Tuesday, Mar 21

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:8-9 (NLT)

Being approached by a snake. Now that's something special. How many of us come face to face with a talking snake? If that isn't an excuse to sin, I don't know what is. In actuality, we've all come face to face with a talking snake. Except it doesn't look like a snake any more. Now, it looks like a temptation that is personal to each and every one of us. To some of us it may be justified in a sale which leads to a shopping spree or a night out with friends that leads to a drinking binge which leads to a one night stand or maybe a way too stressful day which leads to a day of losing our temper with our loves ones. These are all our own personal talking snakes. Satan is an expert at gettingus to hit the pause button on what God wants; jjustify what Satan wants and he disguises it in the form of what we think we need.

And we fall for it. Then, we wish we hadn't. Then, we wish we could take back the one night stand or the day of angry retorts or the "Final Purchase" items sitting unopened in a bag on the closet floor. But we can't. Queue this thing called grace.

As with Adam and Eve in the garden, God comes looking for us. He knows our hiding places. He knows where we go when we feel bad. He's there...gently calling out to us and hoping we'll listen. He's saying "Why are you hiding? I saw what you did. I see you now. Let's talk about it. Let's move on." This is grace. This is who God is. And just as with Adam and Eve, God is calling out to us "Where are you? I am here waiting. You are forgiven." And this....this is where we should be overwhelmed.