Eden Day 8 Temptation Tactics

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 3:1-6
John 8:44-47
2 Corinthians 11:12-15
Matthew 4:1-11
Ephesians 6:10-18

Eden, Day 8

Scripture tells us Adam and Eve were the first people God created. He placed them in the Garden of Eden, where He provided them with everything they needed, but there was one particular tree God commanded them not to eat from. God said the tree was for the knowledge of good and evil and would bring death if they ate its fruit. Deceptive Satan, in the form of a serpent, deceived Adam and Eve and they ate from the tree. This rebellion resulted in the fall of humanity; the sweet fellowship that once existed between God and humankind came to an end. (Genesis 3)

One may ask why this ugly scenario is in the midst of such beautiful creation?
Why the deception and the disobedience?

The Bible explains, “God is love” (1 John 4:16b), and true love does not force One’s will. He gave humankind free will; we can choose to obey Him or not. Like Adam and Eve, our choices always, always have consequences, whether for life or death.

While we might blame them for choosing disobedience and wrecking, well, everything, we are guilty of the same sins. We easily fall victim to Satan’s deception in our minds and hearts. As Jesus revealed,

“For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.” (Matthew 15:19)

It may not be our delight to sin against God, but we easily fall victim to temptation. As Apostle Paul said, “For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.” (Romans 7:18-19)

At the fall of humankind, sin became inherent in humans; we inherited the nature of sin from our ancestors, Adam and Eve. The urge to sin is dominant in us, because we are naturally sinful. Though we are born again in Christ, we are still living in bodies susceptible to sin, as we live in a world temporarily ruled by Satan. (John 16:11)
We are faced with two options: do God’s will, or our will.
Though God’s Spirit lives in us, He does not control us as robots; He allows us to make our own choices.

Aware of this freedom of choice, Satan uses many temptation tactics against us. Some of his tactics include lies (John 8:44), masquerading as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14-15), and blinding people’s minds (2 Corinthians 4:4). We saw his manipulation at work when he deceived Eve, telling her God was withholding something good from her, and her disobedience would certainly not lead to death, but to becoming God-like.

Throughout Scripture, as time passed, his tactics didn’t change. Satan manipulated and deceived men like King David, Achan, and Moses, and they each chose to sin against God.

One evening, King David was on the roof of his palace and saw a woman bathing. Satan enticed him with lust, and David committed rape, adultery, and murder. (2 Samuel 11)

In the same way, Achan, a military leader, coveted and stole the spoils of war, despite being warned against such greed. (Joshua 7:20-21) Satan enticed Achan with lust for the riches before him.

Similarly, Moses struck a rock to get water for the Israelites instead of speaking to it as God instructed. (Numbers 20:6-13) He was enticed by pride, acting as if the power to provide for the people belonged to him.

Sisters, though we may not be kings, military leaders, or deliverers for a people through the wilderness, we can also fall victim to any of those tactics. Knowing our susceptibility to sin, Apostle Paul urges us to put on the full armor of God so we can stand against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Likewise, Apostle Peter calls us to be sober-minded and alert because our adversary prowls around like a roaring lion seeking prey. (1 Peter 5:8) Jesus instructed us to watch and pray lest we fall into temptation. (Matthew 26:41) Proverbs 4:23 exhorts us to guard our hearts above all else because they are the source of life.

Diligently studying Scripture equips us to discern the activities of Satan. Once we understand his moves, we can resist him as Apostle James instructs us, overcoming Satan’s temptation tactics as we grow closer to God:

“Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:7-8)

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Here’s a link to all past studies in Eden!

Eden Day 7 Entrusted Caretakers: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Entrusted Caretakers!

The Questions

1) What tree is God referencing? (verse 17)

2) What is the significance of the thorns and thistles? (verse 18)

3) What did God mean by, “you will eat bread by the sweat of your brow?” (verse 19)

Genesis 3:17-19

17 And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground,
since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.”

Original Intent

1) What tree is God referencing? (verse 17)
God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to work within it and be its caretaker. (Genesis 2:15) The garden was a delightful place; I imagine lush green trees and plants with animals basking in their shade. Flowers in various colours and sizes with butterflies, birds and other insects flitting and buzzing among them, all at peace with one another and existing in perfect harmony. I hear the rush of the river flowing jubilantly through Eden, its waters glistening like jewels in the sun. In the middle of Eden stood two trees, the Tree of Life, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. (Genesis 2:9) God told Adam he could eat from any tree in the garden, except the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, or else he would die. (Genesis 2:17) Eve, being deceived by the serpent, chose sin over obedience to the Lord, and ate from the tree. Alongside her was Adam, who could have stopped her, but didn’t. She offered the fruit to her husband who willingly took it and ate, sinning with her. Death instantly became their earned consequence. Not only would they physically die one day, but the effects of spiritual death were already upon them as shame and fear slipped over them.

