“Does this movie have bad guys?”
It’s a common question I often get from our youngest whenever we sit down to do a family movie night. So I had to laugh on this particular night when her older brother, exasperated, responded to her, “Yes! Every good movie has a bad guy.”
But to be honest, I love to picture a life without bad guys, where good always wins and evil doesn’t exist. Don’t you?
I’ve often wondered, if it were me instead of Eve in that garden, would I have made the same choice? Would I have looked outside of God to give me what I felt He was holding back, opening the door for sin to enter the world?
But I know deep down in my heart that the answer is yes, I probably would.
In the garden, we see Satan deceive by working to reframe and discredit what God had said (Genesis 3:4–5). He tried to make it seem like God was keeping His creation from living fully…but nothing could be further from the truth.
Eve was convinced by the empty words of Satan’s promise. Like many of us, she became convinced that God was holding out in some way when He had already given everything they would ever need (vv.6–7)!
Adam and Eve’s choice in this moment led to darkness and sin (vv.7–9). And while God’s love for them didn’t change, there were direct consequences for the choice they had made.
“I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
—Genesis 3:15
The serpent and humankind were cursed. The garden with all its gifts and the constant presence of God—they had to leave it behind. Sin entered the picture, and our need for a Savior was born. From the moment Adam and Eve sinned, bringing death into the world, God was already forming a plan of salvation. This choice would separate us from God. But death would not be the end of our story because of Jesus (Romans 5:12–14)!
During Advent, it’s easy to talk about the baby in the manger and retell the story of the angels, shepherds, and the wise men who followed the star. But the story of our Messiah, the promise of the One who would wipe away our sin, began all the way back in that garden.
That one act of sin, and every act of sin that followed, needed one righteous act to justify us all. As we wait patiently to celebrate the coming of our Savior, we remember that despite our sins and mistakes, God’s grace still prevails in the end. Thank you, Jesus!
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176 thoughts on "The First Promise of a Savior"
Even though I know God is all knowing, when reading the scripture I was thinking, “I wonder when God created them, if He knew He was going to create Jesus and allow Him to be the sacrifice to bridge the gap back to Him.” It is so crazy to know He knew what was to come, but still gave us life and the chance to comeback to Him.
Amen Amen and Amen.
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Amen
Great!
I love the way it’s framed, a fear of God holding back a blessing from us when He’s already given us all we need. I think this year I’ve had a lot of moments when I felt like maybe God is holding a blessing (healing) back and now I’m reminded that He’s never done that – under the wings of the Most High we have all we need..
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Amen
I’m convicted by and rejoice in James 1. “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. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
James 1:14-17 ESV
I love your curated readings, but we have to read the devotional writings, and the comments, with wisdom and discernment. In today’s readings Scripture does not say that humankind was cursed. This is fundamental to our knowledge of the character of God – he did not curse mankind whom he created.
Genesis 3:14 ‘The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock…”’
Genesis 3:17 ‘And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you.”’
Adam and Eve were not cursed directly, but were removed from their perfect state. The basis of their expulsion from the garden was disobedience. But all was not lost! Again we see God’s character in his providing, in his perfect justice and mercy, a plan of redemption in Christ, the seed of the woman. (Genesis 3:15) He saved them, in the immediate term, through the judgment that came down on the garden by expelling them from it, such was his continuing love and care for them.
And how good to remind ourselves that he still loves mankind whom he created, and that he kept his promise of a Saviour, the Christ, recorded in Genesis 3:15. “He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
❤️ True and helpful! Glad you commented with this.
Amen ❤️
Amen!
Amen
Amen!
Amen!!! So thankful for Jesus! ❤️
Amen!
That one foundational truth that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God proves my need of a savior. And God in his grace and mercy gave his son to pay the penalty for my sin. Jesus Christ ❤️
Yes, and Amen!
Jesus is our “curse breaker”! Hallelujah!
