Tag: fear of punishment
Walking with God
Scripture reading for January 1st: Genesis 1-3, Matthew 1
Key Scriptures: Genesis 3:8-12, “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself. He said, “Who told you you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me; she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate””
God created Adam and Eve to have fellowship with Him. He placed them in a beautiful garden, with everything they needed and gave them responsibility and dominion over it. The only tree that they were commanded not to eat from was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But Eve was deceived by the serpent and Adam disobeyed God and failed to protect his wife. This brought fear of punishment from God into man’s life and shame separated man from sweet fellowship with their Creator Father. But God had a plan to restore mankind through the “Seed of woman.”
Matthew 1:20-21 “But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Prayer: Father God, we humbly acknowledge our tie to the first Adam and Eve in that we have sinned and separated ourselves from walking with You. As we begin this new year, we ask for grace to hear your call and to walk with You in faith and instead of drawing back in fear. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Son of God! Amen.
“I ate it”
January 3rd reading: Genesis 3-5
I remember in my early childhood taking my dad’s pocketknife from the stand by his favorite chair and carving pictures on the bedroom door. It was great fun and my sister liked the pictures too. Dad and Mom were out doing chores on the farm and it was dark outside. I knew they would come in soon and slid Dad’s chair in front of the door to try and hide the “sin”. I didn’t understand it but they caught on right away when they came in the house! I initially tried to blame my younger sister for being the instigator, but was found out! I was rightfully afraid of punishment and soon reaped what I had so unwisely sown. (That was before the days when spanking was termed abuse!)
As we read this section of Scripture, we are introduced to the “serpent” who was “more crafty” than any of the other animals that God had made. This “serpent” talked to the woman Eve. His words twisted what God had told Adam and Eve. Eve was taken in by this “craft” and ate the forbidden fruit. She gave it to her husband who ate as well. They suddenly became aware of their nakedness and hid, covering themselves. Rather than being clothed with God’s Glory, their guilt now clothed them with a fig leaf!
God called out to those made in His image, knowing what they had done. When they emerged from hiding, God asked them how they knew that they were naked and if they had eaten from the forbidden tree. God used these questions to help them confess their guilt. No one likes to confess or admit guilt! Sin not only brings guilt and shame, but it also causes fear of punishment.
Today, do a quick survey of your life. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are things you are doing that you need to take responsibility for. Confess them to the Lord and ask for forgiveness and cleansing. It’s the only way I know to get rid of sin and its consequence, death! “I ate it.”
The man said, “The woman you put here with me–she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Genesis 3:12 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1st John 1:9