2022 begins with a transition that took it’s place in my mind just as 2021 was closing. Three words from Matthew 11 in The Message Bible version of that Scripture were the catalyst: Walk, Work and Watch. Those words are what I choose to begin looking for God’s Word to fill in the blanks of my own faith for 2022.
Genesis 3:7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” RSV
“They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden.” “The eyes of both were opened.” “The man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God.” “The Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
Where am I walking? Are my eyes opened? Have I found a way to cover up because I’m aware that God can see my nakedness? These are my questions as I read these verses. It’s so tempting to pretend I don’t have any questions. I have faith! I am a believer! I am standing before friends, neighbors and the world wide web, for Heaven’s sake! How could I have questions?
The questions aren’t the problem, the cover-up is! I couldn’t help but notice the phrase “among the trees of the garden” and think about the common saying “to not see the forest for the trees.” This whole walk is BIG! I can look at Adam and Eve and clearly see their sin and forget how easy it is to cover my own with faith. If I had only one question that could meaningfully direct my personal devotions, and this blog, over the next 360 days it would be the one the Lord Himself is asking me to read and ponder at the end of verse 9.
“Where are you?”
Read and Ponder - Faith in Daily Life 