This is what we’ve all been waiting for. Make room for the one who comes in the likeness of Adam to restore us to the garden. The garden where we got it wrong and now we see God wasn’t holding anything back from us, He will prove what He never had to, that He would give us anything and even the thing the most precious to Him, His very son. He wasn’t holding back. And here He comes into the world as a light, long awaited in the dark night of sky. Finally yeshua in the form of a baby, will make all things new.
great reminder!
Amen! I struggled to find the foreshadowing of a savior in Genesis but the devotional helped me fully understand the picture once & for all. Thank you!
Thank you, Jesus! ❤️
Thank you God
Thank you God for sending your only son to save us ❤️
Thank you God that you had a plan of redemption and love. May this season be about glorifying that with my family, friends and at work. May you be the focus this season.
I was just struck by the thought -grateful we were born after Jesus’ first arrival, would have been so much worse to be a Gentile pre-Christ. As many are living now who worship other gods.
Thank you God for the plan You had from the beginning and for the love that is always there through the precious gift of Your son, Jesus.
Amen
Amen!
May the glorious light of the gospel truth expose and highlight every lie of deception in our life. The Word of God exposes lies and is a discerner of truth. No matter how pretty, and cunning the deception may appear – I pray that my ears and eyes would be sensitive to the leading of God’s Spirit- who always leads us in truth.
Amen ❤️
Thank you for sharing this.
Amen
Thank you Jesus for paying the price for my salvation.
How lost would I be without Jesus! Thank you for your forgiveness and child that washed it all away!
I love how this devo shows the entire picture of the need we have for a Savior. How it originated from that moment in the garden that God started
I am so thankful for our Savior!!!
Praying ❤️
<3
Thank you Jesus!
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How often do I feel God is withholding things from me instead trusting and be thankful for everything he has already provided and continues to provide?
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Thank you God for sending your one and only Son to pay the price for all our sins past, present and in the future. There is no greater love!♥️
Today’s reading and devotion reminded me how deeply we need a Savior. Sin runs deep, but God’s promise of Jesus runs deeper. Advent is a comfort because it shows He planned our rescue from the very beginning ❤️
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No, no! God did NOT curse the man OR the woman! This is one of the most tragically misunderstood and misguided teachings used especially by the patriarchy to subjugate women, but God did not curse either of them. He cursed the GROUND in v. 17, and the labor to produce food from the ground intensified greatly, as did the woman’s effort in childbearing. (These are consequences, not curses nor punishment.) But Jesus has satisfied all punishment necessary for our redemption. For more information on this teaching, please look up The Eden Podcast. I found it on Facebook and YouTube, and it’s probably on Instagram, too. Just don’t fall for the “less than” teachings we women have been taught all of our lives, please! The gospel is Good News.
Margaret W thank you for posting this comment ! It’s a long story for me to get into here but I believe you posting this here is an answer to my prayers. Thank you !
His grace prevailed back then just as it does now! Thank you, Jesus! <3
Amen, I am so in awe of God that from the beginning the plan for the redemption of mankind was already in mtion! But also, I had to really t about v.6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom.
Oh, the desire to have wisdom at times can lead me to others instead of to God and His word. Father forgive me.
Amen, Norma! ❤
Prayer request: last week our furnace did not kick in and it was below zero. We got a technician out and we might have to replace a new furnace. I would appreciate your prayers for a good and honest company that will do a good replacement and give a fair quote. Also my husband’s focus on doing his school (he is doing a master degree in psychology) and his papers is due this week, but he has to be out of town for an army training too (no time and high stress). Thank you shes for your prayers. Hugs and love.
Praying in agreement about the furnace and for some creative/constructive use of time for your husband. ❤
Praying!!
Praying Mercy!
