7-28-2015

 Good Morning All!!

          Genesis 3:6; “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”

     Oh to have a bite of that fruit!  It was so inviting; it was so tantalizing.  It probably hung on the low branch so it was easy to pick.  There was something about it that made Eve stop and look and think.  “I really want a bite of that fruit.”  She did and Adam did and the rest is, as they say, history.  Sin is here.

     Many people often question why God put the tree of knowledge in the garden in the first place.  It was a special tree that he placed in the garden; nothing really extraordinary about it.  It is kind of funny; we blame God, the serpent, the tree or any other thing we can try but the truth is Eve was tempted and gave in and Adam joined right in.  She went against God’s will, against his plan for her life; so she suffered because of it. 

    God has a plan or a design for our life.  It is built around his Word and leads us to a life that is in harmony and contentment.  Yet sin in the world, sin in our life leads us away.  We may start with great intentions but soon that low hanging fruit tantalizes, tempts and ultimately draws into the web of sin.  In the Bible, the fruit is never named.  In our life, the fruit has many names.  Personal leisure time, increased profitability, children’s opportunities, increased networking, social involvement; to name a few.  At first, they may even look like a good idea.  We need time of leisure and rest.  We want our children to have rich childhood experiences.  There is nothing inherently wrong with greater profitability or having a social conscience but we can over pursue and soon be well off of God’s design.

     You hear it all the time.  People will constantly tell me, “they are too busy for church.”  There is always something to get in the way; there is always some low hanging fruit to grab and miss time of worship, time of devotion or time of prayer.  We are just too busy.  Now what we are busy at may not be all that evil.  I remember a young mother telling me that her family would be missing Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worship services because they were just too busy over the holidays; there were too many things planned so church would go to the back burner.  Yet do we ever question why?

    The devil points to the low hanging fruit and we grab it not realizing that in doing so, we are adrift and that drift is away from God and just like Eve, we don’t clearly remember God’s Word.  God’s promise is a little foggy; well it has been awhile but “I’ve been a little busy” and our faith weakens and our confidence sags just a little and that little bit can lead to sin.  Remember, God’s voice is often quiet and we need to listen closely.  We need to place God first.  In that way, we follow his will.

Father, too often I am too busy for your Word and your service.  Forgive me as I fall.  Pick me up and place me back on the path of serving you.  Keep me close to you and give me the strength to avoid the temptations of this world.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret