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Ep. 16 Snakes, Deception, and Clothing | Genesis 3:1-7 | Book by Book
Faith

Ep. 16 Snakes, Deception, and Clothing | Genesis 3:1-7 | Book by Book

June 1, 2022

Hey there, today on Naptime Theology we are continuing in our series of Bible study through the book of Genesis with chapter 3, verses 1-7. We are going to cover three things: Snakes, Deception, and Loincloths.. Sounds like an interesting mix, right? Let’s find out together!

Well, John Calvin opens his commentary on Genesis 3 like this: “In this chapter, Moses explains, that man, after he had been deceived by Satan, revolted from his Maker, became entirely changed, and so degenerate, that the image of God, in which he had been formed, was obliterated. He then declares that the whole world, which had been created for the sake of man, fell together with him from its primary original; and that, in this way, much of its native excellence was destroyed.”

We will not get to unpack all of that quote today since that would take a long time. But we will go through the first seven verses of this chapter and talk about three things: snakes, deception, and loincloths. 

First, I’m going to read through the passage so that we know what we’re talking about. I’m reading from the New American Standard Version. Here is Genesis 3:1-7:

Now the serpent was more crafter than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;
But from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’”
The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!
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.”
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.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin covering.

Why does Satan use the Serpent?

The first character mentioned in this passage is none other than the serpent. The text says, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.

Maybe this seems like a small question, but I had never thought about this before. Why did Satan use the serpent instead of any other animal that God had created? The Bible clearly states that the snake or serpent was already cunning and crafty on its own, that’s how God made it.

In John Calvin’s commentary on this verse, he points out that Jesus actually tells the disciples to be “prudent as serpents” in Matthew 10:16. So, we shouldn’t read this first verse of chapter 3 with a negative tone. Rather, Moses is highlighting an aspect of God’s creation in describing the serpent or snake as crafty. And even though it’s Satan who is using the snake in this passage, remember that Moses is actually pretty familiar with God using snakes for His own purposes. We have the first reference to this later in this chapter to God sending someone to “crush the head” of the serpent in Genesis 3:15.

Why Does God Use Serpents?

Then in Moses’ personal life God used snakes as well. In Exodus 4 Moses’ staff is turned into a snake to show God’s power to Pharaoh. Then, in Numbers 21, snakes attack the Israelites in judgment from God and Moses is told to make the bronze snake that’s lifted up and when the people look to the bronze snake, they are healed. So, Moses knew from personal experience what snakes were like and it makes sense for him to include this note at the beginning of Genesis 3 about snakes being crafty. 

This shows us an important truth: Satan is constantly taking something God made and twisting it for evil. The qualities God had given to the snake were twisted to make it into a force for evil. Satan does this with all sin and lies that he tells. 

The fact that he has to twist things shows us right away that Satan is not God. He cannot create things from nothing or even come up with his own material. He has only the power to twist and damage what God has already created. One of my college professors said that when Satan later talks with Eve through the serpent he “sells a demotion as a promotion [to Eve]. What [Satan] says is not totally wrong, he just twists it.” This should be a comfort to us. It tells us that God is ruler and sovereign over the universe, not Satan. And God is ruler even over Satan, for Satan cannot do what God has done or what God does now. Satan is not like God who can do whatever He pleases as Psalm 115, verse 3 says. That means that whatever happens in our lives is in God’s control, it’s part of His plan and we have no need to worry or wonder if Satan is doing something God doesn’t know about. He knows and He is sovereign over it.

That bronze serpent that Moses made is actually in the Bible two more times, once during the time of the kings and it’s referred to in the New Testament by John. In 2 Kings 18, Hezekiah has just come onto the throne as king of Judah and it says in verse 4 that “he removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.” So the Israelites apparently saved the bronze snake that Moses had made and started worshiping it alongside the other gods they made. Of course it wasn’t the bronze snake itself that saved the people from the fiery serpents’ bites in the wilderness, it was God. 

