The temptation of Eve

Take a look at these Old and New Testament verses and see if you think there are any parallels to the temptation of Eve in the garden.

1 John 2:15-16

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Genesis 3:5-6

5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 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 desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate

Compare the wording between the 1 John and Genesis.

Lust of the flesh / saw that the tree was good for food

Lust of the eyes / it was a delight to the eyes

Boastful pride of life / the tree was desirable to make one wise (tempted that she would be like God, knowing good and evil)

Based on this comparison do you think the three things mentioned in 1 John are the same worldly temptations that led Eve into sin?

Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)

Anxious about the United States fiscal cliff, the European debt crisis or even Wall Street?

No matter what happens in the economy or how much gasoline cost, God is still able to provide for His children. He created the moon and the stars and hung the earth on nothing. He made the land and the seas and all that swims in it. He causes the eagle to soar and gave it skill to hunt from on high. 

God power is great. God ability to provide for His children is not limited by what happens on earth. Make it your first priority to seek after His righteousness and His kingdom and your needs will be met. (if you want to become God's child right now go to this link. http://nasb-audio-bible-in-a-year.blogspot.com/p/salvation-how-can-i-be-saved-and-go-to.html )

Matthew 6:25-34

25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)

Ever been alone and fearful?

In 1 Samuel 21 David had such a time. David was alone.  He was fleeing from King Saul alone with no one to help him. He was at his wits end. He must have been desperate since he fled to Gath. David in the past had killed Goliath. And Gath was the town where Goliath had lived. He ran the risk of being recognized by the Philistines in Gath as a great warrior. And someone did recognize him. 

1 Samuel 21

10 Then David arose and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish king of Gath. 11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying,

‘Saul has slain his thousands,

And David his ten thousands’?”

12 David took these words to heart and greatly feared Achish king of Gath.

Great fear gripped David. He was alone. He had no brother or sister in the Lord to encourage and strengthen him. But David encouraged himself. David speaks about at least two things he did to encourage himself in this situation. David mentions this time in his life in Psalm 56. 

Psalm 56

When I am afraid,

I will put my trust in You.

4 In God, whose word I praise,

In God I have put my trust;

I shall not be afraid.

What can mere man do to me?

One thing David did to encourage himself was to put his trust in God. Another was to remind himself how excellent and trustworthy is the word of God. At the beginning of verse 4 he starts out fearful. He then puts his trust in God and His excellent word and gains confidence.

There are several ways for us to deal with fear. In this devotion we only addressed trusting God and trusting His word. But look at how powerful they can be. They are two dynamic resources for changing our mind from fear to confidence.

Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)