READING: Genesis 3: 17-24                         

The disobedience of man in yesterday’s reading had immediate and long-term consequences on the couple, the entire human race, the ground and even the tempter! For the couple, they were banished from the Garden of Eden, and lost the close relationship with God that they had enjoyed (vs. 8, 23).  This also brought death into the world, both for them and the entire human race (v 19, Rom. 5:12; 1Cor. 15: 21).The ground was cursed because of man’s disobedience, and the tempter was not spared either! (v.17,14). Compare these consequences with the rosy picture of life that was painted for the woman when she was being tempted (vs. 4-5). 

The tempter is still at work today, painting the ways of death as if they were right in order to cause people to sin (Prov. 14:12; Rom. 7:11). No matter how attractively a particular act of sin is presented, let us remember that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), and therefore run away from every appearance of evil (1Thess. 5: 22).

PRAYER: Lord, deliver me from every temptation!