But Jesus, God Himself, refers to this picture of Moses lifting up the snake in the wilderness when He is speaking with Nicodmeus in John chapter 3. In fact, the most famous verse in the world, John 3:16, immediately follows verses about snakes! John 3, verses 14 and 15 say, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.” Jesus crushed the head of the serpent and healed His people from sin by being lifted up on the cross to die just as the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness to heal the Israelites. Wow!

Finally from Revelation 12:9 we know that God will ultimately keep His promise from Genesis 3:15 by crushing the serpent, Satan, forever. John is describing his vision from the Lord and he says, “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world…” Then Satan’s final doom is in Revelation 20 verse 10, which says, “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Do you see how God redeems the evil that Satan does through the snake? God can use whatever He wills for His purposes, both in our personal lives and in the redemption of the whole world. Satan merely twists the things that God has made and done.

As we move on in this chapter, we see that Satan also twists the good things that God has said.

Eve’s Conversation with the Serpent: “Did God Really Say?”

The next few verses of this chapter cover the conversation that Eve had with the serpent. And it is in her conversation with the serpent that Eve is deceived and convinced to eat the fruit that she was commanded not to eat. Here’s how it went from verses 1 through 5:

And he [the serpent] said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;
But from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’”
The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!
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.”

Let’s first establish something important in this conversation, Adam says nothing! Now, you may think that Eve was just here in the garden all alone chatting with the serpent. But that’s not actually the case. The Hebrew word for “you” in this conversation actually means “you all.” The serpent was not only addressing Eve, but also addressing her husband, Adam. We also know this from the verse following the conversation which says that her husband was with her. He was there the whole time! This is also how Paul can say in Romans 5:12 that sin came through Adam and not Eve. Adam was there with her and did not lead her in righteousness or really lead her at all, she was deceived and then they both sinned.

Now we can learn a lot from Eve’s conversation with the serpent. First of note is that the serpent knew to go through Eve to get to her husband. That in and of itself is an important lesson for wives.

We know from the later consequences of her sin that Eve is told that her “desire will be for her husband, and he will rule over her.” That’s in Genesis 3, verse 16. It means that because of sin there will be strife between husbands and wives. The wife will long for more control and have to submit herself in Christ first and then to her husband. And remember that Satan is still the crafty serpent today that he was then. Isn’t that fallenness of the wife and the longing for control the perfect opportunity for Satan to come in to twist and deceive further? So, wives, we have an important role to play in preventing Satan getting through to our husbands via us. Don’t be easily deceived by Satan’s lies. Lies that tempt you to think Satan’s ways are the good ways and God’s are not.

That’s exactly what the serpent did with Eve. He first just gave her a hint by planting that seed of doubt: “Did God really say you shall not eat from any tree of the garden?” That’s exactly what the serpent does with us today. “Did God really say you have to put others before yourself or is a little more ‘me time’ exactly what you need?” “Did God really say you have to submit yourself to your husband even when you don’t feel like it?” “Did God really say you need to discipline your children with humility and kindness or is your raised voice understandable because you’re upset?” 

All it took was that one little question for Eve’s heart to decline from faith, as Calvin puts it. Actually, let me read you the entire quote. Calvin is describing the fall and how that small seed of doubt planted by the serpent grew into sin. He says, “Eve could previously behold the tree with such sincerity, that no desire to eat of it affected her mind; for the faith she had in the word of God was the best guardian of her heart, and of all her senses. But now, after the heart had declined from faith, and from obedience to the word, she corrupted both herself and all her senses, and depravity was diffused through all parts of her soul as well as her body. It is, therefore, a sign of impious defection, that the woman now judges the tree to be good for food, eagerly delights herself in beholding it, and persuades herself that it is desirable for the sake of acquiring wisdom; whereas before she had passed by it a hundred times with an unmoved and tranquil look.”

Eve went quickly from looking at the tree without a second thought, to desiring it for herself. We see that in her first response where she has already changed what God originally told them not to do in chapter 2. She added that they were not to touch the tree, God never said anything about touching the tree. Do you see how quickly we can be deceived into thinking that God’s ways are not best? 