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people…” (Romans 5:12). This really stood out to me today. All it takes is one man (weak will). Sin can enter a family through one man as well, and in this way, death will spread to all people. Sin can also enter through a nation through one man too..and death will spread to. How? Genesis said it….through temptations. The devil knows humans very very well. Unless God is all our needs, we can fall easily. In Eve’s case, it is the desire to be wise/ knowledgeable. A while back, I received a rebuke from the Lord. I love reading (which is a desire that God gave me clearly because I had not loved love reading before that) and I was going through a lot of books to acquire knowledge, understanding, and one day I heard the Lord say “knowledge puffs up you know”, I was immediately humbled. It is the attitude behind knowledge, it is the intention that makes it either life-giving or destructive. Knowledge helps us grow, make wise decisions, love others well, and understand God’s Word. Knowledge can also inflate the ego, lead to pride, or give someone power they misuse. Puffed up: reads pride (the root sin of Satan, “how you are fallen from heaven O Lucifer, son of dawn”, the one coveting God’s throne. The “I will” statements over the “I AM”. “You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven, I will set my throne on high, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12-15).
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Why did Eve fall through the temptation to acquire more knowledge? Satan projected his own original pride and desire onto Eve. The serpent’s promise was essentially this, “you can be like God”, “you don’t need Him to define good and evil”, “you can be your own god”. The devil knows human well. It’s the same temptation mankind still face, wanting control, wanting superiority, wanting to rely on ourselves instead of God. So the problem was not learning, it was self exaltation, rebellion AND pride. Wanting God’s status without God’s character.
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All knowledge comes from God, the spirit of understanding that was mentioned in Job. Understanding is not earned by age, not guaranteed by experience, not something humans manufacture, it is a gift breathed by God Himself (Job 32: 7-9). I love what HEIDI shared. Satan enters through unmet needs, whether the needs to be healed, the needs to be loved, the needs for peace, prosperity, you name it. All has to come from God. Our toiling, laboring to achieve the unmet needs are unwise, “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones” (Psalm 127:2). There is balance to things.
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Let the Spirit guide us. Let Him be the One who gifts us and satisfies all of our needs. We remain faithful to Him and His timing. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:6).
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This part of a song (Oceans- where feet may fail) came to my mind:
…Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Saviour
And I will call upon Your Name
And keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest…
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PRAYERS lifted up (since reply button is finnicky)
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MARIA J- healing and recovery for Bart from the heart attack, strength and support for her family during, especially for young son. So sorry.
TAMI- strength and recovery over the bad cold/flu.
CINDY HANNA- recovery for your sick grandchildren, time for you to rest and catch up with the bible and with God.
SEARCHING – ❤️
CEE GEE- loved your creative line break idea❤️
PHOEBE- amen, all the roads to hell are paved with good intentions, including Eve’s.
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Be blessed dear sisters.
❤✨❤ kudos to sister SHE, KELLY NEO!! ☺ It is perfect for advent, isn’t it?!
Oh i see. That’s awesome KELLY that you came up with it.
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“”Let the Spirit guide us. Let Him be the One who gifts us and satisfies all of our needs. We remain faithful to Him and His timing. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:6).“” -AMEN!
In the Garden, Eve
Saw.
Took.
Ate.
Gave.
What am I being beguiled by, but is bad for me ?
What am I taking that does not belong to me or bode well for me?
What am I eating, or more so, what is eating me?
What am I giving without concern for consequences?
Hard questions, in my garden of now.
❤ “my garden of now”
Thought provoking!
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They had to leave it all behind…Oh how I wish I could be in the garden right now. No sin, no heartbreak, no darkness.
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But God (Tina wink)
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One day we will have all that and more.
Yes, another PROMISE, Traci! ❤
Yes Abba
You remain the same
I’ve grown up typically reading this passage as if Eve was walking around, content and happy, then BAM! A slimey fool tells a lie and all of humankind is altered.
But…
That isn’t how sin usually occurs which had me thinking: Eve (and Adam) had been saying “no” to that fruit tree and “yes” to God’s commandment day after day after day for who knows how long. She had put into place a practice of faithful commitment. And while God may have had a personal conversation with Eve that we don’t know about –certainly possible– it was Adam that he gave the instruction to and, seemingly, entrusted him to pass along to her. Perhaps this is where her extra boundary of “…and you must not touch it…” came from because we don’t have record that God ever spoke those words. Regardless, it all lends the thought to me that there was a natural desire to have what was forbidden. Scripture is clear that temptation itself is not a sin. And up until now, any temptation they had for partaking of that fruit had been refused. Until today. For whatever reason, their fruit-desire was waiting for just the right justification for them to take action; to put down their guard and say, “well maybe just this once.”
The truth is, just like Adam and Eve, we all have unmet desires and we all have the invitation to trust God with all of our “even ifs”… I’ll trust you with my desire for good health even if I am never healed… I’ll trust you with my desire to be appreciated even if nobody ever says thank you… I’ll trust you for a joyful Christmas season even if all the family drama tries to drown it all out… because God is worthy of our trust if for no other reason than he is God. He will never leave any of us with an unmet need without sitting in and experiencing it with us, bringing in his comfort. We can never forget that God is just as irritated and outraged with the painful effects of sin in our world as we are.
This whole part of scripture, for me, is a reminder to always consider who has advised me and why I’m taking their word over God’s. In listening to their advice, it can only glorify one thing: God or Evil. The other reminder is that even if I have rested in faithful commitment to God’s commands day after day after day, my downfall is still ONE decision away. So keep it in check. Keep God as the one entrusted with my unmet desires and uncertainties because, frankly, he is the only one who can handle them with genuine care and kindness anyway.
Amen!
That is so good Heidi- especially spoke to me was the part…no matter walking with him day after day, our downfall is still One decision away!! Omph! So true. One choice, one decision can change everything in an instant! We always need to be praying our faith keeps us strong and wearing our armor. Even King David, with a heart after God, made some very bad decisions, and they were costly.
So good sister ❤️
Thank you for sharing Heidi. So good.
This is incredible, Heidi. Thank you for your words and perspective!
Oh Heidi, this is so good. Thank you for sharing.
Great word, Heidi; thank you! ❤
Amen!
I love the book of Genesis! Genesis 3:8 is my favorite! I can imagine God walking in the cool of the afternoon in the garden. To even be there with Him is the longing of my heart. Such a beautiful sight. I know He is with me always, but to walk with Him like that, oh my heart…..♥️
Thank you for your mercy and grace Lord God and for loving us. Thank you for your sacrifice Jesus. ❤️
“…despite all our sins and mistakes, God’s grace still prevails in the end, Thank you Jesus!”
Good morning SHE’s! After a busy Thanksgiving week and watching over sick grand babies yesterday I was finally able to start our Advent study and catch up on devotional’s. I often marvel at the insights offered in these devotional’s. Today I don’t want to miss seeing God’s pursuit for the hearts of his created people. Putting a plan in place to redeem us from our fallen state and returning us to a relationship with him.
“As we wait patiently to celebrate the coming of our Savior, we remember that despite our sins and mistakes, God’s grace still prevails in the end. Thank you, Jesus!”
– Abby Flynn- She Reads Truth
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“without the waiting, we cannot celebrate the overwhelming revelation of His coming.” -Ryne Brewer- He Reads Truth
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Thank you, Abby and Ryne for these beautifully written devos and the reminder to focus on our Savior and His marvelous works and ways. Adding my personal
“Thank You, Jesus!”
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SONG SHARE:
Thank You, Jesus – Charity Gayle
Heaven Came Down (and glory filled my soul)
Fear, He Is a Liar by Zach Williams
(So many sinful choices are anchored in the FEAR of missing out.)
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Love, hugs, prayers, and THANKS for your great shares/insights, SHES!!! ❤
If there ever is a time to remind us of our fickle, frail humanity its this very story. How quickly and easily we are distracted and choose what looks good and pleasing to the eye over what God intends for us. It can be subtle but oh, so easy to feel like a different way is ok, not really that harmful. We have been given freewill to decide for ourselves and goodness, on our own we are so lost. Right from the beginning we needed a Savior, we needed help, hope and rescue from the darkness. These words from HRT stood out to me: “Waiting in the darkness is uncomfortable. But waiting in the darkness without the promise of light; that’s hopeless.” Thank you Father, that we are not without hope, that your way is best, that we can trust in you. That you are our rescue, our light in the darkness and that despite our wayward ways you are our gracious and mighty Savior. Amen❤️
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Hallelujah what a savior. He loves me and had a plan in spite of me.
