12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4: 12 NIV
6min read
As a mother, I often see my daughter’s actions, like a mirror where I see myself. And as a role model of Christ to my daughter, I know God asks me to steward this relationship with her well. At times when she has done something wrong, I can see the battle in her mind. She knows she has done something wrong, but she tries to hide it. And when it is exposed, she cries, wanting sympathy and acceptance from me, or she chooses to push me further away. She wants me to believe that she is still worthy. And often, I reject her. Speaking death over her by showing her how bad her actions are, instead of loving her with the love of Jesus. When I see her, It’s like a mirror where I see myself.
In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve chose to sin in the garden. And it is so beautiful to see the mercy and grace of God unfolding. The consequence of Adam and Eve’s actions are there, they have to be, so they don’t continue to sin, and in turn cause a separation from God’s presence. But as God is walking in the garden, in the cool of the day, Adam and Eve hear the sound of the LORD God approaching, and chose to hide among the trees, with fig leaves that they had sown onto themselves.
7 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: 7 NIV
Is this what we do in our sin? I know I do. I believe when we sin we turn to ourselves, focusing on self, attempting to cover ourselves up in our own abilities, and in our own strength we choose to hold onto the shackles of shame and burden. We think this is who we are, instead of doing what God asks us to do…. To repent and then dress ourselves with Jesus. In that moment, their eyes were opened, and Adam and Eve became conscious of self. They became aware of their fragility in their sin. And in their nakedness they desired to cover themselves up. They were exposed. They saw themselves as they were, in their sin nature, in that moment, and they became self focused. And in their actions, their reaction was to cover themselves up. In that moment, they chose to put themselves in bondage, instead of finding true freedom in our LORD Jesus.
Jesus calls us higher. He asks us to see ourselves as we are, broken people in a fallen world. He calls us to remember what we have done in the past, mourning for our choices, but rejoicing for our future, because in Jesus there is no condemnation. He washes us clean and asks us to walk the narrow path of repentance, and dress ourselves in His righteousness.
9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
Genesis 3: 9-11 NIV
When we sin, even with something small, God asks us to seek His forgiveness immediately, or that sin becomes another sin. And a snow ball affect happens. I see it in my own life. God asks us to draw back to who we are, and who’s we belong to. Our identity is not in our sin, our identity is not in our stuff ups. It’s in God, His pure love for us and what He gave us. The free gift of salvation, where we can find true freedom in Him and walk the narrow path set before us.
God asks us to bring our sin to the light so He can prune it out of us. Bring it to the altar to be sacrificed. But we desire to keep it in the dark and cover it up. All sin is rooted in a desire to serve ourselves, and God asks us to take our focus off ourselves, capturing each thought, directing it back to Jesus and keeping our eyes on Him.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10: 5 NIV
God does not ask us to put on shame, hatred, jealousy, complaining, self righteousness, ego, or pride. He asks us to strip ourselves of these things and dress ourselves with the humility of Jesus.
25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Genesis 2: 25 NIV
And the most beautiful part of this story for me, is that God Himself, sewed a garment for Adam and Eve to dress themselves in. That God, the creator of the universe, the one who set the stars in the sky, who breaths the breath of life into us, made garments of skin to clothe them.
This garment was a representation of what God asks us to be clothed in, and how He asks us to see ourselves as a royal priesthood. He invites us to turn back to Him, finding love in His open arms, seeking repentance and turning from our wicked ways. He loves us so much, that He desires for us to be close to Him, even in our filth. Choose to honour Him, by turning back to Him each and every time sin creeps in. Walk the narrow path of obedience towards God and in all your ways, honour his name.
21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”
Genesis 3: 21-22 NIV
Now when I see my daughter becoming trapped in the deception of lies, I encourage her to ask for forgiveness with a honest, willing heart. I show up for her, letting her know that I still love her in her sin. But I ask her to choose to walk a path of righteousness that is set before her in Christ Jesus. I seek to role model this for her by showing her how to forgive when I stuff up. And in my love for her, I speak life and truth over her, to encourage her heart to desire to do what is right in the eyes of our almighty God. Choose to put on your royal garments!
Know who you are and who’s you belong to. A Son or Daughter of the Most High God.
Nadia x
All for His Glory.
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