Have it Your Way

A Series on Living in the Wilderness
 (Use the link below to read the verses.)
Genesis 3:1-19

 [In this series we will be looking at people who lived in the wilderness. Not necessarily a wilderness of natural creation, but a wilderness of their own creation. In fact, there are times when we all feel like we are living in the wilderness. During those times, it’s important to remember that the Lord is still with us.]

 

In 2014, Burger King scrapped its 40-year-old slogan of "Have It Your Way" in favor of the more personal motto, "Be Your Way." At the time they released a statement that the new motto is intended to remind people that "they can and should live how they want anytime”. Hmm. Interesting.

 

Don’t both of these slogans seem to appeal to an entitled consumer? Have it your way because you’re entitled. “You deserve a break today”, to quote another burger chain slogan. If I deserve to have it my way, what else do I deserve? That could be the question that Adam and Eve asked themselves in the Garden.

 

They lived in perfect harmony with nature, each other and the Lord who created them. He provided everything they needed. They felt no guilt or shame; no jealousy or envy; no hate or vengefulness. Their life was perfect. They had everything they needed or wanted. But apparently it wasn’t enough. They still felt entitled.

 

⁴ “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. ⁵ “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

⁶ The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.           NLT

 

What was the result of their actions of entitlement? Adam and Eve were thrown out of paradise, and into the wilderness. Why would they do such a thing? Certainly, you nor I would have. Wrong!

 

Who hasn’t felt entitled to cut someone off in traffic; to say something hurtful to someone; to tell a half truth, or leave out the whole truth, when it’s to our benefit; to act out a self-serving behavior that gets us what we want. And, like Adam and Eve, entitlement can result in us living in the wilderness.

 

Thankfully, the Lord has promised a new home for us to go to that will be every much as perfect as Eden. Not because we are entitled to it, but because He loves us no matter what. And because of that love, He sent His one and only son to make it possible.

 

Copyright 2021 Joseph B Williams

 

 

Bad Things

A Series on Women in the Bible
 (Use the link below to read the verses.)
Genesis 2:23; 3:20

[God worked in and through the lives of countless women in the Bible. These women played significant, if not critical roles in the Lord’s plan of Redemption. In this series, we will look at the faithfulness of some of these God fearing women.]

  

People are often defined by the “bad things” that they do.

 

In the fall, over 106,000 screaming fans cram into Ohio Stadium to worship the Ohio State football team. From 1978-81, Art Schlichter was the starting quarterback for the Buckeyes.

 

He was an All American, three time Heisman trophy candidate, and was the fourth pick in the 1982 NFL draft. He knew what it was like to have everything going his way; to enjoy the celebrity of being a football god; to be at the top of the world.

 

And yet, his life came crashing down. He had a gambling addiction that cost him his NFL career, and landed him in prison for over a decade. Despite all the good that he did while at Ohio State, some might define him only by the bad things he did.

 

The same thing could easily be said about Eve. She was living at the top of the world; in harmony with the Lord God, with nature and with Adam. She couldn’t have asked for a better life.

 

And yet, she threw it all away. She left the Garden of Eden in shame. She is only mentioned two other times in the Bible; both in reference to her being deceived, and in deceiving Adam. Eve could easily be defined by the “bad things” that she did.

 

But, she is also the same person who Adam said this about.

 

²³ “At last, here is one of my own kind—Bone taken from my bone, and flesh from my flesh. ‘Woman’ is her name because she was taken out of man.”    GNT

 

She was named Eve because the name sounds like a Hebrew term which means “to give life”. Think about it. A man can create by designing and building something, but he can’t give life. Adam couldn’t give life. Only Eve could. That’s a phenomenal gift; to give life.

 

²⁰ Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.               NIV

 

Therefore, the next time you find yourself judging someone by defining them according to the bad things they have done; think about Eve. And the next time you judge or define yourself by the bad things you have done; think about Eve. Then look for how the Lord God has worked in your life to bring life to others.

 

Copyright 2021 Joseph B Williams

 

 

The Hope of the 60’s

Revelation 22

 

The 60’s generation thought we were the hope of the future. We thought we were going to correct all the mistakes that our parents had made; that politicians had made; that the establishment had made.

 

Then came the assassinations of John F Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Robert F Kennedy. It was a tumultuous time with the Viet Nam war, demonstrations and Woodstock.  Yet, we thought we were the hope of the future.

 

What keeps you going when you fail to meet your own expectations; your own hopes; your own dreams? What keeps getting you up in the morning after life knocks you

down? What keeps you trying when circumstances seem hopeless?

 

When John wrote the book of Revelation, circumstances did seem hopeless. Emperor worship was being enforced. Christians were facing greater and greater hostility, even to the point of martyrdom. John himself had been exiled to Patmos, which was a penal colony, probably for his missionary activities.

 

God’s Covenant of Hope always seems to include fruitfulness. He started in the Garden of Eden; continued with the promise of a land filled with milk and honey; and concludes with the promise of the restoration of Eden. See if you can visualize this idyllic garden that John describes.

 

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. NIV

 

"No longer will there be a curse”… In the 60’s, we thought we would put an end to the curse. We were wrong. Only the Living God can do that. Through the promises of Revelation 22, He gives us hope. Not only is it hope for us as believers, but also for us to share with others in a world without hope.

 

 

 

(If God has spoken to you, or touched your heart through this devotional, please feel free to share it with others.)

 

 

 

 

BAM! It’s a Celebration!

Genesis 3:14-15

 

Have you ever watched a movie where in the beginning everything is going great? “Life is good” as they say. But then… the bad guy enters, and life turns upside down. One thing after another goes wrong as the villain gains power and wreaks havoc.

 

As you watch, first you begin to root against the bad guy. Then your feelings become a little stronger; maybe borderline anger. Finally you reach your limit when you find yourself wishing that something terribly wrong would happen to the villain.

 

And when it does, BAM! It’s a celebration! If you’re at the theatre the audience may even applaud and cheer.

 

The story of Adam and Eve is kind of like that. They are in the Garden of Eden in perfect harmony with each other, the world around them and especially with God. But then the serpent enters. He spins a few lies and all of a sudden, life is turned upside down.

 

When you think about this, does it make you angry? Do you even feel hatred for the serpent? He doesn’t care about Adam or Eve or God or you or me. He’s like the guy in the All State commercial who loves to create mayhem. That’s what the serpent does; death and destruction.

 

 

Finally, the Lord God enters to declare the consequences of all of their behavior. He directs His first comments toward the serpent. If you listen carefully, you can hear His angry, booming voice as He pronounces the final defeat of the snake.

 

“Because you’ve done this, you’re cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals,
Cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I’m declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He’ll wound your head, you’ll wound his heel.”            MSG

 

The serpent is doomed. But who is it that will wound the serpent’s head, or as it is translated in the NIV, “crush your head”?

 

These two verses are the first promise of Jesus. He will crush the head of Satan. He will have victory. Go ahead. You can stand up and cheer. Satan has been defeated. We have been delivered. The Lord is alive and still at work in us and through us.

 

BAM! It’s a celebration!