One of my daughter’s Bible books describes God’s command to not eat the fruit as “good words for Adam and Eve to obey.” I love that description because it is so true and so helpful for our own lives. God has given us “good words to obey” just as He gave to Adam and Eve. Most of our good words from God can be found in the New Testament. Words like the one anothers: Love one another, care for one another, esteem others higher than yourself, be devoted to one another. And words like the direct commands to rejoice, pray, walk worthy, throw out sin, and live our lives for Christ. How quickly we turn from these things at the slightest opportunity. We can be easily deceived like Eve, so we must hold on tightly to God’s good words for us. Know them, practice them, and have faith in them. Then we will stand firm in God’s power when we are tempted. I’m sure this is why Paul tells us to comfort each other with these words in 1 Thessalonians 4:18. He knew that one little seed of doubt planted by Satan could grow into massive sin.

But Satan didn’t stop with one question to Eve. He went on. He told Eve that she would be like God if she were to eat the fruit, knowing good and evil. Part of that is actually true, she would know good and evil. But she would not become God. Again, we learn more about how Satan works from this verse. He tells us half-truths that sound good, and we believe them, falling deeper into sin.

Sin Enters the World

Then comes verse 6, perhaps the saddest verse in the whole Bible. It says, “When the woman saw that the tree was food 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.”

Satan’s deception worked. He convinced Adam and Eve to disobey God’s good words and they ate the fruit. This brought sin into the human heart for the first time and since then every human being has been filled with sin from birth. David tells us this in Psalm 51, verse 5 which says, “Behold I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” And Paul tells us this plainly in Romans 5:12: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” But Paul doesn’t leave us there, he points us to the One, the man who came to reverse the fall into sin: Jesus. Romans 5:18-19 says, “So then as through one transgression there resulted in condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”

Their Eyes Were Opened, They Needed Clothes!

Immediately following their act of eating the fruit, of disobeying God, Adam and Eve’s lives changed forever. We see this clearly in the next verse. Genesis 3, verse 7 says, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.” They went from living in the garden together as husband and wife unashamed, to living in the garden as husband and wife full of shame. They could not be in front of their most loved one without some sort of covering. 

And their covering they made was not at all sufficient as we will see later in this chapter. Have you ever tried to make a skirt out of leaves? They’re flimsy, they rip apart, and they get dry, crackled, and crumbled after a while. This was not a sufficient covering for their bodies. But their thinking is not far from ours. Don’t we also try to cover up our sins before the Lord? We try to hide under the flimsy leaves, convincing ourselves that we are covered and the Lord can’t see. But He can, He knows our sin and He’s already taken care of it in Jesus. We have no reason to hide and should instead run to Him when we’ve done wrong, He’s ready to forgive us because Jesus has already paid for all our sin. 

But Adam and Eve immediately covering themselves also teaches us about our own need for clothing. Every human being now knows right and wrong, that’s what Paul says in Romans 2:15. And, like Adam and Eve, we want to cover our own nakedness before God and before others. Now it may not seem like that is the truth in culture today, you don’t have to look far to find immodesty in abundance. But that is an outworking of what Paul says in Romans 1:18, that unbelievers suppress the truth that is inside of them. Our culture has suppressed modesty and allowed Satan to twist God’s narrative into something evil. If you’d like to hear more about God’s narrative for modesty from the Scriptures, listen to the next episode of the podcast where I dig into that fully. But in a nutshell, we see the effects of the fall all around us, most directly we see it in Adam and Eve needing to cover their own nakedness.

Well, that brings us to the end of this passage for today’s episode. We will leave Adam and Eve here in the garden with their leafy clothing and come back to find them just as God does on the next Genesis episode in the podcast. 

We’ve learned a lot, at least I have, about not being deceived by Satan’s twisted tactics in the section of Scripture and I pray that each of you women listening will not be deceived by his words but will instead follow God’s good words that He’s given us to obey.

Thanks for listening to Naptime Theologian, a transcript of this podcast is available at NaptimeTheologian.com along with other resources and Christian encouragement for moms and women who want to know more about the God of the Bible. Have a great day!

