January 1 - Genesis 1:28, 3:5

God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply,

and fill the earth and subdue it;

and have dominion over ... every living thing"

Genesis 1:28

 

[The serpent said,] "God knows that

when you eat of it your eyes will be opened,

and you will be like God ..."

Genesis 3:5

 

At the very beginning of the Bible, both God and Satan make us an amazing offer: "We want you to be royalty."

 

God's offer is holy. And it comes in relationship. If and when we choose a proper relationship with God -- who is the King of creation and Lord of our life -- we can be adopted. We can be his children -- think royal princes with dominion over every living thing.

 

The serpent's offer is devious. He plays on the royal character that God built into each of us. He says, "Don't you want to fulfill your destiny. Don't you want to be king. Open your eyes, you can be like God." 

 

God's plan is "humbleness = royalty." Satan's lie is "pride = royalty."

 

Jesus reflected God's plan in many places, including Matthew 19 and 20 -- "19:30 the first will be last and the last will be first" and "20:26 whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant." HIs mother, Mary, sang about God's plan in Luke 1 -- "52 [the Lord] has uplifted the humble in heart." 

 

But how many times have Satan's lies tempted you in a different direction.

We want to do what we want to do!

We want to think what we want to think!

We want to be masters of our own destiny!

We don't want to bow to anyone!

We want to live our lives as kings of our own lives ... and sometimes it works ... until it doesn't.

At least at the end of our days, we want (and need) a king who is more powerful than death. Why not start this year and the rest of your life by bowing before the only King who can give us life!!!

 

In Christ's Love,

a prince

(and that's not prideful!

I'll never be in line for the throne,

but I have a brother -- Jesus Christ --

who is the true prince, the Prince of Peace)