The Lord's Prayer
Daily Bible Studies for the Week of June 29, 2009
This Week’s Scripture: Genesis 3:1-19 NLT
1The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
4“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
8When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. 9Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”
11“Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”
12The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”
13Then the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?”
“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”
14Then the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. 15And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
16Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy,
and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband,
but he will rule over you.”
17And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
18It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains.
19By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust,
and to dust you will return.”
Monday
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, as we turn to Genesis 3 this week, I pray that You will give me a renewed desire to obey You and You alone in my life! Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may avoid temptation and that I will walk constantly in the way of righteousness. Use me this week to be “salt and light” to others, that they, too, may follow You! This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
1The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
4“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” Genesis 3:1-4 NLT
What “techniques” did the serpent use to tempt the woman?
Do these techniques still work today? Why or why not?
Today’s Challenge: I will obey God’s word and resist the “serpents” lies!
Tuesday
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, in today’s scripture we see that the woman sinned and the man passively stood by, and then participated in the sin as well. I pray that You will keep me from such sin and passivity in my life today, and let me focus on Jesus who is the Way and the Truth and the Life, that I may be victorious today through Him! This I pray in His holy name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
6The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. Genesis 3:6-7 NLT
Why do you think the woman was so easily convinced?
Why do you think that the man stood passively by and didn’t intervene on behalf of his wife?
Today’s Challenge: I will reject the sin and passivity that are so easy to embrace, and will live boldly for Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit!
Wednesday
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, I confess that I often hide from You. I know that I can’t hide. I know that You are aware of my sin, and yet, I still try to do it. Forgive me, both for my sin and for thinking that I can hide from You when I sin. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may live boldly for You today! This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
8When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. 9Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” Genesis 3:8-10 NLT
Can you relate to Adam’s feeling when God called out to him? Why or why not?
What would have been the appropriate response for Adam to make?
Today’s Challenge: I will step forward and admit my sins to God, and will rely on the Holy Spirit to keep from sinning in the first place!
Thursday
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, How easy I find it to blame someone else for my sins! I pray again for Your forgiveness and I pray that I will take responsibility for my own thoughts, words and actions. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may not only take responsibility, but that I may live a holy life. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
11“Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”
12The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”
13Then the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?”
“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” Genesis 3:11-13 NLT
What would you have done if you were Adam in that situation? Why?
What would you have done if you were Eve? Why?
Today’s Challenge: I will take responsibility for my life today, and not blame others for my actions!
Friday
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, I know that there are consequences for my actions. When I live in Your righteousness, I have the consequence of remaining in relationship with You. When I sin, that relationship is broken. Thank You for providing the way out through Jesus! May I rely on His blood, and His blood alone as my means of being restored. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
14Then the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. 15And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
16Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:14-16 NLT
What does the consequence the serpent and the woman were given by God tell us about His justice and about His grace?
Some see Genesis 3:15 as the first prophecy of Jesus’ coming in the Bible. Why do you think that’s the case?
Today’s Challenge: I will trust God’s justice and grace as He deals with me when I sin, and for restoration through Jesus!
Saturday
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, I know that the consequences of sin are far reaching and that in this life they will always be part of the human experience. I praise You that in Jesus, You have overcome the root of sin and death in our lives, and that one day, all who trust in Him will know the joy of ultimate victory over sin with You in heaven. I thank You for this coming day in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
17And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. 18It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. 19By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:17-19 NLT
Why do you think God cursed the ground when it was the man who sinned?
What are the implications of this even to the current day?
Today’s Challenge: I will work diligently as to the Lord in all my endeavors!