“Did God really say…?”
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”...”You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” - (Genesis 3:1, 4-5).
When I was a little girl, I would often hear others say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” It is ironic that in this adage, the apple enables us to be healthy, but in one of the most famous moments of mankind’s history, a piece of fruit was what resulted in us needing our heavenly Physician to bring healing. Genesis 3 is an interesting passage that clearly reveals the “sneaky” ways of the enemy. He begins by saying “Did God really say...?” This is the crafty way Satan works. He takes the very promises of God and casts doubt upon them. “Does God really care about you? Look at the difficulties in your life!” “Did Jesus die for all your sins? Isn’t this sin unforgivable since you are already a believer and you should know better?” “Can God really use your life? You are too weak, untalented, and sinful to be used of God.” “Can God really heal you and free you from this behavior? After all, don’t you have to be stronger yourself to be set free of this?”
First we see Satan casting doubt on God’s Word. Eve was strong enough to respond to the devil’s lie by speaking out the Truth of what God said. However, it was not completely accurate as she says: “we must not touch it, or we will die.” God never said anything about touching the fruit, only eating the fruit.
We must be careful to know and use God’s Word in the ways He intended.
Thus, we must study His Word and not just depend on the interpretations of others or carelessly and quickly read, rather than meditating upon and studying it. Ask The Lord to protect you from doubt and fill you with faith in His Truth and promises.
Excerpt from: More Beautiful By The Day (visit "shop" tab)
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