The scripture for today, February 8 (2/8), is Genesis 2:8 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:
“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.”
Just think: Mankind’s nursery was a garden. How God wanted to spoil us, his children. And dote on us.
He even visited us sometimes and walked with us through the beautiful home he gave us and walked with us in the cool of the evening. It was the first of many times in the future he would walk with man. It was a beautiful time.
Then jealous Satan came along and lied to us. He claimed God was our enemy. How could he say that with God providing tasty food to eat and sparkling water to drink beautiful flowers and trees and… Well, we had everything.
Satan knew he couldn’t deny that, so he planted in their minds what they did not have. “See that tree over there? God doesn’t like you or he would let you touch that tree. See that fruit over there? God doesn’t like you or he would let you eat anything you want.” Oh, and the biggie. “God doesn’t want you to be as smart as him. Evil is fun, but he is keeping you from knowing what evil is. It’s the most wonderful thing in the world. Evil is so much fun. If God hates you that much, then hate him back.”
So, they did. And Satan laughed. They were so gullible. Too late they discovered God had been trying to protect them.
Many people even today still believe those lies about God not wanting them to have any fun. They are not true. God does not hate you. God is not trying to keep you from having a good time. The real good time is in heaven and he is trying to get you there.
Do not listen to Satan. He is the one who hates you. Do not wait until it is too late. Turn around and try once more listening to God. He loves you beyond comprehension. And wants to spoil you. In heaven.
“He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.”
“Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again?”
” ‘At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks…On the twenty-fourth day of the first month…I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude….Then he continued, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me because I was detained there with the king of Persia.’ “
“In the same way, he [Moses] sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, then the truth will set you free.’ “
“Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’ “
“You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.”
“For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do ~ this I keep on doing.”
“Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him.”