Related Posts:

How to Dress Modestly

God’s Grace on Display in Genesis 2

Overview of Genesis

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Ep. 17 Dressing Modestly | Theology of Clothing

Welcome! I’m Deborah. So glad you’re here!

Here you’ll find encouraging, Scripture-filled posts and Bible study tips. Because theology is for every mom! Get to know me here.

Here’s what I’ve written lately…

  • Ep. 19 How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe | Practical Motherhood
  • Ep. 18 Grace Before the Curse | Genesis 3:8-13 | Book by Book
  • No Knead Artisan Sourdough Bread
  • Ep. 17 Dressing Modestly | Theology of Clothing
  • Ep. 16 Snakes, Deception, and Clothing | Genesis 3:1-7 | Book by Book

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    Happy New Year from us! I am definitely looking f Happy New Year from us! 
I am definitely looking forward to what 2023 will hold for our growing fam. ❤️ And striving to look forward to THE new beginning to come. John Calvin said, "No man has made much progress in the school of Christ who does not look forward with joy to the day of death and final resurrection."
    It has been over two years since I laid on a medic It has been over two years since I laid on a medical bed with the ultrasound wand on my stomach to see what was inside. The last two times brought heartbreak as I saw the empty screens confirming the loss of two little babies I only carried for a few weeks each.

But yesterday? That screen was full. 
We're expecting a baby in May 2023.

This pregnancy has already been really different from my first one with my daughter. That is why you haven’t heard from me! I’ve definitely been in survival mode from the nausea and exhaustion. But, of course, I am so thankful for this little one that God has given. I know we often use Job’s famous line when we lose something, but it has been ringing in my head throughout this pregnancy so far:

“The Lord GIVES and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21
    We've lived as expats in Oxford for almost 2 years We've lived as expats in Oxford for almost 2 years. Coming home from holiday truly felt like coming home. I love Oxford. What a challenging, exciting, and enjoyable chapter of life it is turning out to be. And what a grace from God because I could not have been brave enough to do it without Him. 💗
    Our August thus far. This one is just for the memo Our August thus far.
This one is just for the memories. ❤️
    As I stepped down into this ancient Roman prison, As I stepped down into this ancient Roman prison, I immediately got chills. But not because of the cold. 

This dark, damp prison cell that used to be an old spring is the place where the apostles Peter and Paul were held prior to their executions.* Woah! They could have been sitting right here, in chains, singing hymns, and Paul writing epistles.

Earlier this morning I walked through the Vatican and St. Peter's basilica, none of the marble, facades, sculptures, or frescoes compare to being where true believers sat in chains for their faith in Christ and only had their own executions to look forward to. 

Acts 5:41 describes the attitude of many believers who endured for Christ as "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." (Acts 5:41, ESV) I can imagine rejoicing like this would've been difficult to do locked away in a dark prison cell. But they were sustained by their Savior. May we all be if we're put in similar situations.

*This prison is only believed to be the one where Peter and Paul were held, it's not documented. Even if it's not the actual prison, they would've been kept in one very similar to this.

#churchhistory #christianityinrome #apostlepaul #mamertineprison
    Traveling with kids can be hard, but it's a lot of Traveling with kids can be hard, but it's a lot of fun. I could say a lot on this subject, one day I will. But for now I'll say this: you have to change your expectations. When you travel with your family, mamas, you're still going to be "mom" and your family will still need you to do things for them. You most likely will not be sipping soda all day by the pool soaking up the sun. In order to have a fun trip, you have to be okay with that. 
I'm definitely not always good at this! There have been days where I'm just tired of doing so much while away from home and not in our routine. But, after some correction from my husband, I realized that all the hard things of being a mom away from home are opportunities to serve my family. 
And even more than opportunities to serve, they are chances to die to myself. Opportunities to mortify the sinful flesh within me. (Romans 6:6)
So, all that to say, the hardness of traveling with kids can actually be very refining for you. And it really is a lot of fun! Don't let having kids keep you from going places, seeing and experiencing the beautiful world our Lord made with my daughter/family has been the best. ❤️
    When away from home, I often read Spurgeon's devot When away from home, I often read Spurgeon's devotionals. This one really stuck out to me and made me think about how I often give myself glory when it really belongs only to God. Read it for yourself:

"Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name.”
—Psalm 29:2

God’s glory is the result of his nature and acts. He is glorious in his character, for there is such a store of everything that is holy, and good, and lovely in God, that he must be glorious. The actions which flow from his character are also glorious; but while he intends that they should manifest to his creatures his goodness, and mercy, and justice, he is equally concerned that the glory associated with them should be given only to himself. Nor is there aught in ourselves in which we may glory; for who maketh us to differ from another? And what have we that we did not receive from the God of all grace? Then how careful ought we to be to walk humbly before the Lord! The moment we glorify ourselves, since there is room for one glory only in the universe, we set ourselves up as rivals to the Most High. Shall the insect of an hour glorify itself against the sun which warmed it into life? Shall the potsherd exalt itself above the man who fashioned it upon the wheel? Shall the dust of the desert strive with the whirlwind? Or the drops of the ocean struggle with the tempest? Give unto the Lord, all ye righteous, give unto the Lord glory and strength; give unto him the honour that is due unto his name. Yet it is, perhaps, one of the hardest struggles of the Christian life to learn this sentence—“Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name be glory.” It is a lesson which God is ever teaching us, and teaching us sometimes by most painful discipline. Let a Christian begin to boast, “I can do all things,” without adding “through Christ which strengtheneth me,” and before long he will have to groan, “I can do nothing,” and bemoan himself in the dust. When we do anything for the Lord, and he is pleased to accept of our doings, let us lay our crown at his feet, and exclaim, “Not I, but the grace of God which was with me!”

--Charles Spurgeon
    Yesterday at church the preacher said that we must Yesterday at church the preacher said that we must speak to ourselves as David did in Psalm 62. David is encouraging himself and exhorting himself in God's truth. The preacher also said that we must remind ourselves of our ignorance and tell ourselves what to do. That has stuck with me this morning. I may feel offended, but I have to remind myself to get over it and not be. I may feel unhappy in life, but I have to tell myself that God has my good in mind no matter what. I may feel like I can't go on, but I have to tell myself that God is always with me. And, I am so thankful that usually it's not just me telling myself these things. My sweet husband is often there to tell me these things as well and I am grateful for his careful instruction... I need it!
.
5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.  6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.  7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. (Psalm 62:5-7, ESV)
    Posting and ghosting on this one, friends! I try t Posting and ghosting on this one, friends! I try to take a long break from social media once a year and that time has come again. I'll be off for the rest of the month of July. If you've never taken a break like this, I definitely recommend it! I always feel refreshed and ready to encourage people again. You can read all my social media suggestions on my blog, linked in bio. July is also going to be a busier month for me... I'm out of town for two weeks and then moving to a new house down the road, so I don't need the distraction! But I'm happy you're here and I love connecting with all of you. Check out my highlights and feel free to send me a DM about anything, I will get back to you! 😘
    So, what is grace? This word is used so much in Ch So, what is grace? This word is used so much in Christianity. And so many little girls grow up with this word as their name. But what does “grace” actually mean?

Well, a simple definition is this: Grace is getting what you do not deserve. Or even simpler, Grace is undeserved favor. 

God, out of His kindness and love, treats us better than we deserve. That’s grace. He is constantly showing us His grace each and every day. 

We see grace in all good things that God gives to us. We don’t deserve anything good, only death and destruction because, again, we are sinners. But God gives us grace in our lives by treating us better than we deserve. We get to enjoy creations, food, marriage, children, and many other beautiful things in our lifetime. That’s all because of God’s grace. Because He hasn’t given us what we deserve. This is sometimes called common grace because it is available for all people in the world despite their sin, not just for Christians. Unbelievers also enjoy the planet and human relationships which are instances of God’s common grace in the world.