2) What is the significance of the thorns and thistles? (verse 18)
Because of Adam’s disobedience God cursed the ground, meaning food would no longer be easily available as it was in the garden. Adam and Eve would now need to labor painfully to cultivate their own food. The ground which Adam once ruled and yielded to him in gentle submission, would now resist his reign by producing weeds, thorns, and thistles. Work would be hard, laborious, and toil wouldn’t produce the fullness of results as was originally intended. Symbolic references to thorns and thistles are common in the Bible as they point to the struggle against sin. Proverbs 15:19 says, “A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge, but the path of the upright is a highway,” which indicates that a lazy person makes his own life difficult by not working hard for what he wants, while the righteous man is willing to do what it takes to make his life work. Ezekiel 28:24 says, “The house of Israel will no longer be hurt by prickly briers or painful thorns from all their neighbors who treat them with contempt.” This means Israel’s enemies who oppressed them or lured them into sinful idolatry, would be freed by God when he restores his kingdom, and brought them into His Land of freedom from the thorns of sin. (Ezekiel 28:25-26)

3) What did God mean by, “you will eat bread by the sweat of your brow?” (verse 19)
Following verse 18 we see how Adam now needed to work hard to cultivate his own food. The Hebrew word for bread, ‘lehem’, is also translated as food in other passages like Proverbs 27:27 that describes God providing enough food for whole households. The work Adam did in the garden before his disobedience must have been pleasurable and fulfilling, and I’m guessing there were no such things as weeds. Now, he had to clear the land from all its weeds, till the soil and plant, all without the garden tools we are familiar with today. The work would have been grueling and he would do this for the rest of his life in order to survive. By his painful toil, he would labor just to eat.

Everyday Application

1) What tree is God referencing? (verse 17)
The NKJV MacArthur Study Bible suggests it was a test of obedience to see whether they would choose to love and follow themselves or God as supreme. Many years later, God gave Abraham a similar test, but Abraham acted in faith and obeyed the Lord. (Genesis 22:1-8) Adam & Eve’s disobedience resulted in death, spiritual and physical both for themselves and every human born after them. Sin had entered the world; spiritual death meant separation from God. Even today, every sinful choice against God’s character and His commands brings the same consequence. Proverbs 6:20-23 provides some benefits of obedience, “My son, keep your father’s command, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.  Always bind them to your heart; tie them around your neck. When you walk here and there, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you. For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light, and corrective discipline is the way to life.” If Adam and Eve had eaten of the Tree of Life, they would have experienced eternal life and been forever trapped in their sin. Today, through Jesus Christ, we can be reconciled to God and experience eternal life but without the consequence of sin and death! “Truly I tell you, (…) you do not have life in yourselves. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day (John 6:53-54)

2) What is the significance of the thorns and thistles? (verse 18)
In the Bible, thorns and thistles symbolized difficulty, pain, or suffering as a result of sin. In the New Testament, Jesus used thorns to represent the pull of sin in His famous parable about the Sower and the Seed. He warned that thorns (sin) had the power to choke out the freedom and forgiveness only found in Jesus when a person chooses worry and the deceitfulness of wealth over trusting Jesus. (Matthew 13:3-22) About a year ago, I had a situation at work where they hired an assistant for my office. She had an annoying habit of trying to do my work for me. I objected and complained to my boss, who was also new. He ignored my complaints and the assistant used this as leverage to continue disrespecting my desk and my office. This caused me many sleepless nights to the point I wanted to resign. But I decided to pray about it and the Lord told me, “Lisa, you work for Me.” (see Colossians 3:23-24) When the Lord shifted my heart, I was able to press against sin and its effects with God’s perspective and His help as I began working for the Lord! I dedicated my work to the Lord and I must say today, my boss recognizes my worth so much, he not only verbally praised me but gave high ratings on my performance appraisal. The Lord has shown favor when I submitted to Him, and now the assistant respects my office space and my work. Thorns are plentiful in life as sin lures us away from a close relationship with God, but we don’t need to let them win. We can take any problem to Jesus and He will help us overcome. (James 4:7)

3) What did God mean by, “you will eat bread by the sweat of your brow?” (verse 19)
Before ‘the Fall’ from perfect relationship into sinful brokenness, Adam and Eve had everything provided for them directly from the Lord. All they needed to do was just pick their favorite fruit or vegetable and eat. This didn’t mean they didn’t work, as they had been entrusted with caring for the whole land and living things! The difference was ease and enjoyment without sin, and struggle and pain with sin. Because of disobedience, work became difficult and reduced in glory to merely providing food to survive. This consequence continues as our reality today as we must work hard and diligently to earn a living. My work days are usually long, with a two-hour commute to work, eight hours at work, and then another two-hour commute home. I’ve been doing this for over thirty years. By the end of the day I’m exhausted, but I must say looking back, God has blessed me. I want for nothing and have come to a point in my life where material things are no longer important. What’s important is living for Jesus. In Him, even the curse of toilsome work is lessened. He tells us, “So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” (Matthew 6:31-33) God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed in the Garden of Eden, and while we understand that life is not easy and there will be thorns to overcome, He promises care for us if we seek His kingdom and His righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

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Our Current Study Theme!

This is Eden Week Two!
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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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Eden Day 6 Entrusted Caretakers

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 1:26-31
Genesis 3:17-19
Proverbs 28:19
Galatians 3:10-14
1 Corinthians 15:56-58

Eden, Day 6

Every Saturday morning, we devote time to household chores. Clean the bathrooms, vacuum, dust, mop, and water plants. While we may try to “whistle while we work,” the truth remains, we view these chores as, well, a chore. Living requires working, and often, we do it with drudgery, dragging our feet, and moaning–not whistling!–all the way.

It wasn’t always like this, however. It definitely wasn’t God’s intention for our experience of work.

In Genesis 1, our origin story, we read that right after God breathed humans into existence, He gave them something to do. We actually read FIVE action words in this passage:
Be fruitful
Multiply
Fill
Subdue
Rule
(Genesis 1:28)

Furthermore, God did not simply command humankind to DO;
He equipped them for their work.

