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A Revisited Devotional from September 13, 1998
Genesis 2:15-17 – Then God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it. He told him, "You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of everything. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day." (GNB 1976)
Isn't it interesting that, even after Eve and Adam ate the fruit in order to know everything, we find that we still don't know much: Why do "bad" things happen to good people? Why do people get old and die? Why do we get sick? Why does my mother have Alzheimer's disease? Why …?
Yes, we have lots more knowledge about many things, especially in the last century, when 90 percent of all scientists who ever lived are still alive, and in fields like health, where knowledge doubles every year.
But most of us realize how very much more there is to learn and unlearn before it might be possible to know why things happen as they do. And most of our knowledge hasn't seemed to help us do other than destroy the beautiful earth over which we have been given dominion. But God has reasons that are far beyond anything we can imagine.
Perhaps the role of human beings is not to know everything, but to know God by doing what Christ taught us to do: to love one another, and to learn how to listen to the instructions of the Holy Spirit, rather than to listen to our ego. And we need His power to do it in the very short time we are allotted: each moment.
Prayer: Help us to remember to let our love radiate, without concern for the results that we request, but knowing that Your will will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Teach us to hear, to understand, and to obey Your still small voice within us. Amen.
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Thanks Lorne, blessings.
Lorne – thanks for a thought-provoking devotional. amen.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us again. Blessings.
Greetings Lorne!
Thank you for your well written, informative and still current message. I liked it very much.
Blessings!
Thank you for this devotional today. My mother also had Alzheimer’s and Port Colborne was my hometown before I married. One day we may have answers . I try to remember that God makes all things good. Bless you for your insightful message today.
Interesting devotional; especially the statistic that “90 percent of the scientists that ever lived are still alive.” Astounding! Lots of food for thought.
Thanks Lorne,
(BC, Canada)
Lorne, thanks for writing this good reminder. I like your phrase about knowing God BY DOING WHAT JESUS TAUGHT. It is putting faith in practice, not just knowing lots of scripture like the Pharisees.
Obedience begins in the heart.
Good morning, Lorne,
I enjoyed reading one of your revisited devotionals today. Yes, it is so important that we always take time to listen and obey that “still small” voice inside us. Blessings for having written these important and very meaningful words.
Thank you for writing this devotional.
Why?
To know that God Is God and we are not.
We are such slow learners.
And God is compassionate.
Blessings.