June 17, 2015: Genesis 3:8-15

Genesis 3:8-15
8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,
    cursed are you among all animals
    and among all wild creatures;
upon your belly you shall go,
    and dust you shall eat
    all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike your head,
    and you will strike his heel.”

Reflection
Shame. Vulnerability. These words are hard for some people. Some people have an extremely hard time being vulnerable in front of others. When God called out for Adam and Eve in the garden they responded by saying that they were hiding because they were afraid. They had just realized that they were naked because they disobeyed God. Like Adam and Eve some people are afraid to be vulnerable with God.

Brene Brown in her TED Talk called The Power of Vulnerability says this about shame. “And shame is really easily understood as the fear of disconnection: Is there something about me that, if other people know it or see it, that I won't be worthy of connection?” When God and other people see us for who we really are will they still want to be in relationship with us? While God grieved that fact that Adam and Eve disobeyed him, he still wanted to have a relationship with them. God loves us even in our shame.

Questions
Morning: What are some areas in your life that you’re not being completely honest with yourself or with God about? Where do you need to exercise vulnerability?

Afternoon: Do you need to forgive yourself or forgive others? Do you need to ask for forgiveness from others? Ask God to reveal these things to you.

Night: Make an attempt to be vulnerable with someone. Do you need to make a phone call to ask forgiveness or give pardon? Do you need to talk to your family about something that’s been on your heart lately?