Devotion:
Read Genesis 3:22-24.
Our Scriptures for this week help us to see the sacrificial love of God, who gives us life. At first, this passage of banishment from the Garden and the tree of life may seem a strange reading to be included with this theme; but on closer examination, we can see that it fits very well. Adam and Eve represent all of humanity, created in God’s image and not even aware of the difference between good and evil. Initially, they had lived obediently and in the perfect will of God, but then they disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. God had warned them that eating of that tree of the knowledge of good and evil would result in their death. God had created humanity with free will; and having now disobeyed God, they were not equipped to live forever. Out of love, God ushered them away from that gift. It is important to see that God does not remove the tree of life and the possibility of living forever.
In Romans 5, Paul contrasts the sin of Adam in taking away life and the gift of eternal life through Christ. Sometimes, in our love of life on this earth, we wish it could last forever. But Christ offers a much more beautiful eternal life...a life without pain, sickness, fear, and death...a life lived in God’s presence and only beginning in this life here on earth.
Personal Worship Option:
Think for a moment about someone in your life who loves you without any conditions, who loves you deeply, and who lets you know they love you. Give thanks for that love! Now give thanks for God’s love for you that exceeds the love any human can have for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment