The Sneaky serpent



I started a new Bible reading plan a couple of days ago. The reading for today began with Genesis 3. Before I began to read, I asked God to show me something fresh in a familiar story. And then, I read the very first verse...

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?

-Genesis 3:1 (ESV)

I have read this story a bunch of times. I am sure that every believer has read this story a ton of times. We all have those resolutions to read the Bible in a year but quit somewhere around Leviticus or Numbers, and then we will try again next January. That is me, too. Today, however, God gave me a fresh reminder about the sneakiness of the enemy in temptation.

Did you notice what the serpent did not ask? When I read Genesis 3:1, my natural thinking was "Why didn't the serpent ask if God said that they should not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?" The serpent was setting Adam and Eve up. He wasn't going to come at them straight on but was going to sneak in the back door.

The serpent asked the question the way he did to place doubt in Eve's mind. When the serpent asked about "any tree in the garden," Eve thought, "Well, God did not say we couldn't eat from 'any tree' but He did point out one that we are supposed to stay away from." It was at this point that the serpent slipped in the doubt. He began to lure Eve to think that God was withholding something from her by not allowing Adam and Eve to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Knowing the full story, we know that God was not withholding anything, but actually was protecting Adam and Eve from pain and seperation from Him. The thing about this story in the Bible is that the enemy has not changed his methods. Even today, the devil and demons are roaming around seeking to deceive and devour. The serpent of old is still very active and very deceptive.

Many times, sin does not occur the instant one is first tempted. It usually begins with a simple thought...often about something that God is withholding from us. Whether its power, wealth, pleasure, or many other things, the lie is the same as it was thousands of years ago. The enemy wants us to think what God has commanded us to refrain from is actually what will fulfill what we are lacking. And all of us know that when one gives in to those temptations, no one is satisfied...no one is fulfilled...we are just empty and ashamed. However, praise the LORD that the story does not end there...

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring

and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

-Genesis 3:15 (ESV)

God has promised to not leave us in our sin, shame, and guilt. God promised to the first fallen man and woman that He was going to send One who will defeat and destroy that sneaky serpent, remove the penalty of sin, and offer life and freedom to any who would believe in Him. Just as it did for Adam and Eve, the promise remains for us today.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."

 -John 3:16 (ESV)



I saw my Maw Maw today...

I saw my Maw Maw today...at least it sure seemed like I did. While I was cutting grass at the seminary, I saw an old woman who, at first glance, looked like my grandmother...same white hair and same type of clothes. To many this may not seem like a big deal and you may not even care that I am sharing this, but I was reminded of my grandmother today and wanted anyone who reads this to maybe be encouraged by her story. Let me tell you why this was meaningful to me.

When I think about my grandmother, I think about 2 Timothy 1:5 where Paul reminds Timothy of the faith he gained from his Grandmother Eunice. I also think about Hebrews 12:1 when it mentions "so great a cloud of witnesses" that have gone before us. My grandmother was one of the most devoted prayer warriors and most generous people I ever knew. Toward the end of her life, health issues began to affect her mind sometimes. She was always such a generous person. It got to the point where my aunt and uncle had to take over her bank account because she kept giving money to people in need and didn't have enough to pay her own bills. I learned a great deal about giving from her.

In February 2008, God led me to go on a three-month mission trip to Peru. I took a big step of faith trusting God to provide all the money I would need for the trip. One week before the trip, I had finally gotten enough money to buy the plane ticket but was left with nothing. Later that day, my dad and I went to visit my grandmother because it would be the last chance I would have to see her before I left for Peru. It was a great visit. Before we left, my grandmother handed me a check for $25. God went on to provide all that I needed for the trip. However, that $25 check was the most meaningful donation to my trip that I received.

My grandmother passed away two days after I got back from Peru. The last thing that my grandmother ever did for me was give all that she had so that Peruvians could hear about Jesus. She will forever be a hero of the faith for me. She spent her life for God. When she died, she left a small house, a small amount of clothing, and a small piece of land. However, she left an enormous impact for Christ on this world. I miss her a lot but am so thankful for all that she did for me. Most of all, she prayed. I hope that God will use me to spread the Gospel and love of Christ just like my Maw Maw.