Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 2:4-17.
“4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven. 5 Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. 6 But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 8 The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. 9 Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 The gold of that land is good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. 16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:4-17.
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We may think: “If only I was in a better place, I would do this or that! I would have no troubles! I would be happy!”
Today’s Scripture teaches us that the problem is not what is outside of us (our environment); the problem is what is within us (sin).
God put man in the Garden of Eden where there was “every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food”. We can imagine what an earthly paradise that it was. But, despite this environment, we know that man rebelled against God and sinned.
We may also think: “If only my boss or parent was not so strict! If only there were not so many rules! I would do this or that! I would have no troubles! I would be happy!”
Today’s Scripture teaches us that the problem is not the number of rules; the problem is that one condition within us (sin).
God only had one command for man and gave man so many other options. “The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Verses 16 and 17. But, despite this minimum one commandment, we know that man rebelled against God and sinned.
But, there is hope!
We can have comfort! We can be happy! Heidelberg Catechism shows us how to have comfort and be happy.
Question 2. How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happily?
Answer. Three; the first, how great my sins and miseries are; the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries; the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance. Heidelberg Catechism.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 