Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: Taking my next right step
Weekend Music links on iTunes: All Because of Jesus - Fee, Holding Nothing Back - Jesus Culture, Love Came Down - Ben Cantelon, None But Jesus - Hillsongs
Think: I don’t know about you but I can’t imagine what it must have been like to walk with God in the Garden of Eden as did Adam and Eve. Not only were they surrounded by great beauty but God had provided everything that they needed and left them with only one restriction, “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.” Genesis 3:3 NIV
Seems like simple instructions but somehow the one thing they could not have became the thing that they had to have. When Adam and Eve disobeyed sin was born. Mankind has wrestled with sin and its consequences ever since and we still seem drawn towards the things that bring feelings of guilt and shame in our life.
Pastor Ben shared a great verse out of Hebrews chapter 10 in his message Sunday.
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deed.” Hebrews 10:22-24 (NIV)
What a great verse of encouragement. Not only are we to draw closer to God in spite of our imperfection but we are also called to lovingly come alongside others who are struggling. The problem is that our nature is such that when our imperfection is exposed we want to hide it rather than bring it before God.
“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. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” Genesis 3:8-10
There is not one of us who is perfect, not one of us who is without sin. God doesn’t require perfection but he does require honesty. Only in coming to God in all your imperfection can you find the true peace and freedom as He removes your guilt and shame.
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 1 Peter 2:24 NLT
Do: Spend some time reflecting on the things in your life that seem to always hinder you from coming to God. Take the time to have an honest dialogue with God over them.
Pray: Lord I know that you have forgiven my sin. Help me to forgive myself for the wrongs I have done against you and others. Help me to find victory in those areas where I continue to make wrong choices. In Jesus name, Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.
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