“I have given you every seed-bearing plant [. . .] and every tree whose fruit contains seed [. . .]
I have given every green plant for food.” (Genesis 1:29-30, emphasis mine)

Continuing to Genesis 2, we learn God supplied everything humans required to flourish and grow.
Life was perfect.

But then the sneaky serpent enters the scene and snatches away Adam and Eve’s confidence in God. (Genesis 3) He plants his own seeds of mistrust into Adam and Eve’s minds. From that point on, with the deadly combination of temptation and free will, humans choose to trust themselves over their Creator, and perfection is lost.

Genesis 3:17-19 states that one consequence for sin is that work would now become arduous, a thing of pain and struggle rather than purpose, fulfillment, joy, and provision.

And herein lies why chores are a chore.
However, the story did not end in Genesis 3.
Christ came and redeemed the curse by bearing the just wrath of God for sin in our place. (Galatians 3:10-14)

So the question remains, why do we STILL endure hardship in our work?
Why do we so often struggle to find purpose in the toiling of our minds, hearts, and hands? Why is so much futility, struggle, and pain wrapped up in our labor?

I believe it is because we live in “the now and the not yet.” While Christ redeemed the curse through His death and resurrection, we have not yet experienced His return when all of creation, including work, will be rebirthed with eternal perfection. (Revelation 21:1-5)

Until then, we toil and strive, committing the work of our hands to God’s purposes. (Psalm 90:16-17) Just as God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed to work, we can be assured He gives us all we need for our work as well.

“His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3, emphasis mine)

Truth? Sometimes, we don’t feel equipped to handle the assignment.

For me, motherhood stands top of that list.
From the beginning of my journey as a parent, I felt set up for failure.

I carried twins in my first pregnancy; my boys were born by emergency C-section after 17 hours of induced labor. One son was quickly diagnosed with a rare syndrome which has required multiple specialists, surgeries, and other interventions.
Two and half years later, my daughter was born full term, but for reasons still unknown, could not breathe on her own for the first week of her life.
Two of my three children have developed seizure disorders.
All of my children have endured multiple traumas with a genetic disposition toward anxiety, creating what feels like one ongoing mental health crisis after another in my home.

And, more. Isn’t there always more to our stories than we can, or are willing, to share?
But, God knows.

God KNEW the struggles I would face. He knew the brokenness and hardship I would endure as a parent. Still, He made this promise to me: HE GIVES ME EVERYTHING I NEED FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS.

Friend, He gives YOU everything you need, too.

When we feel ill-equipped, or wrestle with the sometimes-overwhelming sense of futility in our work, we must harken back to those first moments between God and humankind. We must remember that, attached to the actions we are commanded to take for human flourishing, is GOD’s word of provision, “I have given…”

Remaining vestiges of sin seek to steal, kill, and destroy that which God has provided. (John 10:10) But, sin will not have the final word. Therefore, we can give ourselves fully to the work given to us today, knowing it will be empowered and redeemed by God.

Take a moment to picture what it would look like for God to use every single shred of your effort to create something of beauty, goodness, and truth. Let us imagine with you by sharing a snippet of what you’ve envisioned in the comments. Let’s trust together that God can and will do more than we could ask or imagine for the purpose of His glory and our good!

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Can we pray for you?
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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Eden Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Eden!

The GT Weekend! ~ Eden Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Out of nothing. Impossible. The act of creating involves parts and pieces. Yarn…thread… fabric… paint…canvas…words…paper. But God. God spoke and everything around us, invisible and visible, came into being. (Colossians 1:16) He also desired to create you. What thoughts or feelings do you notice as you reflect on this truth? Do you feel yourself pushing back, ducking your head shyly, or widely embracing these words? Our worth in God’s eye is immeasurable as we each bear His image. (Genesis 1:27) Since this seems so hard to comprehend, we easily forget it. God created humankind to be in a relationship with Him. He intended Adam and Eve to fill the earth with more image-bearers so He could show His love to us all! (Genesis 1:28) He desired a relationship with His creation so deeply that, even after the Fall of sinful rebellion, He became flesh to live among His creation. Our worth is so inestimable He took all our sins upon His shoulders at the cross, giving His life so we could live forever as His Bride. It’s the greatest love story of all! I stand in awe when I consider the intricacies or grandness of nature. I’m amazed when I remember how loved and esteemed I am by the Creator God! He chose to die for you and me; hold into that truth as you navigate this weekend!

2) Like Rebekah, I can be drawn in by a good love story. Talented authors allow us to experience lovers both cherishing one another and handling conflict; we find ourselves cheering as the hero and heroine overcome struggle. In the most perfect love story between Adam, Eve, and Creator God, there was initially no conflict until their fall into sin. (Read Genesis 3 this weekend!) Though God, being perfectly holy, had every right to destroy them, leaving them hopeless in the separation brought on by their sin, He lovingly held out Hope instead. (Genesis 3:15) Like a developing story line, God wove the theme of His sacrificial love and grace into every page of Scripture, even our own stories! We find His grace showing up in all His relationships with people. In Ephesians we see His clear design for marriage to be a picture of His sacred relationship with the Church. (Follow up your reading of Genesis 3 with Ephesians 5!) We learn how truly good relationships should be as we look to Christ, the perfect Bridegroom and the greatest marriage of all between Himself and His Bride, the Church. One day, all who trust Christ as their Savior will celebrate with the marriage supper of the Lamb where each believer will have a seat at the table for eternity.