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How often am I like Eve, looking for fulfillment and purpose outside of God? How often do I live like I believe God is holding back? I long to live my life in such a way that shows that I trust God fully and that I truly believe He has a plan and a purpose for my life.
Amen! I felt the same way and asked myself these same questions. Gods grace still prevails in the end!
Dear Michelle
In agreement …
(and aggrieved…)
Thank you for this! I’ve been needing to get back in the word, and I’m grateful for this Advent study.
However, something that stood out to me that Abby said was that both the woman and the serpent were cursed, but actually the text says that the serpent and the ground were cursed. The woman and the man had consequences for their actions and they had to leave the garden which meant they would die, but they were not cursed. Their relationship with God was broken but yes, and praise him that Jesus came as the second Adam and that God had a plan to defeat death and reconcile us to himself for all eternity ❤️.
All three advent journals have blessed me tremendously, including today’s. I did also notice that our author indicated they were cursed, whereas it was the ground and Satan that were cursed.
Thank You, Lord.
Thankful for grace
So grateful for grace!!
My hubby and I are in a period of waiting on the Lord to show us the way He wants us to go. It feels uncomfortable. This quote from HRT stuck out to me today: “Waiting in the darkness is uncomfortable. But waiting in the darkness without the promise of light; that’s hopeless.”
I don’t feel hopeless. I know God is going to come through with a plan for us. We need to keep on walking in the Light and He will reveal the way.
I love this line: “Like many of us, she became convinced that God was holding out in some way when He had already given everything they would ever need (vv.6–7)!”
We do have everything that we would ever need. We have a savior, Jesus. We have the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. And we have a loving Father, who is patiently waiting for us to seek him. Praise God for his goodness towards us.
Prayer request: please pray for Bart, my sister’s neighbour. He had a heart attack on Sunday and is having complications with clotting
issues. He has a young son
I’m glad God still searches for me because I’m still here searching for him and desperately desiring him.
When The Lord asks where Adam is, fully knowing where he is…I’m reminded that He searches for His children. I’m so thankful He found me.
I’m home with a bad cold and was looking forward to having some time with you all but my “reply” isn’t working. I’m thinking about how Satan deceived Eve and how I can so easily be deceived as well. A small offense can be made into an entire story in my head. Often I can focus on one negative aspect instead of looking at all the positive around me. I heard something the other day, “whatever negative you put on repeat ends in defeat”. It is a constant battle of the mind. But when I remember to take a holy pause and focus on Jesus, I am more able to see the light.
I’m reminded of Sunday School as a child, and our lesson about temptations. We were given a Hersey’s Kiss and asked to unwrap it, smell it, etc. Then we were told to let it sit in front of us as we learned about Adam and Eve in the garden. We were reminded many times about the chocolate sitting in front of us. We were only told the one time to not eat it until the lesson was over and we had earned it, but many kids couldn’t wait and gave in. Such a simple lesson that 20+ years still sticks with me today. Many times in life I find myself thinking, “how does this moment compare to the Hershey’s Kiss?”
I’ve never thought to connect the birth of Christ with the Garden of Eden. It’s such a powerful connection to remember where it all began as we celebrate this season that is also filled with many temptations and justifications. Thank you God for such a powerful connection and opportunity to reflect and dwell in your love, forgiveness, and grace.
That’s so good! It reminds me of the “cookie challenge” circulating on IG last year, of putting it in front of your child and saying not to eat it, and leaving the room….as the video camera is rolling! It was so cute to see temptation in play!! They were so funny…but, like yours, a powerful analogy!
It’s crazy how the reply button is sporadic..(again), the little surprise when it DOES works on a comment!
I think it was Megan C’s comment I wanted to add to. She said she often wondered why the tree was put there in the beginning then someone, was it Sally, that said it gave opportunity to TRUST God! That is so true and relevant as we have to remember that daily. Temptation is ALWAYS around us in every way, but we have to surrender our flesh, kill the flesh, and know to trust God alone, not our own thinking. I can’t even remember now what I was gonna add to that…haha.
