Genesis 3:1-7 (NRSV)
Read Genesis 3:1-7 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 3Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, 'You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Verse 2The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; Verse 3but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'" Verse 4But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die; Verse 5for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Verse 6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Verse 7Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
Devotion
The disruption foreshadowed in yesterday’s lesson occurs today. The freshness of creation withers before our eyes. Contrary to the command of the Lord, the fruit of the tree is consumed and things begin to come apart.
No matter how hard we try, that basic disorder remains with us. Many seek to deny that mess by creating schemes and making plans, which is the reason there is always a market for how-to and self-improvement books. Still, we do not live as those without hope. However, our hope is not in what we do or create but in what God has done for us. In Christ there is new life and new creation.
Prayer
O Lord of Life, speak to us in the midst of our broken lives. Even though sin, death and the devil are very much with us, let the healing power of your Son be more profoundly with us to heal and make whole. Amen.