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The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. – Genesis 3:14-15
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. – John 3:16-17
What is your favorite story? It might be a movie you are found of, that book series you can’t seem to put down, or how your favorite athlete overcame adversity to make it to the top of their game. But think about that story. It has pieces and parts. A good story has characters, people who are a part of what is happening. These people run into some kind of problem they are working to solve. Then the rest of the story is how they overcome that problem! This is how stories work. It’s the same with Star Wars as it is with the stories that run non-stop every two weeks during the Olympics. Stories capture our attention, they hold us fast. We want to see how the people caught up in them work through the issues and problems to grow and overcome.
The Bible, at its core, is one long story. Sure, Genesis and Philemon are about drastically different things. You’re not going to scroll through 1 Corinthians to find out what the temple garb was for ancient Israel’s priests. Leviticus won’t tell you about how Jesus fed thousands of people on a hillside with two fish and five loaves of bread. Yet, throughout scripture you will find this simple story: God’s creation had turned from Him but His love was greater than their fall.
In Genesis God looks around says that all He has created is good. From mountain top to ocean depth, God sees His creation and is pleased. It is only when man and woman decide that they themselves can be like God that things fall apart. Adam and Eve had everything they needed. They walked with God daily in the beauty of the garden of Eden. But they were deceived into believing they needed more. God, the main character, encounters a problem, the creation that He so loves has rebelled against Him. This rebellion brings with it sorrow, pain, sickness, and ultimately death. However, God in His mercy makes a plan. The serpent has deceived but God will redeem. In this moment the story of the savior begins. Jesus will come to redeem creation. Scripture tells this story. This incredible gift that while we could do nothing, God decided to send His son for us.
This story is our story. It is the gift of God to us.
Prayer
Heavenly Father. Thank you for not giving up on me. Your story tells me how deeply you love me. Remind me daily of the decision you made to send Jesus to save me. Allow me to live in that story, the story of the savior. Amen.
Journaling Questions
- What is your favorite story from the Bible? What does it teach you about the overarching story of Jesus as our savior?
- If you viewed your life as a story, who would the main characters be? How does God factor into your story?
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