3) LOVE. Four letters composing a seemingly simple word. On Friday, Sara drew out the complexities of this “simple” word by taking us back to the original Greek, which has 4 words with 4 unique definitions: eros, storge, philos, and agape. Each dimension of love speaks beautifully of God’s design for human beings to be crafted for community with one another and Him. If we only had eros love shared romantically by Adam and Eve and intended for spouses, we wouldn’t be complete, and we certainly wouldn’t experience agape, the sacrificial, divine love of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have the capacity to fulfill and live out each of these dimensions of love as they reflect the Creator God; when we surrender ourselves to God’s Spirit, He empowers us to love like Him! We need His power to help us love our family, friends, a romantic partner, and especially those who are hard to love like difficult co-workers, ones who’ve wounded us, or the cranky clerk at the store. Praise God for demonstrating agape sacrificial love and placing that love inside of us when we follow Him. Spend time asking the Lord who He specifically wants you to engage with agape love. Pray for these people and ask the Lord for opportunities to love them sacrificially and unconditionally!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from 1 John 4:10-11 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

God’s love was revealed among us in this way:
God sent His one and only Son into the world
so that we might live through Him.
Love consists in this:
not that we loved God, but that He loved
us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice
for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way,
we also must love one another.

Prayer Journal

Lord, I cannot imagine how much you love me! That you show me love in so many ways is a truth that’s difficult to hold onto. Your love story hems me in on all sides beginning with Your death for me, the ultimate sacrifice, where You bore my sins as weight on the cross to purchase my freedom today!

When I’m holding fast to the truth about Your love, I look forward to the Wedding Feast where I can spend all my eternity simply worshiping and delighting in You. Stir up this desire in me, Jesus!

When I dwell on Your agape love, I’m motivated to go and do likewise, loving others sacrificially and unconditionally. Thank you for fueling me with agape so I can love my family, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and especially those who don’t yet trust You as their Savior.

As much as I want to love like You all the time, I confess some days I choose selfishness. Give me the words to reach others for You, and the humility required to submit to Your great love. Let my actions draw others to You as You shine Your Light through my humanity!

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Eden Day 5 Crafted For Community

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 1:26-31
1 John 4:7-21
Romans 5:1-11
Matthew 22:37-40

Eden, Day 5

I think the Garden of Eden must have been paradise for those who are averse to crowds. Since Adam and Eve were the only humans on the planet, I cannot quite picture one of them mumbling, “I hate crowds.” Unless, by chance, a cacophony caused by all the animals Adam had recently named counted for crowd noise.

No large groups of people rushed to and fro on their way to the market or gathered close to hear someone speak as Adam and Even walked with the Lord in the cool of the day. (Genesis 3:8) But, in those evening times of sharing, five distinct persons were present, three of whom are found within the single triune Being of the three-in-one God.

Deuteronomy 6:4 clearly states there is only One God.
“The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”

This truth is reiterated across Scripture, but we also discover this One God is revealed in three distinct persons as God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. All three persons dwell in unity as the Lord God; all three were present in Eden.

I can only imagine the community Adam and Eve shared with God in the Garden.
Abundant peace! Flooding Love! All shared so beautifully!
How glorious it surely was to interact with the Lord before sin marred everything!

There are four Greek words for love: eros, storge, philos, and agape.
Eros is sexual and romantic.
Storge is felt for family.
Philos is shared between friends.
Agape is Divine love poured out through self-sacrifice.

The Triune God is Lord of love, it is His DNA, and He created us to both give and receive it, mirroring how He shares self-sacrificial love even within His own Being.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)

“God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him [. . .] We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:16, 19)

Adam and Eve were the first humans to experience love and, to borrow the wording of Genesis, they saw that love was good.

Adam and Eve were the first husband and wife.
Eros

Scripture lists their children as Cain, Abel, Seth, and other sons and daughters.
Storge

The Lord walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden and talked with them directly.
Philos

Finally, Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden due to their sin. (Genesis 3)
They lost their direct access to the Lord.

However, out of His love, the Lord did not destroy them, even at the expense of His connection with them and the eventual sacrifice Jesus would make to restore our access.
Agape

Regardless of the type of love demonstrated, one common denominator is present: more than one person. This means that when the Lord decided to make man in His image, humanity was crafted for community.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.’” (Genesis 1:26, emphasis mine)
The Trinity is on display within the first chapter of Genesis!

God as Father, Son, and Spirit dwell in perfect community, and we are invited and challenged to foster healthy community as well with divine agape love as our foundation.

A common cultural mantra is “Love Wins.”
Yes, yes it does.
But not according to the world’s definition of “winning”.
It’s not the selfish love of one having her every whim satisfied, but a love reflecting Matthew 22: 37-40.

“He said to [the Pharisee], ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets depend on these two commands.’”

Every interaction we have with another person is a chance to grow in agape love as it undergirds every other type of love and reflects the beautiful, sacrificial love of the Triune God.

Before finding ourselves incredibly overwhelmed at trying to muster up this kind of love on our own strength, remember this love is a fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) We are to love with and through the help of the Holy Spirit.

In order to effectively love others in community,
we must first be in community with the Lord.

Lord, we need more of You. We need Your ability to love those around us.
Holy Spirit, please cultivate agape love in us. Empower us to love like You
when it hurts,
when it’s scary,
when we’re tired,
when we’ve been wounded,
and when differences threaten to divide us by prejudice.

**Please note we do not advocate remaining in unsafe, abusive relationships. Setting healthy boundaries is also a demonstration of love.