I love the question asked by her son if the movie has bad guys…I wonder why there are so many bad guys in this life. Wouldn’t it be nice NOT to worry about bad guys! But every good story or movie has a bad guy to reveal the good guy!
We ask God, why? Can’t you just wipe away all the bad guys, the bad stuff of this world. Well, darn I would be wiped away too! We all would. We like to categorize “bad” and the is bad bad…but none of us are living within God’s rules that he gave us…we can’t. That’s the need for a Savior from the beginning! HRT puts it-
“The backdrop of Advent must be dark. It’s in the dark backdrop of Genesis 3:1–15 that the diamond of the promise delivers the first glimpse of hope. This promise must be lived in the tension of waiting and revealing. Because without the waiting, we cannot celebrate the overwhelming revelation of His coming.”
We need Hope! In a hopeless world that is failing and dark all around us…it makes us cry out for relief, for right, for content, for comfort and mainly PEACE! And Hallelujah God gave us the one and only thing that can do it all—Jesus!! It takes a long road traveled and time to finally put Jesus in the center of your life! You think, why didn’t I just rely and surrender to Jesus from the beginning! Well, we need to be in the movie, and create the testimony. But then, we must share what we know, that our Savior not only rescued me, but is and can be the Hero to everyone! Those in the dark, those in the hurt, those searching for wisdom! No we never arrive perfectly, but He did die for us to be holy as he, so we are made righteous as he, we have the Holy Spirit to give us what we need! We dwell “on what is right and pure, and lovely..”
We have victory in Christ, from the garden, the redemption was coming, from the beginning of creation (as we read the first day)!
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I read this in the book, “The Prophecy Knowledge Handbook” by Walvoord. The temptations Eve faced are the same temptations we face today. That it was “pleasing to the eye” corresponds to “the lust of our eyes.” That it was “desirable for gaining wisdom” appeals to pride.
How many times have I fallen for the same type of temptation? I’m so thankful for God’s grace and mercy and the birth of Jesus and all He did on the cross for all who are born again!
Love that this study is pointing us back to our reason for needing a Savior. Thank you Jesus. ❤️
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And if you look in Genesis 1 and 2, God is referred to as “Lord God”, so Satan stripped God of His Lordship before deceiving. So powerful! I will join you in your prayer this morning.
He has already given us everything we will ever need. ❤️ Amen
♥️ Love this too. What a beautiful and powerful fact to remember and to share.
I was reminded when I read about Adam and Eve covering themselves with fig leaves that God did not leave them covered with their guilt and shame. He provided them with animal skins for clothing. Genesis 3:21
The first sacrifice in Genesis.
So incredible to know God’s plan was always salvation through the sacrifice of His Son. Thank you Lord!
I love the cross-over between the Garden and the coming Messiah. So often we don’t put the promise of the coming Messiah as far back as the Garden. Everyday I am so thankful for God’s mercy.
“Would I have looked outside of God to give me what I felt he was holding back?” Every.single.day I do this! It’s such a good reminder that just as Eve wanted to be like God, I do this as I look to myself or to other outside sources to orchestrate my life in MY terms. Oh, that I would learn from Eve and remember that I can rest and trust in his promises!
Me too— such a great reminder.
Yesterday’s and today’s readings take me back to the Jesse Tree, made by my Grandma, when my children were little. It’s “a very special Christmas tree that tells the story of our family…from the very first mother and father..:.right up to Jesus and his birthday.” It came complete with daily Bible readings and a song to sing each day. I looked back and Day 1 is an apple, Day 2 is a snake to be hung on the tree. The kids and I loved going through the days, reminding us why Jesus was born! I’ve since passed the Tree on to my son to share the story with his family. May we all remember the Reason for the Season!
I love this! It reminds me of the Jewish Passover celebration when they recount the story of how God rescued them from Israel. I often wish that we Christians we had such traditions.
God always wins…He bides His time, He waits and allows us to learn and grow but He always wins. The bad turns to good, the enemy will be destroyed and Jesus won it all at the cross!
