Apologies for the delay in sending out today's devotion...
We move into week two of our Month of Mission as we reflect on"What is God doing in the World? The Missio Dei."
He is looking for us!
| Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" (Genesis3:8-9) |
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Moments after Adam and Eve had broken relationship with God, Genesis reveals God's love and pursuit of them, and a call for human self-reflection on sin, and a desire to restore fellowship.
God was walking in the garden when they heard him approaching. God wanted to be close to them but because of their sin they were afraid to show themselves. God placed in us a guilty conscience "I did wrong." Also God has given free will for us to choose: "See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction (Dt.30:19).
Being tempted is not a sin until we give in to the temptation. Eve knew very well when Satan approached her that the tree's fruit was not to be eaten. However, she decided to eat the forbidden fruit and offered it to Adam. Adam knew that God had instructed but chose to listen to Eve. Joseph was faced with temptation by Potiphar's wife but resisted this temptation by running away.
Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Sin broke their close relationship with God. Our relationship is broken too. But God demonstrates His persistent love and desire to restore the broken relationship. God comes to Adam and Eve in their shame, and instead of driving them away, He draws them closer with love and mercy.
As we live in this world friends, living for God is not easy. We sin knowingly or unknowingly but we should strive everyday to be like Christ. Some of us because of what we went through we try to evade God's work because of guilty conscience that tells us we are unworthy in the presence of God. God calls us, just as He did to Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" Let us present ourselves to Him in sincerity and allow Him to transform us as we walk daily.
God is looking for us to partner with Him in the mission of proclaiming Good News of the Kingdom in every corner of this world. All of us have different shames before God because we have been moved by sin from our origin relationship with our God. Through Jesus Christ, God opens the way to renew our fellowship with Him. He offers us His unconditional love and God wants us to partner with Him in the "Missio Dei: The mission of God."
God's work involves many different individuals with a variety of gifts and abilities. There are no superiors in the task, only team members performing their own special roles. As Paul wrote "for we are co-workers in God's service" (1Cor3:9).
God is looking for us, let us come before Him and confess to our loving and forgiving God,the Holy Spirit will help us.
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Rev Anna Banda. Married to Moven. Mother to 4 beautiful ladies. Grandmother to 9 boys and girls. Serving at Robert Sinyoka & Khayelithsa Congregations in the Presbytery of Zimbabwe. Liverpool and Dynamos fan.