Lord, we will continually fail without Your help; we need Your help when we inevitably fall short. Help us to love enough to ask for forgiveness, pour out grace, listen to understand, extend forgiveness, and to seek Your face for wisdom in our relationships. 

You crafted us for community.
Helps us to experience this by drawing close to You and loving our neighbors as ourselves. 

For Your Glory.
Amen. 

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Eden Day 4 Altogether Lovely: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Altogether Lovely!

The Questions

1) What analogy is Paul making in this passage?

2) What distinct commands does Paul give for the wife and husband in this passage? (verses 23-28)

3) How does the marriage relationship represent Christ and the church? (verses 29-32)

Ephesians 5:23-32

23 because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. 27 He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. 28 In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 since we are members of his body. 31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 32 This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church.”

Original Intent

1) What analogy is Paul making in this passage?
In this passage, Paul, the writer of Ephesians, uses the relationship between Christ and the Church to discuss God’s intended design for the marriage relationship. He compares Christ and His relationship with His Church to the husband and wife relationship. The husband taking the role of Christ in the marriage and the wife taking the role of the Church. Paul uses marriage as a blank canvas depicting how God intended relational holiness and sacrifice to be played out in real life marriage just as He intended from the beginning in Genesis 2:21-25.

2) What distinct commands does Paul give for the wife and husband in this passage? (verses 23-28)
Paul provided explicit instructions for husbands and wives in this passage. In verse 23, verse 25, and verse 28, Paul spoke directly to the husband, calling him to love and sacrifice for his wife. He pointed to Jesus’ own sacrifice on the cross as the role model for this command. (Matthew 27:27-52) In the same way, Paul spoke to wives in verse 24, calling them to submit within marriage to their husbands just as the Church is designed to submit to Christ’s headship. This is a deliberate, thoughtfully chosen, intentional submission out of respect and sacrificial love born out of shared relationship. **Please note that biblical teaching never condones abusive twisting of this passage for personal gain. Biblical submission is mutual between spouses and is always within the context of love and respect. Christ never condoned abuse of His design for personal gain. (Matthew 21:13)

3) How does the marriage relationship represent Christ and the church? (verses 29-32)
Speaking of marriage and oneness in verse 32, Paul so eloquently states, “the mystery is profound”, and we nod our heads in assent! Beautifully, Paul uses the familiarity of marriage merely as a springboard to help us more clearly understand Jesus’ role as head of the Church. In shifting our gaze to the cross and the Son’s submission to the will of the Father, we see His selfless love as He offers His own life for the Church. The Church, in kind, submits everything to His authority out of trusting obedience and respect. In the same way, a husband should love sacrificially and work diligently to encourage and uphold his wife while a wife lovingly chooses to submit to her husband. Within the relationship, whether discussing Christ and the Church, or husband and wife, there is profound membership, unity, fellowship, and oneness bound together by sacrificial love.

Everyday Application

1) What analogy is Paul making in this passage?
God’s intention for marriage from the beginning is beautifully told in the context of perfection in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 2:21-25) As Paul explains Christ’s relationship to His people as the ultimate “Husband”, we begin to see God’s model for how the marriage relationship was always intended to exist. Sacrificial love connects the two together. Paul helps the reader understand the fullness of the gospel by using this familiar human analogy. Christ so loved His Church that He died on a cross giving up His life for His people as described in John 3:16. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, another one of Paul’s letters, he explains it is out of love that Christ, although being spotless and blameless for sin, took all of humanity’s sin on Himself in order to present His Church in holy splendor. This is the kind of self-sacrificing love God intends marriage to emulate. Paul used this picture of offering and submission to reveal the framework for God’s design for marriage.

2) What distinct commands does Paul give for the wife and husband in this passage? (verses 23-28)
Within the context of this passage, we see how life and marriage were supposed to be before sin entered the world. (Genesis 3) Sin taints what God intended for good, and just two of the many consequences for sin are shame and fear, which played out in the unfolding scene following Adam and Eve’s rebellious sin. (Genesis 3:8-13) In the Garden of Eden prior to sin, the husband, as a loving leader, upholds his wife with sacrificial love without shame and the wife submits to him, also with sacrificial love; together they build a strong, unified marriage that glorifies God and reflects the divine relationship between Father and Son. With sacrificial love as the undergirding foundation, this give and take of sacrifice and submission form an unashamed relational oneness flourishing with deep joy. With sin came a brokenness that marred that human relationship with chaos and the desire to serve self, but God’s heart desire for the marital relationship never changed. Through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, as we submit to Him, He equips us with the divine power and love necessary to sacrificially love and submit to our spouse. (2 Peter 1:3) It is in relationship with Him that we learn how to be in relationship with our spouse. In our commitment to Him, God empowers us to seek after His design and His glory. (Romans 8:1-13)

3) How does the marriage relationship represent Christ and the church? (verses 29-32)
God’s design for marriage started at the dawn of time when He created man and woman and they were unashamed and living in perfectly unified loving communion with one another and God. (Genesis 2:25) Out of this picture in the Garden of Eden, Paul writes about marriage and the relationship between Christ and His Church beautifully comparing the two. The relational roles each participant plays, and the characteristics of these relationships, were designed in likeness to one another. Despite the twisted, self-seeking shadow that sin casts upon every relationship, God gives us a secure hope for an eternal future where all will one day be set right. As we wait and long for that day, we can take heart in knowing God is working even now within our brokenness to bring Him glory. The perfect oneness of relationship between Christ and His Church and the altogether loveliness of human relationships with one another as they were intended will one day be restored when Christ welcomes His Bride Home. (Revelation 21:1-8)

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Altogether Lovely!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Eden Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

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Eden Day 3 Altogether Lovely

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 2:21-25
Ephesians 5:25-32
Revelation 21:9-11
Revelation 19:6-9

Eden, Day 3

I am a true romantic at heart.