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I love this – “From the moment Adam and Eve sinned, bringing death into the world, God was already forming a plan of salvation.” He was already planning for our salvation!! I will savor that today.
Thank you Jesus! Amen.
“Did God really say…” WOW. This really stood out to me this morning. Satan is sly and good at deceiving us. He makes us second guess the truth. We see this in our culture everyday- slight tweaks to God’s words and the truth. Lord, help me really know your word so that I can stand firm in your truth and not be deceived by misinterpretations of Your word.
Amén!
Oh this is a good nugget to chew on! Thank you!!
And in Genesis 1 and 2, God was referred to as “LORD God” so Satan even stripped him of His Lordship before deceiving. So powerful!I will join you in your prayer today
I love that, in that one moment of temptation sin came into the world and darkness, BUT GOD, in that same moment or a moment later. already had a plan for our redemption. I am so grateful that he did not miss a single beat to give us a way to be with him in glory, Amen!
So glad GOD already had a plan… and today he still has a plan for us.
This is such a great reminder that He is always there for us and that He forgives. I hope I can be an example of forgiveness and love
You know… God is like every good parent. Always prepared for accidents or incidents to happen. It’s awesome and awful to know at the same time that He knows… EVERYTHING! Including my messes and no matter what always helps clean them!
He loved us from the beginning.
Abby asks, “if it were me instead of Eve in that garden, would I have made the same choice?”
Genesis 3:13a And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done? …
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How often do we make decisions (hastily, without prayer) that can’t be undone, and say those same words to ourselves, what have I done? Whew. Too frequently. I am so thankful for my salvation!
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Be on guard for deceivers, sisters, they are everywhere, everyday.
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Praying for
KATIE HEINRICH
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN
MONICA P
MERCY
TRICIA C
LINDAK
KIRSTIE ELLIS
MEAGAN C
I am so grateful for the fact that, even though we may act hastily and things cannot be undone, God is already making a plan. I love our loving God he always has a plan for every part of us and every missed step that we can take.
Great reflection, Searching! ❤
Amen
God’s question: “where are you?”
I’ve heard a teaching about this once that emphasized that God didn’t ask „where are you“ as in I truly misplaced something but rather in a sense of „ I know where I put my keys, I always put them there and they aren’t in their spot kinda where are you“
I’m so thankful God chose to save such a broken people. Our race was freshly created and already doubted Him. May we be mindful of God’s ever present help in this world.
To be honest, I do sometimes wonder why humans were granted access to the tree with the forbidden fruit. I also sometimes wonder why the serpent was allowed in the garden at all. God clearly had a plan, His ways are higher than mine, and He is over all creation, but from my limited point of view it’s not always easy to understand.
Some of that came up in our sermon Sunday, Meagan. Our pastor said the tree of the knowledge of good and evil points out that while man was created in God’s image, we are not equal to God and it offered our first parents an opportunity to trust God.
Hope that’s helpful – it was for me.
I often wonder that same thing and have to trust God’s ultimate plan. Sally B, that is helpful!
Advent invites us to feel the tension:
the reality of our need
and the certainty of God’s rescue.
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Today we remember that God’s promise to send a Savior didn’t begin in Bethlehem.
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It began in a garden, spoken by a God who refuses to abandon His people—even at their worst.
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On this Advent day, I remember the garden,
the moment when sin entered the world
and when Your love rushed in even faster.
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Thank You that Your first words after the fall
were not condemnation alone,
but a promise of a Savior.
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Thank You for the hope You planted
long before we ever knew we needed it.
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Jesus, You are the promised offspring,
the One who crushes the serpent’s head,
the One who brings life where Adam brought death.
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Help me today to rest in Your victory
and to trust Your grace in my weakness.
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As I wait and prepare my heart for Christmas,
teach me to hope boldly,
to walk humbly,
and to look for the ways You are still making
all things new.
Amen.
Kimberly, thank you for the beautiful words and your prayer for Advent.
Beautiful.
Your comment/ prayer/poem encouraged me greatly today. Thank you Kimberly.
