Genesis 3:8-15 (NRSV)
Read Genesis 3:8-15 on biblegateway.com
Verse 8They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
Verse 9But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" Verse 10He said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
Verse 11He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" Verse 12The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate." Verse 13Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent tricked me, and I ate."
Verse 14The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. Verse 15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel."
Devotion
God saw humans and sees us just as we are. God knows us because what God created was very good, and, therefore, was without shame. Suddenly, it all changed. The original vision was gone and now humans saw themselves to be unacceptable in God’s sight. Labels replaced acceptance. Self-image became more powerful than genuineness. Anxiety entered the creation as self-determination became more important than God’s words. The serpent’s promise was true; creation was as powerful as the creator, but without God’s love. Creation was broken; sin had entered the garden.
Still God continues to create. We come into this world naked and are not ashamed. Far too many of us, however, grow believing voices telling us to be something different than who we are. The opposite of love is not hating, but getting control. It’s impossible to have both love and control working simultaneously in a relationship. God creates us in love, and we are called to love one another.
Prayer
Beautiful Creator, allow me to walk with you again. Give me the eyes to see your creation as you see it. Allow me to invite others to walk with you today and know peace. Amen.