Good morning! What a great day to start fresh into a new study of the Bible.  I can’t wait to see what God is going to teach you through this. I have learned so much, and that is why I want to share it with you.

This blog is written, somewhat, in a journalling style.  My grammar isn’t perfect and sometimes the thoughts may appear jumbled or short. There are so many truths packed into each day that I may not expand on all of them.  Honestly, my goal in studying the Bible is to pull out at least one really good theme that I can focus on and apply in my life that day.  What I get out a section of scripture might be completely different than what you find.  And that’s okay! That’s how we can learn from each other.

If you haven’t already, skim through the How to page and learn how to make this into your own study.  You can also print out the Chronological Study Plan here to follow along every other day.

I am reading out of the New Living Translation but you can use whichever one speaks to you best.  To find what translation might be best for you, read this previous blog post. Last thing, please share in the comments section what you’ve learned. I really do want to read it!

Here goes!

S – Scripture: Genesis 1-3

• 1:27 – “So God created human beings in his own image…”
• 2:3 – “And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy…”
• 2:23-25 – “‘At last!’ the man exclaimed. ‘This is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh!’…This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.  Now the man and his wife were both naked and felt no shame.”
• 3:7 – After eating the forbidden fruit – “at that moment their eyes were opened, and suddenly they felt shame at their nakedness.”
• 3:21 – “And the Lord made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.”
• 3:23 – “So the Lord banished them from the Garden of Eden.”

O – Observations

• God created the heavens and earth and everything in it.  He saw that all that he created was good.
  • He is powerful; a creator and designer; in control of all things; understanding, just, and compassionate.
• Humans were created in God’s image, but there is a choice between good and evil.  We have freewill to decide to stay in God’s way or Satan’s.
  • We have a need for relationships and intimacy (to become one with one’s spouse.)
  • There is something in us that seeks power and wisdom and life.
  • We can easily be deceived.  The devil knows our weak spots.

• Satan is shrewd and full of lies. He understands the weakness of human nature and desire.  Satan knows that one sin can cascade into many and pull us away from God.
• The first animal sacrifice was made here to cover Adam and Eve’s sin (Gen. 3:21). Blood is needed as an atonement for our sin.
• This is the first time shame was felt.  It was never meant to be a feeling we should ever go through.
  • Sin leads to fear, guilt, and shame towards each other and God

A – Application

The definition of shame is: a painful feeling of guilt or humiliation or distress by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.  Shame is an ugly word.  It’s an ugly feeling.  There are things in my life that I am ashamed of.  I have failures and sins that I just want to cover up with fig leaves.  Things most people don’t know about me, and I would prefer them never to know.

It’s word like shame, fear, and guilt that, for many of us, hear it and can instantly think of a laundry list of moments in our past and present.  It wasn’t supposed to be like this.  Those words weren’t meant to be part of our vocabulary.

But it’s these words, these moments in my life, that bring me to the cross.  When I remember the cross, that Jesus gave his life to atone for my sins; and I remember my baptism, the water rushing over me, my shame is washed away and I am renewed.  I feel light, clean, and at peace.  It’s like I’m in the Garden of Eden before the Fall. Restored, renewed, unblemished in God’s presences again.

When I rest in God’s love and compassion; when I’m seeking him first and above all else, there is no room for shame and guilt.  It’s like it’s pushed out of me through the pores of my skin and washed away.  Light and love enter.

There is a process here that I think might be helpful:

• I am convicted in some way.  Either by reading God’s word, hearing it from a Pastor or friend, or maybe just a thought from the Holy Spirit.
• I must confess it to the Lord and ask for forgiveness from him and any other person involved.
• I deal with the consequences of my actions.
• I make changes in my habits and lifestyle to not let that sin back into my life.  This might look like not getting on certain social media sites, websites, tv shows or music, toxic relationships or substances that I just need to stay away from.
• I walk closer to God that ever, clinging to his Word, that I might not fall back into that sin.  I step into grace, knowing that that sin was a part of my past, but not my future.  I am a new creation in Christ!

Here are some other verses that I love on this topic:

“And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Hebrews 10:21-23

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Romans 10:9-11

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39

 

P – Prayer

God, help me to understand the fullness of your grace and the depths of your love. I do carry a lot of shame somedays.  Sometimes I feel like I’m never good enough, smart enough, or fit enough. Moments of failure and loss from my past cloud all that you have done for me and who you lovingly created me to be. It is by your unconditional love and compassion that I have life.

Father, protect me from Satan and his lies.  Strengthen my heart to know when it is him and give me the courage to stand.  You make all things work together for good.  Continue to carry that out in me.  Amen

*If you are dealing with shame and guilt, take it to God.  He loves you no matter what you have done.  Nothing separates us from that love! If you need help, find a close friend or program that teaches you how to cope and holds you accountable.  Freedom is out there, friend.  If have a specific prayer request or want to chat, please Contact me here.

**Please share what you learned either from this post or from your own journey through this scripture today.  I love hearing how God speaks to each of us individually through the same text.  Isn’t it amazing!!

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