Bible Pathways 01/01/05
January 1
Read Genesis 1 - 3
In Today's Reading:
Creation of all things; creation of Adam and Eve; temptation by Satan; Adam and Eve rebel against God and forfeit Garden of Eden
God made mankind in His image and His likeness. He made us different from every animal. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). No animal has a God consciousness or is capable of worshiping God.
The LORD God took the man (Adam), and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress (cultivate) it and to keep it (Genesis 2:15). Man's responsibility was to obey the Word of God and to take care of His garden However, God allowed man's love, loyalty, and obedience to be tested.
In Eden, we are introduced to Satan, the one who came in the guise of the serpent (3:1). He is also called the dragon, that old serpent . . . the Devil. . . Satan (Revelation 20:2; see also Isaiah 14:12; Matthew 13:39; I Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:10). He did not reveal himself as the enemy of God or as a wicked deceiver intent on destroying every enjoyment of mankind (II Thessalonians 2:9-10). His intent was, and still is, to prevent man from obeying his Creator. First, Satan tried to create doubt concerning the truth of what God had said. He implied that God was withholding the best enjoyments in life from Adam and Eve. He asked: Has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (Genesis 3:1). This was followed by Satan's partial truth, which was a lie: God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil (3:5). At that moment, Eve chose to trust self rather than God, began to "covet" what belonged only to God and disregarded His ownership and authority. She saw that the tree was good for food, and . . . pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, so she chose to trespass on God's property and took of the fruit thereof, and did eat (3:6).
Eve yielded to lust when she coveted what God had reserved for Himself. On that day, Adam and Eve, the father and mother of all mankind, chose to eat the forbidden fruit. They sinned, and consequently, died spiritually. From that moment on, all of Adam's descendants inherited his sinful, disobedient nature. So death passed upon all men (Romans 5:12).
Christ Revealed:
As Creator (Genesis 1:1). John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 11:3. As the Seed of woman (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7). God sent forth His Son, made of a woman (Galatians 4:4).
Word Studies:
1:29 meat = food; 2:10 heads = branches, rivers; 2:14 Hiddekel = Tigris; 2:15 dress = take care of it; 2:24 cleave = cling; 3:1 subtil = shrewd; 3:13 beguiled = deceived, seduced; 3:15 it = her Seed (Jesus Christ); bruise = attack, wound.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The International Shortwave Radio Broadcast sponsored by a family that loves Jesus · The Arabic International Shortwave Radio Broadcast sponsored by Mary Hoffmeyer · Government Officials: Sen. Jon Corzine (NJ), Rep. Martin Frost (TX), Sen. Ernest Hollings (SC), Gov. Gary Johnson (NM), Gov. Tony Knowles (AK), Rep. Robert Menendez (NJ), and Rep. John Sullivan (OK) · Country: French Guiana (168,000) on the northern coast of South America · Major language: French · Religious freedom · 88% Protestant · Prayer Suggestion: Trust the Lord for deliverance in times of trouble (Psalm 50:15).
Optional Reading: Matthew 1
NOTE: Bible Pathway covers the Old Testament with devotional and commentary insights over a nine-month period, January through September. Each day during these months, an optional reading of one chapter a day from the New Testament will also be listed. The October, November, and December issues will provide a daily commentary on the New Testament readings. Thus, the reader goes through the New Testament twice each year using the Bible Pathway plan.
Memory Verse for the Week: Galatians 2:20
