishes His spirit in Adam and gives Adam dominion over all of creation. I think it is important to note that Adam has the ability to live in communion with God, but sin creeps in as we see in Genesis 3 and we see this Holy communion between God and man come to an end. We see this same scenario play out in the lives of many biblical leaders and in our own lives.

Application

By accepting Christ and asking for forgiveness, we are adopted back into the family of God and we are able to live in communion with God. This doesn't come without some work on our part. We have to strive to live a sin free life and we have to strive to live a life that is pleasing to God. Like Adam and Eve before us, we have been given a gift and just like Adam and Eve if we are unable to accept God's authority in our lives, we will face the consequences. It is vital that I accept the authority that God has over me, and also accept the authority that God has placed in my life. If I truly want to be a leader and have dominion in this world I need to learn how to be under authority(both God and man).

Prayer

Father God, I desire nothing more than to follow you. Create in me a clean heart and a spirit of cooperation, instead of a spirit of rebellion. Help me be a better follower, so that I can be a better leader. Continue to breath your spirit into me and allow Your spirit to overflow out of me and into the people you have placed in my life.

Put in me a clean heart

Song: Put in Me by Enter the Worship Circle

LESSON:

Genesis 6-8 & Luke 3

SCRIPTURE:

Genesis 7:4

"Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.”

OBSERVATION:

Even though I've read the story of the Great Flood a number of times, I never made the connection to baptism but, in essence, that's exactly what this is. God cleansed the earth of sin. This is eluded to later by Peter:

"God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him." —1 Pet. 3:20–22

APPLICATION:

It's standard practice to be baptized when we become Christians, but what about re-baptism? All of us will struggle in our faith. Perhaps, as we cast off sin, we should be washed again, to cleanse our spirits. I haven't been baptized since I was 18. It's probably time to do it again.

PRAYER:

Lord, put in me a clean heart.

Magnification of the Lord

Song: Story of Grace

LESSON:

Genesis 1-2 & Luke 1


SCRIPTURE:

Luke 1:46-48

“My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant."

OBSERVATION:

I think the easiest and most me-centric interpretation of this passage is a straight forward "If I'm good God will be good to me." But if you look beyond the poem at large, and focus on some of the words Mary chose, there's a deeper meaning that's about community. The word "magnifies" in verse 46 stuck out to me when I read this passage. As it happens, this word is accurate in Hebrew as well as English. So there are no mistranslations when it comes to the point that was being made. And, as many of us know, Hebrew words are carefully chosen and have explicit meanings and gematria. In verse 46, Mary isn't saying simply "God is awesome." She's saying that, by her faithfulness to the Lord, she becomes a magnifying glass on the existence of God via His works in her life, making him easier to see for others. She becomes a beacon. That's a powerful statement and isn't about her at all. She's not showing off that she's favored by God. She's grateful that she can be an instrument for Him, so that others might come to know him. What an incredibly selfless statement.


APPLICATION:

All of us have an opportunity to shine a light for the Lord, in our right actions and behaviors, our faithfulness to God, and our control over our thoughts. What better way to combat the society we live in, where Christianity is often looked down upon, then to be a beacon for God's perfect love? If, daily, we do good works that are genuine and stay steadfast and focused on him, we don't need to be loud or controversial. Actions always speak louder than words.


PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for giving us a clear way to show others who you are. Thank you for your unending love and guidance. Please help me humble myself and learn to show your great works through my actions and not through boisterous words. Show me how I can be more of a beacon for you, so that your desires can shine through me to others.

You can thank Eve

LESSON:

Genesis 3-5 & Luke 2


SCRIPTURE:

Genesis 3:13-16

"Then the Lord God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'”

"To the woman he said, 'I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.'"

OBSERVATION:

Genesis 1:27 is the first moment the Bible talks about the creation of Adam and Eve. In Hebrew, Genesis 1 is a table of contents, explaining things to come in the rest of Genesis. It then goes on to explain in Genesis 2:21 how woman was created from man. In both accounts, there's an understanding of equality. She is a suitable helper for him and both are created in God's image. They have no shame (and thus, no lust). This tone changes sharply in Genesis 3, due to Eve's actions. When she eats from the forbidden fruit God doesn't just punish her, he creates a punishment so severe that it creates an eternal temptation that will impact both genders. "Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." Look at the context around this sentence. It wasn't set as a gift. It was said as punishment. Think about the implications of that for a moment: The entire dynamic of their relationship is changed. Adam becomes the leader, and Eve the supporter. This is the first place in the bible where clear gender roles are drawn. And, because of the desire God places in Eve, she also has a great responsibility to Adam: to not become a distraction. The responsibility of sex is great, even in a marriage. Should she initiate too much or be too tempting, she risks her husband becoming distracted from God and becoming focused on carnal desires. So it becomes her duty to protect his heart; to find the balance of him "ruling" her and her supporting him in a Godly way, while not denying him. Not an easy feat.

APPLICATION:

I think it goes without saying that desire and right actions are things MANY people struggle with. This is one of the many reasons it's so important to be equally yolked. By staying focused on God, letting Him give you strength, and communicating with your partner, temptation can be overcome and moral behaviors can become easy.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for placing in me a heart that loves you, a mind that can learn more about you, and a spirit that longs for you, and strength to see my way through temptations. Please stay in the middle of this relationship and guide both of us to right actions and to the strong relationship you have in store for us. Please help me to know how to best support a partner righteously, to allow him to lead, and to encourage his love for you.