The Bible also uses the word grace in another way. First Corinthians 15:10 says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” This is God’s grace described in another way, as power for living out the Christian life. We see this also in 2 Corinthians 2:9 where Jesus says to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” This is God’s grace working to help us in our lives. We don’t deserve His help or encouragement, but He gives it to us because He treats us better than we deserve. This is grace. 

But the ultimate, saving grace of God is found in Jesus. As I said before, we know from Romans that the wages of sin is death. We also know from Romans 3:23 that all have sinned. So we all deserve death because we are all sinners. But God doesn’t treat us that way. Instead, He made a way for us to be forgiven for our sins through Jesus’ death and resurrection. That’s grace. Continue reading in comments ⬇️⬇️⬇️
    Sometimes I’ve struggled with the practical side Sometimes I’ve struggled with the practical side of being a wife and mother. Not struggled to get things done, but struggled to find value in doing those things. I think I’ve always found more value in studying the Bible and knowing more about God. And, of course, those things are valuable! But in my head I sometimes separate the mundane things from the spiritual things. And then I see the mundane tasks I have before me simply as things I need to get out of the way before I can really glorify God by studying His Word.

But that's not biblical. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:31 that we are to do all things to the glory of God. That means even my mundane tasks at home are to be done for His glory. We also read of the Proverbs 31 woman in the Bible. She had many, many mundane and normal mom-duties that she did each and every day. Her example shows us that those things are important things to do well for your family and that they are done for God’s glory.

I personally love bonding with other women about practical things in our lives and our homes. But I don’t always make the connection to having those things glorify God each day. Maybe it’s the stark juxtaposition between scrubbing muck off the floor and reading a 16th century commentary on a book of the Bible. The mundane to the majestic. That is sometimes a big jump for me to make. But I’m really trying to focus on God’s glory in every moment of my life, even the mundane ones. Because the reality is that He deserves the glory for each moment, whether it’s mundane or majestic. And His grace and regeneration in my life makes any mundane moment majestic. 

So I want to encourage you today, friend... The small things in our lives are not things we have to do before we can bring glory to God. If they’re in service of others, in service of your home, and quite simply the things that God has given you to do, then doing them brings glory to God. And that makes them important. 
.
Do you struggle with this connection too, though?
    A truth I've been mulling over and over again: "T A truth I've been mulling over and over again:

"There's not an hour that He is not near us; no not one, no not one."

I will wither and fade like these beautiful flowers. "What is man that You are mindful of him? And the son of man that You care for him?" (Psalm 8). And yet, Jesus promises, "Lo, I will be with you always." What grace!

No matter what we face, tears or triumphs, joys or sorrows, health or pain, Jesus will be there. Wherever we go, we cannot get away from Him. Even the remotest part of the sea (Psalm 139). Even if we are all alone, we aren't. For there's not an hour, not a minute, not a second, that He's not near us. No not one, no not one. ❤️
    I've recently picked back up the Gospel Primer by I've recently picked back up the Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent and have been reading it every day again... Wow! It's so good! Here's what I read today:

"Boldness is critical. Without boldness, my life story will be one of great deeds left undone, victories left unwon, petitions left unprayed, and timely words unsaid. If I wish to live only a pathetically small portion of the life God has prepared for me, then I need no boldness. But if I want my life to bloom full and loom large for the glory of God, then I must have boldness - and nothing so nourishes boldness in me like the gospel! The gospel gives me boldness first by banishing my greatest fear, the fear of God's eternal wrath. Indeed, Christ bore God's wrath upon Himself, not simply so I could escape that wrath on some future day, but also that I might be released from the daily fear of such wrath as I think ahead to judgment day. Because this fear hinders the ongoing work of God in me, the love of God continually expels this fear (whenever it appears) and nurtures within me a confident eagerness to face God on judgment day. Living in the daily relief of this fear frees me up to continue being perfected in confidence by the love of God, and it also serves to put all other fears, especially the fear of man, into perspective.

Additionally, the more I experience the life-transforming power of the gospel, the more confident I am in speaking it to others, both saved and lost. I know what the gospel can do in people's lives if they would believe the fullness of it, because I see what it is doing in me and in others. Therefore, I have increasing boldness to speak the whole gospel to others, even amid opposition...