I love old-timey dramas like Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I’m a real sucker for Hallmark movies. A good love story can really delight my heart in no time, but as wonderful as these stories are, in truth, nothing compares to the picture of love and marriage set forth in God’s Word.

If you want to talk about a sweet love story and someone being a romantic at heart, look at Adam’s words about Eve in the context of Genesis 2:21-25!

This beautiful passage says,

“So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. Then the LORD God made the rib he had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. And the man said:

This one, at last, is bone of my bone
And flesh of my flesh;
This one shall be called ‘woman,’
For she was taken from man.

This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.” 

Is this not the most beautiful picture of love and marriage?

Here, at the dawn of time, we see marriage as it was intended by God. In His kindness, He designed marriage to be the most intimate of earthly relationships, a connection free of sin, lust, self-consciousness, selfishness, awkwardness, pain, disrespect, or hurt. From the beginning, marriage was meant to be an earthly representation of the close relationship God desires with His people. 

Again, God beautifully reiterates His intention for marriage in Ephesians 5:25-32.

“Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.

In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.”

Even though sin entered into the marriage relationship not long after Adam’s proclamation in Genesis 2, the Lord still desired marriage to be a beautiful bond of love and service to one another.

Yet earthly marriage, in all its beauty, is a dim reflection of the relationship between every believer, single or married, and Christ.

The beauty, oneness, intimacy, and unashamed delight shared between Adam and Eve in Genesis, Solomon and his wife in the Song of Solomon, and husbands and wives as described in Ephesians 5 all provide a mere glimpse of the beautiful relationship God desires with all believers, everywhere.

In fact, when the Apostle John put into words his vision of Christ’s return, it’s no mistake he chose the language of marriage:
“Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:9)

Likewise it’s no coincidence Revelation 19:6-9 refers to the great reunion of all the saints with the Lord as the “marriage supper”.

“Hallelujah! For the LORD God, the Almighty, reigns!
Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,
Because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
And the bride has prepared herself [. . .]
‘Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!’”

From the dawn of time, the Lord has wanted a close relationship with His people. To illustrate how He loves His people, and to also bless us with a special gift on this earth, He crafted the institution of marriage. Whether He has called us to participate in earthly marriage, or to devote ourselves solely to our heavenly Bridegroom, we look forward to the day when we enter into eternal, unblemished, fully restored relationship with God.

And that eternal union of Christ and His Bride?
It is altogether lovely!

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Eden Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Eden!

Eden Day 2 Ex Nihilo: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Ex Nihilo!

The Questions

1) How did God establish the foundations of the earth? (verse 5)

2) What is meant by God watering the mountain from His palace and satisfying the earth from the fruit of His labor? (verse 13)

3) How does God give all creatures food at the right time? (verse 27)

Psalm 104

My soul, bless the Lord!
Lord my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with majesty and splendor.
2 He wraps himself in light as if it were a robe,
spreading out the sky like a canopy,
3 laying the beams of his palace
on the waters above,
making the clouds his chariot,
walking on the wings of the wind,
4 and making the winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.

5 He established the earth on its foundations;
it will never be shaken.
6 You covered it with the deep
as if it were a garment;
the water stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke the water fled;
at the sound of your thunder they hurried away—
8 mountains rose and valleys sank—
to the place you established for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
they will never cover the earth again.

10 He causes the springs to gush into the valleys;
they flow between the mountains.
11 They supply water for every wild beast;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky live beside the springs;
they make their voices heard among the foliage.
13 He waters the mountains from his palace;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of your labor.

14 He causes grass to grow for the livestock
and provides crops for man to cultivate,
producing food from the earth,
15 wine that makes human hearts glad—
making his face shine with oil—
and bread that sustains human hearts.

16 The trees of the Lord flourish,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests;
storks make their homes in the pine trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the cliffs are a refuge for hyraxes.

19 He made the moon to mark the festivals;
the sun knows when to set.
20 You bring darkness, and it becomes night,
when all the forest animals stir.
21 The young lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises; they go back
and lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to his work
and to his labor until evening.

24 How countless are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 Here is the sea, vast and wide,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
26 There the ships move about,
and Leviathan, which you formed to play there.

27 All of them wait for you
to give them their food at the right time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your breath,
they are created,
and you renew the surface of the ground.

31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works.
32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles;
he touches the mountains,
and they pour out smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him;
I will rejoice in the Lord.
35 May sinners vanish from the earth
and wicked people be no more.
My soul, bless the Lord!
Hallelujah!

