Day 24 / 24.07.23 / REV SHARON FONG, DIRECTOR, THE NEXT GENERATION, COVENANT EFC

Day 24: Not just hearers but doers also

Genesis 3:1-7 “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 certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realised they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”

Genesis 3:1-7 has so much impact on humanity. The author intentionally repeated some keywords that readers should not miss. The two words “God said” are repeated throughout the chapter.

The author repeated this eight times in one chapter. We see how our God is a speaking God.

In Genesis 2, God speaks specific words of instruction to Adam and Eve, telling them that they may eat of every tree in the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil for they shall surely die if they do so.

With an overarching theme of a speaking God, we should not be surprised to find a speaking serpent too. A speaking God versus a speaking serpent – can you see the tension in this narrative?

The tension between a speaking God versus a speaking serpent did not just start and end in Genesis 3. The saga has continued throughout centuries and generations.

The speaking serpent shoots the first question to Eve: “Did God actually say you shall not eat of any tree in the garden?” The speaking serpent’s question sounds quite innocent. However, the crafty serpent is subtly challenging Eve on how well she remembers and honours God’s exact words of instruction.

But Eve does not fully remember God’s exact words of instruction and, worse, she adds additional comments to God’s spoken instruction by saying “neither shall you touch it”. The truth is that God did not tell them that they shall never touch that tree.

Eve’s inability to remember and honour God’s exact words of instruction opens the door for the serpent to further trap and tempt her. Eve’s failure to trust and obey God begins with an inability to fully remember, honour and obey God’s words of instruction.

To trust and obey God, one cannot run away from the Word of God. The world and the evil one will persist in speaking louder than ever before through various platforms.

We want to win and disciple our youths in Singapore for Christ. We pray for them to know God deeply through the Holy Scriptures, and be excited and gripped by the Word of God so that they may trust and obey God wholeheartedly. Today, let’s pray for our youths to hear God’s voice through his Word and obey Him with no if’s or but’s.

Our God is a speaking God.

To our young people: May you run to God, lean on His Word, and drink deep from the fountain of living waters. May you be known as a generation who are both hearers and doers of God’s word. Trust and obey God. Let us pray:

Father, may You empower us to be both hearers and doers of Your Word. May You help us to read Your Word regularly and know Your Word deeply.

In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Download the PDF version of today’s devotional here.

/ Reflect

Why does knowing God’s Word well matter to us as His followers?
How can you create a rhythm to read and live out God’s Word regularly?
What is one way you can begin discipling the youth/s you know to be hearers and doers of God’s Word?
Meditate on 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” How does Scripture “complete” you?

/ Pray

Pray for God to help you understand the Word, remember it accurately and apply it to your life and ministry. Pray for a generation that trusts and obeys the Lord, that we might be both hearers and doers of His Word.
Pray against distractions and deceptions as you study the Word, and for you to recognise the Shepherd’s voice amidst the loud competing voices in the world.
Pray over Scripture verses as you meditate on them. “In the Christian life, prayer and the Word are connected in such a way that if you disconnect them, both die. Let me sum up the connection between prayer and the Word in three ways: The Word of God inspires prayer, it informs prayer and it incarnates prayer.” (John Piper, Desiring God)