❤️
Kimberly, what great insights of today’s scripture and a beautiful prayer. Thank you ❤️
“The gift is not like the trespass.” – Romans 5:15
Hallelujah! I’m so grateful that God has saved and redeemed us from the grave. Because of Him, I know that my daughter dwells with him and I will see her again someday.
Today it strikes me that Eve wasn’t intentionally setting out to disobey God. She was aiming to do a good thing: “the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom” (Genesis 3:6), but failed to remain inside God’s instruction while doing so.
How many times to I attempt to do good things, but turn my gaze away from Jesus while doing so? In John 15:5, Jesus says, “you can do nothing without me.” When I feel weary from spinning my wheels and trying to make everything in my life work, but not accomplishing anything except falling into sin in the pride of my misguided attempts, Jesus the Savior is waiting for me. ❤️
I’m so glad you pointed this out. Eve had the same motivations behind many of my own sins – not evil intentions to purposefully scheme, but quiet actions of disobedience trying to get the job done without Him. Praise the Lord for His patience.
❤️ yes!
Wow- what a profound revelation you received. I can very much relate to this. Thdvknyou for sharing!
Great insight ❤️I too can relate
So good Phoebe! Thank you for sharing this with us. Let us ponder this today in our busyness to “get everything done this season” without first inviting Jesus in. ❤️
Amen❤️
I’m so thankful that the world is not our home. Thank you Jesus for making a way!!!!!
“In the garden, we see Satan deceive by working to reframe and discredit what God had said (Genesis 3:4–5). He tried to make it seem like God was keeping His creation from living fully…but nothing could be further from the truth.”
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The devil is a one-trick pony. The same lie, over and over, yet we humans keep falling for it. :-(
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Through the devil’s lie, Adam and Eve’s eyes were “opened” to evil and blinded to God’s goodness. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Christian’s eyes have been “opened” to God’s goodness and grace.
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Oh, wait! I believe we have a song about that…”Amazing Grace” ;-)
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Praying for your requests and voiced concerns. ❤️
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My thoughts, too this morning Kelly. The devil uses the same tactics because we keep falling for it over and over. Believing that the grass is greener on the “other side” and God has withheld something that would make us happy…
Oh Father, forgive us for our sin of unbelief, redeem us and protect us from the evil one!
In this day and age, we know there is no chance of being tempted by a serpent, let alone one that will speak untruths to us..(unless of course he is a human dressed in costume!)
I would freak, literally!!
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But here’s the thing.. serpents come in all shapes, sizes, words, ‘stuff’, from words spoken to acts done, seen or unseen, we ARE tempted!!
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BUT GOD..
From the beginning of time, He has not withheld that promise of the One who would wipe away our sin.
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He has NEVER given up on us.
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He has always and forever had our soooo undeserving backs.
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He loves us, to infinity and beyond, unconditionally..
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He would (and did) die for US.
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As we enter this Advent season, I choose to be reminded once more of the story of Jesus, and His gift to me, daily..
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I choose to write every word and promise on my heart.
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I choose to recentre my heart. My mind and my being..to fully remember His grace, despite me..
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I choose to daily say, THANK YOU, JESUS..
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THANK YOU, JESUS.
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THANK YOU, JESUS.
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AMEN..
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Blessed Tuesday ya’ll, covered in hugs and prayers and so tightly wrapped in love..❤️❤️❤️
I choose too❣️
Joining you in thanks – can we ever be thankful enough??
❤️❤️❤️❤️
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Come, Lord Jesus
Thank you Lord for your love and mercy
My oldest daughter responded to my youngest when asked the same question “the hero wouldn’t have anything to do if there wasn’t a bad guy”
Yes, amen! It’s so true, God WANTS us to participate in the story!! He wants his followers to make a difference, to help, give, comfort, save…DO!! We need to act like the heroes more!! What insight your daughter gave, whether she got it completely or not!
Today I am struck by the beautiful reality that death is not the end of our story- that grace in Christ has prevailed! What an incredible God we serve, that from the beginning He was at work to restore and to redeem this story. Thank you Jesus!
This is so powerful
Thank You Jesus