Original Intent

1) How did God establish the foundations of the earth? (verse 5)
In Psalm 104:5, the author wrote of God’s creation when he declared, “He established the earth on its foundations; it will never be shaken.” David Guzik explains how “The psalmist understood that God was the Creator of all things, and that it was He who laid the foundations of the earth. It did not happen by chance or random events.” Before creation, there was darkness and void (Genesis 1:2), but God spoke and commanded everything into existence (Psalm 33:9). Charles Spurgeon marveled, “the earth is so placed in space that it remains as stable as if it were a fixture. (…) What power must there be in that hand which has caused so vast a body to know its orbit, and to move so smoothly in it.” It is difficult to comprehend that our amazing world, with its intricate design and complex functions, was established and maintained by Words spoken by the Creator. Yet, Scripture is very clear that every created thing was made by God (John 1:3) and is sustained by Him (Colossians 1:17). As we contemplate the wonder of God’s creation, we can rejoice with the psalmist how the whole earth is filled with the Lord’s glory! (Psalm 72:19)

2) What is meant by God watering the mountain from His palace and satisfying the earth from the fruit of His labor? (verse 13)
Psalm 104 paints a beautiful picture of Creation and the subsequent care God provides His creatures. In verse 13 David writes, “He waters the mountains from his palace; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of your labor.” While it may sound strange, this describes how God provides rain for all living things so they have the food and water necessary to sustain life. Even “The mountains themselves, even their highest tops, are not left dry. Where springs cannot reach, rain falls from God’s ‘chambers’ in the sky, and spreads equal refreshment.” (Pulpit Commentary) God provides everything the land needs to grow and thrive from the highest heights to the deepest depths. Because this Psalm also discusses Creation, some people are confused by this reference to rain when there was none during Creation. (Genesis 2:5) In fact, the Bible doesn’t mention rainfall until the Great Flood. (Genesis 7:11-12) But this account doesn’t contradict the Creation account because it isn’t referencing Creation, but instead depicts how God uses rain to sustain His Creation. Walter Zorn explains, “Following the order of creation as given in Genesis, [the psalmist] shows how God, in successive stages, was preparing for the welfare and comfort of his creatures.” In Psalm 65:9, the psalmist proclaims God visits “the earth and waters it abundantly, enriching it greatly. God’s stream is filled with water, for you prepare the earth in this way, providing people with grain.” In Acts 14:17 God “did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling you with food. . .” Every rainy day is a reminder of God’s provision, just as every dry season points to our need for reliance on God in everything.

3) How does God give all creatures food at the right time? (verse 27)
When David asserted all created beings “wait for [God] to give them their food at the right time” (verse 27), he described God’s provision for everything He had made. Philip Harrelson suggests David “is portraying a direct dependence of all things, all life, upon the active presence of God, in every moment, for all time.” God created all living things and made provision for them to grow and develop by giving the food they need when they need it. (Psalm 136:25) God gives all creatures food, but He also supplies all the needs of His people. (Philippians 4:19) Andrew Murray explains how “It is the very place and nature of God to be the continuous supplier of the creature‘s every need. Likewise, the very place and nature of the creature is only this—to wait upon God and receive from Him what He alone can give, what He delights to give.” God longs to give us good gifts when we seek Him and wait upon Him. (Matthew 7:11) He lovingly provides us with strength (Philippians 4:13) and grace (James 4:6) in our everyday lives. God wants us to turn to Him for everything we need (Isaiah 45:22) because He is everything we need. (Psalm 16:5) God supplies our physical needs by assuring our food grows as we need it, and He supplies our spiritual and emotional needs so we grow in His grace and the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18) God wants us to have what we need so = we can do all the good works He set out for us to accomplish in His strength. (2 Corinthians 9:8) What a relief knowing that everything we need, from the food we eat to the plan for our lives, comes from the gracious hand of God!

Everyday Application

1) How did God establish the foundations of the earth? (verse 5)
According to Nasa.gov, Earth has the nickname “the Goldilocks planet. In the story Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a little girl named Goldilocks liked everything just right. (…) On Earth, everything is just right for living things. It’s warm, but not too warm. And it has water, but not too much water.” How is it that earth happens to be “just right” for life? Surely no accident or happenstance could produce a planet capable of sustaining life for animals, plants, and humans! Scripture tells us it exists this way because of its Creator. The Lord God formed the earth and set its place in the heavens. Colossians 1:16 informs us “everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him.” Astronauts who have witnessed what earth looks like from space report feeling overwhelmed by the beauty of the “blue marble” and the sight of it suspended in space. Astronaut, Michael Massimino, described his mission with the shuttle Atlantis as “I felt like I was almost looking at a secret . . . It’s too beautiful. There’re no words to describe how beautiful things are out there.” This sentiment echoes the words of David in Psalm 19:1 who announces, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.” The order, beauty, and design of Earth and all creation declares the handiwork of a Divine Creator, whether your view is from the plains of Kansas, the mountains of Ethiopia, or the window of a shuttle whirling through space.

2) What is meant by God watering the mountain from His palace and satisfying the earth from the fruit of His labor? (verse 13)
Looking back over the 50 Midwest summers I have enjoyed, many of them have included hot, dry months without enough rain. Kids weren’t allowed to run through the water hose or fill the wading pool because water needed to be conserved. My farmer-Grandpa watched the weather forecast and worried over the continued drought. I remember prayer meetings where the saints all cried out to God to make the rain fall. I also remember the joy and relief when precious raindrops finally pelted the dry ground! The psalmist David blessed the Lord for His provision of rain, recognizing the simplicity of rain as part of God’s plan for life on earth to flourish. David Guzik notes how “The psalmist considered how the water, plants, and animals of the earth each find their place in God’s plan and order. (…) He saw a good, harmonious world in nature and knew Yahweh was responsible for it.” Because we require rain to water the vegetation that feeds people and animals, God waters the earth so it can sustain us. (Isaiah 55:10) When we consider how it’s God who “gives the seasonal rains, both autumn and spring, who guarantees to us the fixed weeks of the harvest” (Jeremiah 5:24), we should be thankful and wonder at God’s goodness and power.

