What Does the Bible Say?

Scripture – Genesis 3:1-5: Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘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.’” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) Obviously the man had passed on to the woman what God had told him about the trees in the garden. What she tells the serpent is a little different than what God told the man. God identified the forbidden tree as “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Saturday’s reading) She refers only to “the tree that is in the middle of the garden.” She also adds that they should not even touch it. Was the man unclear in passing on the instruction? Was the woman sort of changing what she was told? However it happened, God’s word has been altered.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) In passing on the faith to new people, the Bible is our primary resource. At times, I still catch myself saying, “Somewhere in the Bible it says…” Then I rattle off a paraphrase of a passage that may or may not be accurate. That’s why we have this mini-journal. One of the purposes is to read a portion of scripture each day, give some serious thought to it, and see what the Bible itself says. This week, as I speak with people, I will only make reference to Biblical passages I can quote by heart or that I can turn to and read.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, you have given us your written word. I’m sorry for not using it as effectively as I can. I’m sorry for taking the lazy way out so often. Help me discipline myself to read and pay attention to what I’m reading. Please keep teaching me. Help me pass on your word accurately.