SOAP = Scripture Observation Application Prayer
S: Genesis 3:4-5, 22-23
O: I am struck that in verses 4-5 the serpent tells Eve the partial truth—that she will know good and evil, but he lies to her telling her that bypassing God would NOT be a problem. In verses 22-23, God says that human beings do know good and evil, just like the serpent says, but he has to banish them from the garden because he knows that this knowledge was gained outside of his timing and care, and so they will not handle this knowledge well.
Adam and Eve are like God as the serpent said in knowing Good and Evil, but they are farther from God then they ever have been.
A: Temptation often comes to me in this half-truth way. I am tempted by some offer of good, but to go outside of God to get it.
If only I would work harder and hone my political skills and climb the ladder of ambition at work, and not waste so much time in prayer and devotions and being a servant leader. If only I spent just a little more money on clothing or makeup or hair to become more appealing to people, and didn’t give that tithe to the church. If I’d just give my time to the unrelenting search for the right guy, instead of trying to get to know the people in my church family with no strings attached. Then I could be successful, beautiful, and loved. But I would be farther from God. I would find like Adam and Eve that all those seemingly good things become full of death and despair apart from God.
P: God help me keep you first and reject the half-truths of temptation. I don’t want to follow my ancestors as they bypassed you and pursued other things. Thanks for loving me so much. Thanks for being all I need to live a rich and fulfilling life.
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Posted on
Mon, October 10, 2011
by Jonna Fantz