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.
Conflict and Courage p. 16
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Prayer Requests
—–update—Lorna is having surgery on her knee this morning. Please pray that God guides the surgeon’s hands and that she will have a quick and a good recovery. I also have a time sensitive unspoken request. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, a friend was telling me about their neighbor. The man was a rich doctor and his wife spent her time lounging around the house watching the shopping channel on TV and spending his money. She is very spoiled and self-centered and feels as if everyone should serve her.
My friend was half laughing-half disgusted at the woman’s attitude and how the woman’s husband treats her. When the doctor asked my friend’s husband, who cares his and other’s lawns as a side business, if the grass seeds he had just planted would grow this time, he responded, “If you have your wife turn on the sprinklers, it will.”
Shocked that anyone would expect his wife to do such a menial task, the doctor said, “Oh, my wife couldn’t do that. She doesn’t feel well. She is going through menopause.”
It’s hard to believe that there are people in this world that are so pampered that they cannot even turn a knob. We shake our head in disgust. Yet, how often we are like that woman living a self-centered life as if we deserve all of God’s good gifts which He daily showers upon us. How seldom we give Him thanks for all He has done for us? How rarely do we put aside our desire for ease and work for Him? How unlike our Dear Saviour we are!
Think of it! The Great King of the Universe, the Creator of all things, the One Whom all Heaven adores, came down to this sinful, rebellious world and humbled Himself living a life of service to others. He “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” He equipped His disciples for a life of service as well. “Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few, Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” Matt 20:28, 9:35-10:1
In view of all that Jesus has done for us, how can we sit in self-centered idleness? May we serve as He served. May we respond with the attitude in this poem by Ralph Atwood.
To fill a need as best I can
To see the worth in broken man
To break the hold of guilt and pain
And restore dignity again
To see a smile where there were tears
To offer hope that shatters fears
To love the unloved while there’s time
And make his heavy burden mine
To look a lost soul in the eye
And tell him Jesus came to die
And follow through with word and deed
And never quit while there’s still need
To recognize my Master’s voice
And serve with love This is my choice
Rose