January 18, 2012

SCRIPTURE
Genesis 3:6 - When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

OBSERVATION
Eve had just fallen for, literally, the oldest trick in the book - listening to the insinuations of the enemy, saying that God is "holding out" on us, and believing that all-consuming lie: that we deserve equality with God.  It got me thinking, how often do I go through life, especially with my insatiable curiosity, wishing that I had the key to all knowledge?  Even in reading through these 36 chapters in Genesis, I found myself wishing I had all the "missing" data, the detailed information for each individual, so that I could study further and draw my own conclusions.

APPLICATION
Instead of finding the living Word of God fulfilling, and understanding that He was showing us everything we really needed to know, I was spending my time wishing He'd give ME the information I think I need.  What arrogance!  And I know that I too can infect the people around me, just as Eve did with Adam, by stirring dissatisfaction.  I do this when I look at my life and find it wanting, or when I encourage others to look beyond their own boundaries.  Not that curiosity is inherently bad, or that striving to improve one's life is negative, but if my motive is impure in any way, I'm causing them to stumble, just as Eve did for Adam. 

PRAYER
Father, help me to realize that you are El-Shaddai, God Almighty, and I am NOT.  I need to examine my own thoughts, desires and motives always.  Rein in my sense of entitlement to understanding and accept that You are God, and I am a mortal, and I should be grateful for the fact that I have life at all, not keep searching for what I don't have.  The consequences can be enormous, for me and everyone else I am in contact with!  Please keep my arrogance in check and help me to be satisfied with all that you have given me, because I deserve none of it.  In Jesus' name - Amen.