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The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21
There are plenty of studies out there about how clothing affects the person. When we are feeling good about ourselves we generally dress accordingly. Doctors and medical professionals wear white because it garners respect from people. People in a suit and tie are usually considered successful regardless of their financial status. People in dirty or old clothes are generally considered poor or people of ill repute.
One day, Adam and Eve walked alone and naked in the garden. They were unashamed of their looks, unashamed and open about their feelings. They accepted each other completely and were totally transparent with one another. Scripture even suggests that they understood each other fully.
Then sin came into the picture and with that sin, came shame. Genesis tells us that when sin entered the picture it changed how the couple looked at each other, themselves and God. They looked at each other’s nakedness and felt shame and embarrassment. They heard God and felt fear. Remember, these were new feelings for the first couple. Shame, embarrassment and fear had never been a part of their emotional make-up to this point.
Genesis 3:21 is a beautiful story of grace. Grace because an innocent animal gave its life. Grace because neither the man nor the woman deserved God’s forgiveness. Grace because the creator himself not only made them their clothes, he clothed them.
The clothing God made for the man and woman covered far more that their physical nakedness, God’s clothing covered their emotional nakedness by covering their shame, guilt and embarrassment.
The fig leaves Adam and Eve covered themselves with were inadequate to cover the real issues in their lives. Nothing has changed today. We spend thousands of dollars every year to hide our shame and our guilt. We use clothes, new jobs, new relationships, new hairstyles, religion and all sorts of other things to try to cover up how we feel about ourselves but nothing works. Physical coverings will never cure the inner pain we feel.
Our creator God personally clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins as a symbol of a new set of clothing he offered through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one that will cover your guilt. Jesus is the only one who will cover your anger and your hurt. Jesus is the only one who can cover the scars of your past.
The real beauty of God’s clothing is that when you are clothed with Jesus Christ you are able to be fully free to be you. No more hiding. No more disguises. Simply free to be you! With Jesus your outfit is you and you are beautiful!
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
“Blood is thicker than water.”
That statement is often used to describe the bond of family. Brothers and sisters may fight and bicker among themselves, but be wary of stepping between them or attacking one of them because you may find a united front against a common enemy…and that enemy will be you!
My father was the second oldest of three children. He was a rather small man, especially compared to his taller, older brother. Their personalities were as distant as their stature. My uncle was tall, athletic and quiet. As a result he’d often be picked on by other kids. He would never fight back though, never stand-up for himself.
Dad, on the other hand, was a bit of a firecracker and apparently felt is was his duty to be ‘uncles’ body guard. On more than one occasion he got in trouble for fighting. His fighting was most often a result of his decision to protect his brother!
The bond of ‘family’ is taking on a different face today as more than ½ of our children are living in families in which the parental bond is divided between mothers, fathers, stepparents and other caregivers who for whatever the reason have taken on the parental role. As a result, the concept of being adopted as children into God’s family may lose some of its impact.
God’s family isn’t like our earthly family. In God’s family we are chosen by him to be his children because he desires to be our Father. There is nothing we did or can do to change his love for us. There will be no time in the future when he tells us he won’t be our father anymore. He will never take advantage of his strength and position to make us do things we don’t want to do. He will never, ever abuse us or punish us in anger.
Sometimes we confuse God’s discipline for punishment when, in reality we are suffering natural consequences of our actions. That doesn’t mean God’s love for us is any less. His decision to love you as his own child came long before you were even born. His desire for you to be his child began at creation as he looked into the future and saw what this new world he’d created would become.
It’s a sad fact that the earthly, human form of family is in disarray and under attack by those who seek to destroy it. But God’s family is secure. You will always be his child. With that promise comes a challenge for us to live as brothers and sisters. An admonition to live in unity under the father and not based on religious tradition or dogma. You can’t change your physical DNA. Nothing you can do will change your spiritual DNA as well. You are and always will be a child of God because of his great love for you.
PRAYER: Father, there are so many voices here on earth defaming the concept of father and family. It’s hard sometimes to see you as father and to grasp the concept of family as you ordained it. I thank you that your family is permanent, healthy and alive. I praise you for choosing me to be a part of it. Help us, as your family, to live in the love and unity you planned for us. Amen.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
When you are in a love relationship with someone you want more than anything else to do what they want you to do. You’ll go to any lengths to know their likes and dislikes. You want to know what they are passionate about and do you best to bring that to pass.
Your Father knows your heart. He knows your every passion, your every desire, your every concern. He knows what makes you happy and content. He knows the things that cause you to worry and fill you with anxiety. He knows your deepest, most intimate secrets and he wants to bring each of them into your life.
The problem is, sometimes the things we are passionate about and desire with all of our hearts are things he knows will harm us. No loving father will give his beloved child something that will harm him. That’s not love. That’s abuse.
Your Father in Heaven is a passionate father, a passionate lover if you will. And his passion is you! He earnestly desires you give you his very best. To comfort you in the hard times. To encourage you when you are discouraged. To bring peace in despair. To hold you in illness and when you are mourning.
When we pray the words “your will be done”, what we are really asking our Father is to do his will in us. It’s like we are saying, “I know you love me more than anything. I know you want your best to be done in my life for my sake and your glory. Now, bring it to pass in me. What can I do to bring your will into my life?”
The beauty is, much of that answer has already been done. Your Father in heaven provided his Son for us to show us the way to his heart. He’s given us his Holy Spirit to guide us and give us understanding and peace. He’s given us his word, the Holy Bible, so that we will know the promises he has for us.
You may have taken some wrong paths in life. Perhaps you are in a place you don’t want to be. A place you thought you’d never find yourself. You are wondering if he wants you back, if he can even use you after all the mistakes you’ve made and the people you’ve hurt. Face it, some of those things were just plain rebellion and wanting things your way! Can he still do his will in you?
The answer is yes! God’s forgiveness is based on His passion for us, not because we deserve it in any way. May his will be done in your life.
PRAYER: Father in heaven. I thank you that you are a passionate lover and that your passion for me far exceeds my ability to deserve it. Forgive me for the times I’ve failed you and others. Empower me with your Spirit to live in such a way that your good and perfect will would be done in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 