This year I am reading, and have challenged many of you, to read through the Bible using a plan called F260 which you can find HERE. It is a plan that will take us through 260 of the most essential passages of Scripture. This is not to say that all of Scripture is not essential. What it does say is that often when reading through the Bible it is easy to get bogged down and quit when reading through genealogies and passages such as are found in Leviticus. This plan covers on average 2 chapters a day and is a 5 day a week plan – so it is both manageable and allows for catch up time. It is designed by Replicate Ministries – you can even find a phone App HERE that might be helpful to you.
I will be choosing a passage each week from the readings that I will ponder and post here. I would love to hear from you as you also read and ponder the readings – mutually encouraging one another.
This weeks pondering comes from Genesis 3.
Eve does not seem all that surprised that a serpent is talking to her. But that seems a bit weird to me. But the big question I have for her is why was she anywhere near the tree that God had said was off limits. I am picturing the Garden of Eden as rather huge (2:8-14). Why hang out near the one thing that God said to stay away from?
But isn’t this human nature? We are told 20 things that we can do and one thing that we can’t do and and our curiosity is aroused by that one thing. And then because we have put ourselves in a place of temptation it becomes much easier for temptation to turn into sin. Example: I know that I need to stay away from pornography. But if I am browsing the internet and come across a site that I know will have pictures on it that I should not see then I have two choices – 1) continue on a path that will lead me into sin or 2) RUN away. 2 Timothy 2:22 says, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Eve had no business being anywhere near that tree. Just as you and I have no business being anywhere near those things that tempt us toward sin. There are enough temptations around me day to day that I have to fight – there is no sense in making it even easier for the evil one to lure me away from God. The consequences in doing so, as we see with Adam and Eve, are disastrous – and downright deadly.
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15)