Preaching the gospel to myself each day nourishes within me a holy brazenness to believe what God says, enjoy what He offers, and do what He commands. Admittedly, I don't deserve to be a child of God and I don't deserve to be free of sin's guilt and power. I don't deserve the staggering privilege of intimacy with God, nor any other blessing that Christ has purchased for me with His blood. I don't even deserve to be useful to God. But by the grace of God I am what I am and I have what I have."
    Mighty God, I humble myself for faculties misused, Mighty God,
I humble myself for faculties misused,
opportunities neglected,
words ill-advised,
I repent of my folly and inconsiderate ways, 
my broken resolutions, untrue service,
my backsliding steps, 
my vain thoughts.
O bury my sins in the ocean of Jesus' blood
and let no evil result from my fretful temper,
unseemly behaviour, provoking pettiness.
If by unkindness I have wounded or hurt another,
do thou pour in the balm of heavenly consolation;
If I have turned coldly from need, misery, grief,
do not in just anger forsake me;
If I have withheld relief from penury and pain,
do not withhold thy gracious bounty from me,
If I have shunned those who have offended me,
keep open the door of thy heart to my need.

Fill me with an over-flowing ocean of compassion,
the reign of love my motive,
the law of love my rule.

O thou God of all grace, make me more thankful, more humble;
Inspire me with a deep sense of my unworthiness arising from
the depravity of my nature, my omitted duties, 
my unimproved advantages, thy commands violated by me.
With all my calls to gratitude and joy may I remember
that I have reason for sorrow and humiliation;
O give me repentance unto life;
Cement my oneness with my blessed Lord,
that faith may adhere to him more immovably,
that love my entwine itself round him more tightly,
that his spirit may pervade every fibre of my being.
Then send me out to make him known to my fellow-men.
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-- from The Valley of Vision
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📸: Cirencester Church, Gloucestershire
    Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, "Come to me all who a Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, "Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." We need immense help with the weighty job of parenting and nurturing our children. So go to Jesus who promises rest. ❤️ How do you go to Jesus? Read His Word, try Psalm 1 or the gospel of John. Pray to Him, he hears you and will answer. Ask Him for help and rest along your parenting journey.
    Satan first just gave Eve a hint by planting that Satan first just gave Eve a hint by planting that seed of doubt: “Did God really say you shall not eat from any tree of the garden?” That’s exactly what the serpent does with us today. “Did God really say you have to put others before yourself or is a little more ‘me time’ exactly what you need?” “Did God really say you have to submit yourself to your husband even when you don’t feel like it?” “Did God really say you need to discipline your children with humility and kindness or is your raised voice understandable because you’re upset?” 

All it took was that one little question for Eve’s heart to decline from faith, as Calvin puts it. He is describing the fall and how that small seed of doubt planted by the serpent grew into sin. He says, “Eve could previously behold the tree with such sincerity, that no desire to eat of it affected her mind; for the faith she had in the word of God was the best guardian of her heart, and of all her senses. But now, after the heart had declined from faith, and from obedience to the word, she corrupted both herself and all her senses, and depravity was diffused through all parts of her soul as well as her body. It is, therefore, a sign of impious defection, that the woman now judges the tree to be good for food, eagerly delights herself in beholding it, and persuades herself that it is desirable for the sake of acquiring wisdom; whereas before she had passed by it a hundred times with an unmoved and tranquil look.”

Eve went quickly from looking at the tree without a second thought, to desiring it for herself. We see that in her first response where she has already changed what God originally told them not to do in chapter 2. She added that they were not to touch the tree, God never said anything about touching the tree. Do you see how quickly we can be deceived into thinking that God’s ways are not best? 

