June 5, 2026:

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.^‘ But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” (Genesis 6.7-8)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

It is said that in order to move forward in peace one should focus on the blessings more than the problems. This does not mean that no attention should be paid to the problems. Indeed, problems must be met, considered and dealt with. Leaving problems to themselves, as we see in the story of life before Noah after the days of Seth, only become exponential. Even with the examples and stories of God’s mercy and goodness sparing the lives of the transgressors marking them by covenant, promise and a sign, choosing what is right and good seemed to be a problem for the greatest majority of the people living on earth. It became so disparaging that God Himself lamented ever having created the human race. But….

I wonder if we truly recognize the story thread of the theological promise and principle of “mercy and grace” from the beginning to end of the biblical narrative of humankind. From the beginning query of the Serpent in the Garden, the assumption was that God would not really “kill” Adam and Eve for eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Notice that two trees were highlighted in the center of the Garden. The other tree was the Tree of Life. (Genesis 2.9) Don’t you find it interesting that there were only two posits: life and death. This is not a spectrum across which we can move the pointer and get more of one than the other. It is one or the other. Further, stop and consider the fruit of each tree. The fruit from the Tree of Life did not promise eternal life. What it supplied was a quality of life. Perhaps the fruit from that tree is similar, if not the same, as the “fruit of the Spirit.” Dining from that tree would give “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5.22-23) It goes on to say, “Against such things there is no law.” Wait! No law can outlaw the fruit of the Spirit. While in today’s world, morality is presented as something that can be legislated, God declares it is not possible to legislate it or un-legislate it. The fruit of the Spirit exists. Those who partake of the Tree of Life which springs up from the very earth that God created, will enjoy the sweet benefits of it. The greatest extent of the enjoyment is “Love your Enemy.” Offering those to your enemy will not only allow them to convict themselves before God and others, it will offer to them the gift of God’s mercy and grace. They do not have to receive it to themselves, as Satan continues to refuse, but it is offered to them nonetheless. We see this in the salvation which Christ died for on the Cross of Calvary. Jesus died for the sins of every person. Forgiveness is offered to them with the blotting out of their transgressions. This means that in the eyes of God, through the lens of Christ Jesus, they are not seen. Yes, God sees it all but with a discriminating eye; not an incriminating one. However, the time comes when the refusal of such gift and fruitful living manifests itself in such rottenness to the core of the soul of a person that it is obvious no such transformation into a new creature is desired, pursued or recognized. The Serpent, Satan, makes sure that he does not draw attention to the “other” tree. Satan focuses on “death” not “life.” It is time, far past time, that the world (the people who on earth do dwell) see this truth for what it is. Even in the Garden death exists. It is normal, natural and a part of the cycle of life. It was not feared. It was not even seen as a detriment as if it did not even matter. Of course, it wouldn’t because Adam and Eve had no knowledge of it…. yet. But…..

But the other tree whose fruit was “The Knowledge of Good and Evil,” I believe, is also misrepresented and misinterpreted. Tasting of that fruit does not guarantee “wisdom.” It only provided knowledge. What knowledge? It was the knowledge that there existed two opposite forces at work in the world: good and evil. We may also call them “right and wrong” or “beneficial or harmful.” I believe a more accurate description is “righteous and unrighteous.” Righteousness is “that which works within the will of God.” Unrighteousness is “that which works contrary to the will of God.” While we may never truly understand it, we recognize there is good and there is evil, there is right and there is wrong, there is beneficial and there is harmful. It seems so conditional at times as we attempt to discern which is which. It may even seem to be highly subjective, too. Yet, it is clear there are only two ways to see and understand them: life and death. And if not for the mercy and grace of God, there would be only one option, one way, one reality for any human being on earth. But…. there is.

TODAY’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.