She took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Genesis 3:6.
Having herself transgressed, she [Eve] became the agent of Satan working the ruin of her husband. In a state of strange, unnatural excitement, with her hands filled with the forbidden fruit, she sought his presence, and related all that had occurred.
An expression of sadness came over the face of Adam. He appeared astonished and alarmed. To the words of Eve he replied that this must be the foe against whom they had been warned; and by the divine sentence she must die. In answer she urged him to eat, repeating the words of the serpent, that they should not surely die. She reasoned that this must be true, for she felt no evidence of God’s displeasure, but on the contrary realized a delicious, exhilarating influence, thrilling every faculty with new life, such, she imagined, as inspired the heavenly messengers.
Adam understood that his companion had transgressed the command of God, disregarded the only prohibition laid upon them as a test of their fidelity and love. There was a terrible struggle in his mind. He mourned that he had permitted Eve to wander from his side. But now the deed was done; he must be separated from her whose society had been his joy. How could he have it thus? Adam had enjoyed the companionship of God and of holy angels. He had looked upon the glory of the Creator. He understood the high destiny opened to the human race should they remain faithful to God. Yet all these blessings were lost sight of in the fear of losing that one gift which in his eyes outvalued every other. Love, gratitude, loyalty to the Creator—all were overborne by love to Eve. She was a part of himself, and he could not endure the thought of separation…. He resolved to share her fate; if she must die, he would die with her. After all, he reasoned, might not the words of the wise serpent be true? Eve was before him, as beautiful and apparently as innocent as before this act of disobedience. She expressed greater love for him than before. No sign of death appeared in her, and he decided to brave the consequences. He seized the fruit and quickly ate.13Ibid., 56, 57.
Conflict and Courage p. 16
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for our family as we have some health issues. Buck
—-Please pray for my husband. He is diagnosed with severe Sleep Apnea and needs the right treatment. I hear him struggling with breathing in the nights while sleeping. MM
—-My father is in the hospital recovering from an emergency appendectomy. He is a heart patient and there are complications. My sibling has a divorce court meeting with her lawyers and soon to be x. Please pray for my father’s heart and resolution in the courts. Anon
—-My son Wesley …..his whole body is swelling up and he said his lungs and heart are feeling weird so he has finally decided to go to the Emergency Room for help. He can hardly move and he is gasping for air. His legs are swollen to twice their normal size and they are discolored with purple …red…pink….blue streaks. Please pray that he will not change his mind about going for help. Please pray that God will heal him and not allow him to die unsaved. Connie
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Dear Friends,
A few days ago, it snowed a few inches and everything was covered with a blanket of white. At first, there were no tracks in the snow and it did look beautiful even though I have never liked snow. It wasn’t long, however, until the entire yard was full of tracks and bare spots. What made the difference? My grandchildren discovered the snow as soon as they awakened and immediately got dressed in their snowpants and winter coats. Soon there were footprints everywhere. Then they decided to make a snowman. Long paths of snowless grass where they rolled their huge balls for the man of snow. They had so much fun!
Just as those tracks in the snow gave witness that my grandchildren were playing in the yard, so we leave “our tracks” in the lives of those around us. It is good to ask ourselves the question, “Are they any closer to God because of our presence?”
Jesus tells us, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:13-16
We have a calling to fulfill as did John the Baptist for we are to prepare a people to meet Jesus when He comes again. Just as John’s whole life witnessed to the work given Him by God, so should ours. From his birth he was set aside for this special work, so are we. The disciple John speaks of him, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:6-9
John the Baptist did not live a life of ease. He even separated himself from the temptations of the day and dwelt in the wilderness. Although he lived in a solitary place, people went out to the wilderness to hear him. “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. . . . Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matt 3:1-11
John spoke the word in truth no matter what the consequences would be. “Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.” Matt 14:3, 4 It cost him his life, but his reward in Heaven will be great. Jesus, speaking of John, said, “This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Luke 7:27, 28
May we be faithful in our witness as was John. May others take “knowledge of (us), that (we have) been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 May we leave evidence of our walk with God wherever we go by leading those around us to the foot of the cross, that they may receive the grace and blessing and eternal life that our Great Redeemer longs to impart is my prayer.
Rose