April #jammed: Grace Studies.

Day 98: Too hot to drink.

“Die? No, you’ll not die. God is playing games with you.” Genesis 3:4

We all know who was really playing games with Eve in today’s verse, but it’s easy for us read the story when the ending has already been written. It’s quite different to guess what is going to happen.

“It’s too hot!!!” my daughter gasped, as she burnt her tongue on her hot-chocolate. She would rather it be a cup of coffee, but seeing as she’s six, that’s an automatic ‘no.’ That one time she burnt her tongue caused her to drink hot-chocolate cold ever since.

The fear of getting burned is exactly what the serpent used against Even in the garden, and what he uses to scare us out of the good God has planned for our lives. Even on days when I’m deep in God’s Word, there’s a nagging whisper saying:

“No, you’ll not die. God is playing games with you.”

We have a real enemy. He was in the garden with Eve that day, ruining her paradise forever. He’s not sitting on our shoulder cartoon-style …he’s much too big to be scaled down comically. The dark, overwhelming sense that we are under attack is his calling card.

Arguing with a friend? Feel the urge to gossip? Blaming someone for mistakes unowned? Hiding anything from anyone?

He stirs up discontent and conflict. Beware. He’s a little devil.

But, like they say in the end of Desencdants, “Maybe good is stronger than evil…”

Yes, Disney, it most certainly is. Watch the fairytales and bask in the happy ending, because when we walk with Jesus in this life, we are His crowned royalty in the next. Good does trump evil, and he’s particularly aggravated about it. Don’t let him fool you. He loses in the end. This world hurts, it makes no sense, and it’s injustice blares loudly:

“God is playing games with you.”

Jesus knew he would harass us, and so He prayed, “…protect them from the evil one. They are not of this world.” (John 17:15b-16a)

Let go of the lies and hold onto the Truth. He died so we could.

Father, Praise You for Jesus’ prayer for us. We know that You hear the prayers of the faithful and I believe that You will continue to answer His prayer of protection for us until He returns to take us home. Forgive us for entertaining Satan’s lies, and for doubting Your Truth. Bless our lives with Light and Truth, and the Holy Spirit’s discernment to know the difference. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Truth-seeking,

Megs

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