January 2

Genesis 2

Adam and Eve rebel against their Creator.

INSIGHT

You may have heard the old saying, “For want of a nail, the shoe is lost; for want of a shoe, the horse is lost; for want of a horse, the king is lost; and for want of a king, the kingdom is lost.” It is a clever way of saying that little things matter. Little things lead to larger things – often with disastrous consequences. We see the first example of this in_Genesis 3:6. First, Eve “saw” the forbidden fruit. No transgression yet. Then she “desired.” Still no transgression – but a step closer. Finally, she “took and ate.” Transgression. The “look” seemed harmless. It was a small thing, but it led to “eating.” Are there things in your life that you are “looking” at? They seem harmless now, but they lead to larger things. Spare yourself-give them up now. “For want of a nail…the kingdom is lost.”

PRAYER

Praise God with the following psalm for His redemption in Christ:
Just and true are Your ways,
King of the saints!
Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy (Revelation 15:3-4).

Now pray this confession to the Lord to keep your life in fellowship with Him:
Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22).

As you confess your sins, voice your_affirmation of God’s Word:
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• Greater love for fellow Christians
• The work of missions in Europe and Asia
• The concerns of your heart

Now offer this prayer of worship to the Lord:
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after we have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen
(based on 1 Peter 5:10-11)