Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

February 24
Sunday


GOD IS GOOD

READ:
Genesis 3:1-7
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Good and upright is
the LORD; therefore He
teaches sinners in the
way. __Psalm 25:8
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The phrase "God is good" is repeated by many Christians almost like a mantra. I often wonder if they really believe it or even think about what they're saying. I sometimes doubt God's goodness--especially when it feels as though God isn't hearing or answering my prayers. I assume that if others were more honest, they'd admit they feel the same way.

The serpent planted a doubt in Eve's mind about whether God had been good to her and had her best interest at heart. He said, "God knows that in the day you eat of [the fruit] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Gen. 3:5). Satan tried to convince her to believe that God was holding out on her and not giving her something really good--more knowledge.

Do you feel as though God isn't answering your prayers? are you tempted to doubt His goodness? When I feel this way, I have to remind myself that my circumstances aren't the barometer of God's love and goodness__the cross is. He has shown how good He is by giving His only Son Jesus to die for our sin. We can't rely on our feelings. But day by day as we choose to trust Him more, we learn to believe with confidence that God is good--all the time. __Anne Cetas
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``````````````````When you are tempted to deny`````````````````
`````````````````God's goodness, love, and grace,````````````````
```````````````````Look to the cross of Calvary,``````````````````
```````````````````Where Jesus took your place.`````````````````
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Circumstances aren't the barometer
of God's love and goodness--the cross is.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Genesis 3:1-7*************

1 Now the serpent was
more cunning than any
beast of the field which the
LORD God had made. And
he said to the woman, "Has
God indeed said, 'You shall
not eat of every tree of the
gaden'?

2 And the woman said to
the serpent, "We may eat
the fruit of the trees of the
garden; 3 but of the fruit of
the tree which is in the
midst of the garden, God
has said, 'You shall not eat
it, nor shall you touch it,
lest you die.' "

4 Then the serpent said to
the woman, "You will not
surely die. 5 For God knows
that in the day you eat of it
your eyes will be opened,
and you will be like God,
knowing good and evil."

6 So when the woman saw
that the tree was good for
food, that it was pleasant to
the eyes, and a tree
desirable to make one wise,
she took of its fruit and ate.
She also gave to her
husband with her, and he
ate. 7 Then the eyes of both
of them were opened, and
they knew that they were
naked; and they sewed fig
leaves together and made
themselves coverings.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The word serpent is sometimes used symbolically of a subtle,
malicious, powerful, and deadly enemy (Luke 10:19). In the book
of Revelation, the serpent is clearly identified as Satan (12:9; 20:2).
It was Satan who seduced Adam and Eve into sin (John 8:44; 2 Cor.
11:3). Our Lord Jesus called Satan "a liar and the father of [lies]"
and said, "There is no truth in him' )Jonn 8:44). __SKT