
Did you know about the scarlet thread that is woven throughout the Bible from Genesis to Jesus?
In the past few years I have been introduced to the amazing concept of the scarlet thread which refers to the atoning blood of Jesus as the theme of His precious Word from beginning to end. I am mindful of this scarlet thread (especially as Easter approaches) and want to ponder this concept of the "Red Thread".
(Thanks to my sweet, smart, amazing hubby for the SS lesson this past Sunday which made my thoughts flow in this direction.)
In the Beginning:
Genesis 2::25 - "And the woman and man were both naked, and they felt no shame."
They were not ashamed because they were covered in God's GLORY and RADIANCE! There was NO shame because they were as HE made THEM.
HOWEVER, He did not create robots, because in the absence of CHOICE there is no true devotion and LOVE. Those we love have a choice to love us back, devote themselves to us, and have a relationship with us. If we don't have a choice, it devalues the relationship. God, our creator wants us to CHOOSE Him, so the relationship will be one of FREE WILL. (Thank you, C. S. Lewis.)
Genesis 3
So woman was tempted to DOUBT God.
She was tempted to be LIKE God.
And using her free will she sought to BE her own God.
We are tempted to become our own Gods.
And that is at the core of all sin and has been since the beginning of time. (Thank you, Bro. John Brock)
As long as they HAD no sin - they KNEW no sin.
As soon as sin became part of their lives they knew shame.
And then they hid from God. (Did they think He could not FIND them?) (Thank you, J. Austin)
Our first instinct is to hide our sins - from others, from God and even from ourselves.
Then God found them and the questions began.
Who told you.........?
Did you eat...........?
Then the blame began.
But he told me..........
But she gave me........
It's really not my fault............
Then the consequences of sin took effect. (They always do.)
You will crawl........
You will suffer...........
You will have pain........
You will strive...........
You will sweat.........
BUT THEN HE COVERED THE SHAME OF THEIR NAKEDNESS BY SHEDDING THE BLOOD OF THE FIRST SACRIFICE TO REPLACE THE SHODDY COVERING THEY USED TO TRY TO COVER THEIR SHAME.
Attempting to cover our own sins is always makeshift - at best - like a fig leaf. It may work for a time, but until we let Him cover our sin, it is always a temporary solution.......
He provides a permanent covering for our shame even today.
This first "Red Thread" in His message.
But since the beginning of time doing right or wrong is an act of our free will.
Loving Him is an act of our free will.
And allowing Him to cover our shame is an act of our free will.
Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts with you this Wednesday morning.
I pray that you will be clothed in His radiance today and every day.
I pray that today you will live in perfect peace and thankfulness with hope for your amazing future, planned by Him.
Have a Blessed day!
Margaret
In the past few years I have been introduced to the amazing concept of the scarlet thread which refers to the atoning blood of Jesus as the theme of His precious Word from beginning to end. I am mindful of this scarlet thread (especially as Easter approaches) and want to ponder this concept of the "Red Thread".
(Thanks to my sweet, smart, amazing hubby for the SS lesson this past Sunday which made my thoughts flow in this direction.)
In the Beginning:
Genesis 2::25 - "And the woman and man were both naked, and they felt no shame."
They were not ashamed because they were covered in God's GLORY and RADIANCE! There was NO shame because they were as HE made THEM.
HOWEVER, He did not create robots, because in the absence of CHOICE there is no true devotion and LOVE. Those we love have a choice to love us back, devote themselves to us, and have a relationship with us. If we don't have a choice, it devalues the relationship. God, our creator wants us to CHOOSE Him, so the relationship will be one of FREE WILL. (Thank you, C. S. Lewis.)
Genesis 3
So woman was tempted to DOUBT God.
She was tempted to be LIKE God.
And using her free will she sought to BE her own God.
We are tempted to become our own Gods.
And that is at the core of all sin and has been since the beginning of time. (Thank you, Bro. John Brock)
As long as they HAD no sin - they KNEW no sin.
As soon as sin became part of their lives they knew shame.
And then they hid from God. (Did they think He could not FIND them?) (Thank you, J. Austin)
Our first instinct is to hide our sins - from others, from God and even from ourselves.
Then God found them and the questions began.
Who told you.........?
Did you eat...........?
Then the blame began.
But he told me..........
But she gave me........
It's really not my fault............
Then the consequences of sin took effect. (They always do.)
You will crawl........
You will suffer...........
You will have pain........
You will strive...........
You will sweat.........
BUT THEN HE COVERED THE SHAME OF THEIR NAKEDNESS BY SHEDDING THE BLOOD OF THE FIRST SACRIFICE TO REPLACE THE SHODDY COVERING THEY USED TO TRY TO COVER THEIR SHAME.
Attempting to cover our own sins is always makeshift - at best - like a fig leaf. It may work for a time, but until we let Him cover our sin, it is always a temporary solution.......
He provides a permanent covering for our shame even today.
This first "Red Thread" in His message.
But since the beginning of time doing right or wrong is an act of our free will.
Loving Him is an act of our free will.
And allowing Him to cover our shame is an act of our free will.
Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts with you this Wednesday morning.
I pray that you will be clothed in His radiance today and every day.
I pray that today you will live in perfect peace and thankfulness with hope for your amazing future, planned by Him.
Have a Blessed day!
Margaret