TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR SINS

Right after Adam and Eve disobeyed God's commandment not to eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, they immediately became ashamed of themselves because of what they had done. Genesis 3:8-13 says, "When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?' He replied, 'I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.' 'Who told you that you were naked?' the Lord God asked. 'Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?' The man replied, 'It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.' Then the Lord God asked the woman, 'What have you done?' 'The serpent deceived me,' she replied. 'That's why I ate it.'" It is amazing to see how God had close relationships with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God walked in the Garden to have fellowship with them. However, at this moment, instead of Adam and Eve greeting God and enjoying His company and fellowship, they hid themselves among the trees because they were afraid. Their sin (disobedience) brought shame and fear to both of them. 

Although God knew what they had done because He is all-knowing God, He asked Adam a question to give him a chance to confess his sin and ask for forgiveness. Instead of doing so, he began to blame Eve, which ultimately led to blaming God because He was the one who gave him Eve. Adam said, "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it." Adam did not own his sin, but he blamed it on Eve. Adam was responsible to keep God's commandment because God specifically gave it to him. He was supposed to protect his wife from eating the forbidden fruit, but he failed. Instead, he compromised on eating it. Adam and Eve would now reap the consequences of their sin, and we will talk about them in the coming devotions. But today, God is reminding us that when we sin, He always gives us the opportunity to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness. The Biblical way to deal with our sins is to admit and acknowledge our sins and take full responsibility instead of blaming others. 

We must own our sin (not blaming anyone or trying to justify it), confess it to God, ask God for forgiveness, and accept His forgiveness. Although God immediately forgives us for our sins when we repent and confess our sins before Him, we will still reap the consequences of our sins. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What are the consequences of the sins that I have committed? What must I do when I sin? What happens when I repent and confess my sin to God? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, please help me to deal with sin properly. Please help me to admit, acknowledge, and own my sin, and not to justify it or blame others. I sin against you, and I am guilty. I confess my sin to you and ask for your forgiveness. Thank you for forgiving me. Please help me today to stand firm against sin and not to compromise so that I may live with a pure heart before you and others. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.