Genesis 1-3

What an expression of God’s honour as Creator when I read how He created the world and everything in it and made Adam and Eve in His own image.

God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them
    reflecting our nature
So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,
    the birds in the air, the cattle,
And, yes, Earth itself,
    and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”
God created human beings;
    he created them godlike,
Reflecting God’s nature.
    He created them male and female.
God blessed them:
    “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!
Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,
    for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.” – Genesis 1:26-28 MSG

I am amazed that God decided to honour us by giving us the responsibility of taking care of His creation.

Since sin had not yet appeared, Adam and Eve did not experience shame – towards God, themselves or any part of creation, although they were naked.

  The Man said,
“Finally! Bone of my bone,
    flesh of my flesh!
Name her Woman
    for she was made from Man.”
    Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh.
    The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame. – Genesis 2:25 MSG

I am not too sure that Adam and Eve so easily disdained their God-given honour to disobey Him – but they did. This not only put in place the affects of death, this action resulted in shame – both physical and spiritual.

It has become apparent that God dealt with their inward shame by killing an animal which created the precedent that sin is covered by the shedding of blood.

God made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them. – Genesis 3:21 MSG

God dealt with their outward shame by providing garments from these animals’ skins to cover their nakedness. It is here where the foundation of my sin lies and here where I feel guilt and shame for doing so.

I am wired to understand that Jesus died to take care of my guilt problem, but I need to know and share with others that He also died to take care of my shame problem.

Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take care of not only the harm I have done, but the harm that has been done to me. Harm that has caused guilt and/or shame in my life. Help me share this message with others who are still struggling to give You all of this so that You may be honoured in their lives once again. This is the miracle of Your love and I thank you for it. Amen.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

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