June 12, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional, Monday ODB Message
Read June 12, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional, ODB Devotional Message for Monday
TOPIC: Freeing Obedience
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ezra 3–5; John 20
KEY VERSE: And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” – Genesis 2:16–17
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Genesis 2:15–25
INSIGHT FOR OUR DAILY BREAD 12TH JUNE 2023 BY BILL CROWDER
The phrase “helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18) is a dynamic statement. It literally means “a helper that corresponds to him” or “a helper supplying what he lacks.” This perhaps acknowledges what Adam learned in the exercise of naming the animals: they weren’t suitable companions for him; he lacked a helper. Unlike the animals, Adam found himself incomplete. But the word helper doesn’t refer to weakness. In fact, the Hebrew term used here (‘ezer) is repeatedly used in the Old Testament to refer to God Himself (see Psalms 33:20; 70:5; 115:9)! Far from being a demeaning term, help or helper is used to describe the strength of God who comes to our aid with all His strength.
OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL 12TH JUNE 2023 MESSAGE:
The look on the young teen’s face reflected angst and shame. Heading into the 2022 Winter Olympics, her success as a figure skater was unparalleled—a string of championships had made her a lock to win a gold medal. But then a test result revealed a banned substance in her system. With the immense weight of expectations and condemnation pressing down on her, she fell multiple times during her free-skate program and didn’t stand on the victors’ platform—no medal. She’d displayed artistic freedom and creativity on the ice prior to the scandal, but now an accusation of a broken rule bound her to crushed dreams.
From the early days of humanity, God has revealed the importance of obedience as we exercise our free will. Disobedience led to devastating effects for Adam, Eve, and all of us as sin brought brokenness and death to our world (Genesis 3:6–19). It didn’t have to be that way. God had told Adam, “You are free to eat from any tree” but one (2:16–17). Thinking their “eyes [would] be opened, and [they would] be like God,” they ate of the banned “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (3:5; 2:17). Sin, shame, and death followed.
God graciously provides freedom and so many good things for us to enjoy (John 10:10). In love, He also calls us to obey Him for our good. May He help us choose obedience and find life full of joy and free of shame.
REFLECT: How does the world view freedom? Why is it ultimately freeing to obey God and His ways?
PRAY: Father, thank You for the true freedom and life found in choosing obedience to You.
Our Daily Bread Devotional 12 June 2023 || ODB for Sunday Message . 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.
READ MORE TOPICS: OPEN HEAVENS, OUR DAILY BREAD, IN TOUCH, SEEDS OF DESTINY, STREAMS OF JOY, JOEL OSTEEN, MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE, DCLM DAILY MANNA, UCB WORD FOR TODAY
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