The Law in 90 Days: Genesis 13-14
SCRIPTURE READING
Genesis 3:6 (ESV); So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a
delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and
ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Satan’s temptation allured the senses. Eve’s eyes took delight in the fruit, and she was enticed to
taste it on her tongue. And it appealed to her practicality – “It’s food!” She may have thought, “Why
wouldn’t I EAT it?!” The sin was attractive, and thus participation was justified.
Isn’t this how it is? Worldly things can seem so wise in the moment; so attractive, so practical!
Think of something totally dumb you did as a child or teenager. In hindsight, it was so ridiculous, yet
in the moment, such a good idea! Worldly wisdom attracts our senses. Sexual sin can feel good;
the neighbour’s car can look appealing. And intermingled with the senses, worldly wisdom always
appeals to the pride. A. W. Tozer referred to a veil covering our hearts that keeps us from the fullfledged
presence of God; a veil “woven of the fine threads of the self-life, the hyphenated sins of
the human spirit.” And these “self-sins” as he called them, include “self-righteousness, self-pity, selfconfidence,
self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love, and a host of others.” These sins, he said,
show themselves in egotism, exhibitionism and self-promotion; in other words; always talking about
oneself (egotism), trying to attract attention through boasting (exhibitionism) and continually putting
one’s own interest above the interest of others (self-promotion). This is the worldly wisdom that we
are all guilty of living by to some degree, and that we all must rid ourselves of if we want to live by
the pure and considerate wisdom of heaven.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What kind of temptations have you given into because they appeal to your senses? Confess
these and ask Jesus for forgiveness.
2. Which “self-sins” are you guilty of? How are these evident in your life? Spend some time
uncovering and confessing these things, so that you can be guilt-free in the presence of the
Lord.
3. How can you work on being others-centred today? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with heavenly
wisdom that will counter the temptations of the world. (See James 3:13-18 to recap.)
