Here’s today’s installment:

December 3, 2014

Genesis 3:8-15

 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done? ”The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Even in this dark, painful moment, one that ushered in the horror of sin and the gravity of judgment, we still find hope. God simply refuses to allow our rebellion, our hiding and blaming to be the last word. Instead, He gazes down through history to deliver a promise. The enemy, Satan himself, would strike at our Savior’s heel, bringing anguish and agony. But triumph belongs to Jesus. On the Cross He crushed Satan’s head, forever rendering him a defeated adversary. Yes, the enemy still tempts, pursues and harasses, but our King has already decisively judged him. To proclaim that Jesus wins is not a spoiler alert, but rather a statement of truth—of truest and deepest reality. Whatever trials and temptations you face today, remember this: Jesus has already won! Your future is secure; your hope – every bit of it — is well placed in Jesus!

What effects of the Fall (brokenness in ourselves, in creation, our world) are you feeling most deeply today? Spend a few moments letting Jesus, the true and rightful King, remind you that He has defeated the enemy and that one day all things will be fully “put to rights”.

For Families: Think about this: even when we make mistakes and disobey God, He still loves us and wants to be close to us. How does that make you feel?