OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL READING JULY 6, 2025, SUNDAY ODB MESSAGE
Our Daily Bread 6th July 2025 Devotional, Sunday TOPIC: Choices and Consequences
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 32-33; Acts 14
KEY VERSE: When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. – Genesis 3:6
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Genesis 3:1-7
3 Now the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! 5 For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will [a]become like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 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 desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some 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 waist coverings.
INSIGHT FOR TODAY
In the creation account, Adam and Eve were the only creatures privileged to be created “in [God’s] own image” (Genesis 1:27) and given His own “breath of life” (2:7). They were also given the freedom to choose how they’d live (vv. 16-17). Adam and Eve made their decision and brought sin and death into the world (3:1-7).
When God chose the Israelites to be His covenant people, they were also given a choice of whether to obey Him (Deuteronomy 11:26-28; 30:15-20). The choices they made would result in radically different outcomes—“life and prosperity, death and destruction” (30:15). Moses encouraged them to make the right choice: “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life” (v. 19). Jesus offers us the choice between the narrow road “that leads to life” and the broad road “that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Our Daily Bread 6th July 2025 Devotional: MESSAGE
In 1890, amateur ornithologist Eugene Schieffelin decided to release sixty European starlings into New York City’s Central Park. While there were likely several introductions of the species, Schieffelin’s released starlings resulted in the first successful, documented nesting. Now there are roughly eighty-five million of the birds flapping across the continent. Unfortunately, starlings are invasive, pushing out native bird populations, spreading disease to cattle, and causing an estimated $800 million annually in damage. Schieffelin couldn’t have imagined the damage his choice would cause.
Choices can have massive consequences. Though warned, Adam and Eve couldn’t have envisioned the disastrous ramifications of their choice on all creation. God had told them they were “free to eat from any tree in the garden” (Genesis 2:16), save one, the tree in “the middle of the garden” (3:3). But deceived by that wily serpent, “[Eve] took some and ate it” (v. 6). Then Adam followed, also choosing to eat the fruit God forbade. So much destruction, heartbreak, and ruin because of one choice.
Every time we ignore God’s wisdom and choose another path, we invite calamity. It may seem that our choice is insignificant or only affects us; however, our narrow understanding or fleeting desires can easily lead us into a world of trouble. Choosing God’s way, though, leads us to life and flourishing.
REFLECT: What choice has proved disastrous for you? How can you make wiser decisions?
PRAY: Dear God, please help me make wise decisions.
Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread. our daily bread devotional for today audio our daily bread booklet. (Our Daily Bread 6July 2025 Devotional)