3) How does God give all creatures food at the right time? (verse 27)
I loved visiting my Grandpa’s farm as a little girl. I chased chickens, rode horses, traveled in the cab of his tractor, and even watched baby pigs being born. I jumped at every chance to visit the farm. But one Christmas, as I watched Grandpa pull on his boots to set out for the farm, I asked him why he was farming on Christmas. He laughed, saying the cows want to eat every day, even on Christmas! That memory of Grandpa feeding his cattle reminds me of the psalmist David’s words that all created beings “wait for [God] to give them their food at the right time.” (Psalm 104:27) Like a farmer caring for his livestock, God makes sure His creatures are cared for as needed on a daily basis. The Bible tells us God feeds the birds, and since we matter more to Him than they do, we shouldn’t worry because God knows what we need (Matthew 6:32) Jesus proved this care for people’s physical needs when He fed a crowd of more than 5,000 who had come to hear His teaching. In blessing 2 loaves of bread and 5 fishes, Christ fed the masses. (Matthew 14:19-21) More than just providing food for us, our loving God “richly provides us with all things to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17) Alexander Maclaren asserts, “So manifold are the aspects of God’s infinite sufficiency, that every soul, in every possible variety of circumstance, will find there just what will suit it.” No matter who we are or what we need, God has us covered! He ensures our physical needs are met, and He invites us to ask Him for our “daily bread” (Matthew 6:11), which refers to all the needs we depend on God to satisfy.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Ex Nihilo!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Eden Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Eden Day 1 Ex Nihilo

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 1:15–23
John 1:1-5
Psalm 104
Psalm 33:1–9
Job 38

Eden, Day 1

We’d been on the road for six months, travelling around remote Australia while living in an RV. We explored beaches and mountains, waterfalls and desserts. On this day, we were travelling through a very remote part of Western Australia. The closest township was home to only a few hundred people, and it was several hundred kilometers away.
We were literally in the middle of nowhere.

A little blue sign with a lookout icon was on the side of the 4X4 track we were following, so we turned up the path, parked in the bay and walked to the platform at the top.
What I saw took my breath away.

I stood, mesmerized, tears spontaneously streaming down my face. I was overwhelmed by the beauty and grandeur of the mountain range circling around us. In every direction there were magnificent cliff faces in rich red and orange, towering above the vast plains of spinifex grass and wildflowers.

I searched for words to describe this place. Majestic. Glorious. Awesome. Every word was inadequate. I took my phone out and tried to capture the scene with my camera. Wide angle. Panoramic. No photograph came even close to capturing the vastness of the scene. In that moment, I had a powerful encounter with God the Creator.

I have spent most of my life disconnected from creation in a city where the horizon is the shape of man-made buildings and the power of the elements is shut out by climate control and insulation, shielding me from the discomfort of the seasons. I earned money from working in an office to buy food from a supermarket, packaged in boxes and plastic bags. In this environment it has been easy for me to disregard God as creator.

God spoke, and by the power of His breath alone, everything we see, from the tallest mountain to the tiniest beetle, came into being.
Ex Nihilo, out of nothing.
God didn’t take something that already existed and refashion it into our world. God is the source of life. He created the world “ex nihilo”, out of nothing, by the power of His Word alone.

Hebrews 11:3 describes it this way, “What is seen was made from things that are not visible.” The power of this Word, God’s Word, is impossible for us to fully understand.

We can stare at the sky and worship with the psalmist, “The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the stars, by the breath of His mouth.” (Psalm 33:6) I see the beauty and grandeur of creation and capture a glimpse of the power of the One who created the world with His Word.

John 1:1, 3 tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God [. . .] All things were created through Him[.]“
The ‘Word’ in John 1 refers to Jesus.
The One who entered the creation He orchestrated,
the One who died to pay the penalty for our sin,
the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
The Creator stepped into His creation to save us, His beloved creation.

This blows my mind. This God, the source of life, became like you and me in order to pay the price for our salvation. Wow. The Creator, the Word, died to have a relationship with you and me.

Understanding this evokes three emotions in me.
It makes me feel very small,
it makes me feel very loved,
and it gives me hope in my suffering.

When I consider God as the creator of our magnificent world, I feel insignificant and humbly powerless. Knowing how small I am gives me a new perspective on humility I can take into my marriage, and a renewed hunger for God’s wisdom in my parenting. The sufficiency of God becomes much more important as I seek to solve problems, love others, and serve my family. I know it’s not up to me. What a freeing realization!

I also feel deeply loved. In light of God’s power, knowing He came as a helpless baby, lived a perfect life and died a criminal’s death so He could have a relationship with me, makes me feel significantly special. God loves me, tiny insignificant me. Knowing this gives me confidence to take my place in the world. I am expertly designed. I am worthy of love.

Knowing the God of creation is almighty and all-wise puts our suffering into perspective. A beautiful example of this in Scripture is from the book of Job. God bragged of Job and his righteousness to Satan (Job 1:8), but God allowed Satan to take away his family, his wealth, and his health. As any of us would, Job cried out to God for justice in the midst of his pain and grief. Good people, he reasoned, don’t deserve bad things to happen to them.

Finally, in chapter 38, God answers Job’s arguments. His answer?
Job, look at creation.
Look at My power.
Look at My beauty.
Look at My abundance.

God didn’t diminish Job’s suffering; rather, He adjusted Job’s vision to magnify his view of God, putting Job’s struggle into perspective.
The challenges we face are not too big for the God who created everything out of nothing.

I pray you have the opportunity to encounter God, the Ex Nihilo Creator, today.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Eden Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Eden!