Read/listen to the full post on Genesis 3 and Eve's deception at the link in my stories.
    We only have so much time in general. But time wit We only have so much time in general. But time with your kids? Even less. I want to use my time to be with my family, with my daughter, serving them well and providing a happy, healthy home for them. There's no other place I'd rather be. I know I'm made to be her mama and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be with her. The Bible says that children are a blessing and gift from the Lord (Psalm 127:3). I pray I never take my time with my daughter for granted! ❤️🙏
    We don’t have to look far to find immodesty in o We don’t have to look far to find immodesty in our culture today. Simply switch on the TV, flip through a magazine, or walk through the grocery store, immodesty is everywhere. Our over-sexualized culture celebrates clothes that do not cover and garments that glitter. Clearly, our culture cares about what you wear. The art, music, and literature of today want to empower women by self-expression in scanty clothing. Their message is that it is more inspiring, feminine, and acceptable to show off our bodies than to cover them up, that shame of any sort regarding our physique is not appropriate, and that women should be free to dress however they desire.

The Christian must ask, “does God feel the same way?” “Does God care about what you wear?”

We don’t have to look far to find modesty in the Bible. In the opening chapters of Genesis, we find God as the very first clothing designer. Adam and Eve have just sinned, and they are now ashamed of their nakedness in the garden. They attempt to cover up their shame by stringing leaves together into loincloths (Genesis 3:7). When God later came to the garden and found Adam and Eve, He first addressed their sin, but then addressed their shame.

Genesis 3:21 says, “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” Their little loincloths were not sufficient to cover the shame of their sin, so God made them garments, or tunics, to cover up their bodies. This was not because their bodies were imperfect, rather they were exposed. The point of clothing in this passage is to cover up Adam and Eve’s shame, the shame of the first sin. They were naked, utterly exposed, and God gave them dignity by providing proper clothing for their bodies so that they were no longer ashamed.

We are exactly like Adam and Eve, stuck in the shame of sin. It’s not until Jesus stepped into the world and took our place on the cross that it all changed. 
Read the full article on forthegospel.org or click the link in my stories.

Does God Care What Women Wear?
    Yes, God uses snakes. ☺️ The first character m Yes, God uses snakes. ☺️
The first character mentioned in Genesis 3  is none other than the serpent. The text says, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.

Maybe this seems like a small question, but I had never thought about this before. Why did Satan use the serpent instead of any other animal that God had created? The Bible clearly states that the snake or serpent was already cunning and crafty on its own, that’s how God made it.

In John Calvin’s commentary on this verse, he points out that Jesus actually tells the disciples to be “prudent as serpents” in Matthew 10:16. So, we shouldn’t read this first verse of chapter 3 with a negative tone. Rather, Moses is highlighting an aspect of God’s creation in describing the serpent as crafty. And even though it’s Satan who is using the snake in this passage, remember that Moses is actually pretty familiar with God using snakes for His own purposes. We have the first reference to this later in this chapter to God sending someone to “crush the head” of the serpent in Genesis 3:15.

Then in Moses’ personal life God used snakes as well. In Exodus 4 Moses’ staff is turned into a snake to show God’s power to Pharaoh. Then, in Numbers 21, snakes attack the Israelites in judgment from God and Moses is told to make the bronze snake that’s lifted up and when the people look to the bronze snake, they are healed. So, Moses knew from personal experience what snakes were like and it makes sense for him to include this note at the beginning of Genesis 3 about snakes being crafty. 

That bronze serpent that Moses made is actually in the Bible two more times, once during the time of the kings and it’s referred to in the New Testament by John. In 2 Kings 18, Hezekiah has just come onto the throne as king of Judah and it says in verse 4 that “he removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.” ... Continued in comments ⬇️⬇️⬇️
    This is 27! 🎉 Pictured: 1) stopping to smell t This is 27! 🎉 
Pictured: 1) stopping to smell the roses at the oldest botanic garden in England, 2) finally learning how to do sourdough bread this weekend, 3) learning the laws of cricket as we watch Dada play, 4) drinking lots of water and meat stock (not at the same time 😆), 5) starting a garden with my friends!
Not pictured: the ups and downs of living in a foreign country, the frustrations and joys of training a 4-year-old, seeing God's faithfulness in little and big ways. ❤️
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