Genesis 3:9-11
9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
What an interesting question that God asked Adam. Did He, an omnipotent and all-knowing God, not know the answer? Of course He did.
Joel Osteen remarked in his devotional article, "Designed for Better", that what God really wanted to say to Adam was "Who told you that something was wrong with you, Adam?" God was trying to point out to Adam that he had just spoken to the great condemner, the enemy, the devil himself. And he should not be listening to the father of all lies.
As I start the year with the theme "Be Thou my Vision", I am reminded that my ears must only listen to His one voice and not the voices of the world, which echo Satan's lies. Those voices are loud, distracting and mostly condemning. They are intended to distract us from the fact that we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, that there is no condemnation for us who are saved through Jesus Christ and that God HAS forgiven us.
Let's ask a few questions:
Who told you that you don't have what it takes to succeed in your business, study, personal relationship?
Who told you that God will not bless you and that the desires of your heart will not be met?
Who told you that God hates you because of your sins?
Who told you that you will not get your promotion or a pay raise?
To be able to reject such voices from the enemy, we need to fill our minds with the word of God.
Try the following for a start:
Rom 6:37 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
Rom 11:29 "God's gifts and his call are irrevocable."
2 Cor 5:21 "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Ps 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Phil 4:13 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
So, let's determine to hear only that One voice daily .... Who told you .... ?
God bless.
Steven
Joel Osteen remarked in his devotional article, "Designed for Better", that what God really wanted to say to Adam was "Who told you that something was wrong with you, Adam?" God was trying to point out to Adam that he had just spoken to the great condemner, the enemy, the devil himself. And he should not be listening to the father of all lies.
As I start the year with the theme "Be Thou my Vision", I am reminded that my ears must only listen to His one voice and not the voices of the world, which echo Satan's lies. Those voices are loud, distracting and mostly condemning. They are intended to distract us from the fact that we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, that there is no condemnation for us who are saved through Jesus Christ and that God HAS forgiven us.
Let's ask a few questions:
Who told you that you don't have what it takes to succeed in your business, study, personal relationship?
Who told you that God will not bless you and that the desires of your heart will not be met?
Who told you that God hates you because of your sins?
Who told you that you will not get your promotion or a pay raise?
To be able to reject such voices from the enemy, we need to fill our minds with the word of God.
Try the following for a start:
Rom 6:37 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
Rom 11:29 "God's gifts and his call are irrevocable."
2 Cor 5:21 "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Ps 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Phil 4:13 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
So, let's determine to hear only that One voice daily .... Who told you .... ?
God bless.
Steven
Jesus said in John 10:14 " I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." This is relationship is possible when the sheep hears the Shepherd, which sheep we are and our Lord Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd. Amen! Thanks for sharing .... Michael Lai
ReplyDeleteHi Steven,
ReplyDeleteGood sharing. I was pondering over this week about Eve's thinking when she ate the fruit. She didn't think that God has given her all good things. She felt that she had a lack. She needed to do something to provide something even better for herself. She didn't think that God was good enough for her.
So often many people think likewise, including myself. I tend to have a "lack" mentality, thinking unconsciously that God has kept away good from me.
I like the question you mentioned, "Who told you that you don't have what it takes to succeed in your business, study, personal relationship?"
God is good, and He is more than enough for me. He has provided all good things for me to help me succeed in every aspect of my life.
Amen. Tks for your sharing :>
God bless you!
Charis Chua
Dear Steven
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the probing questions you asked. They cut across most spheres of our life.
Besides Jehovah Jireh, our Prodiver who gives us good things to succeed, the questions also help one to pause and reflect.
A time to reflect on what God has imbibed in each of us - our make-up, our qualities, our talents. Are we using them to equip us in our life journey? And if we are, are we maximizing them?
Or do we merely "test the waters" like the disciple Peter? Because we are overwhelmed by the circumstances we see and feel we don't have what it takes to "walk on water".
When all we need is to look up and look within. Up to Him and WITHIN for what He has entrusted to us.
Thank you for your insightful probing.
God bless.
Rosemary Wong
Hi Steven
ReplyDeleteA good start to the New Year. First you lead us to think on the level of confidence we have with God followed by Who told you that you were naked? Today, I was asked Do you believe in miracles? All these 3 questions is directing me back to your 1st sharing our confidence in God. When we place our confidence in God, the 2nd and 3rd questions will not need to be answered.
Thanks Steven for your untiring efforts in teaching us thru your blog. God bless