TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read: Genesis 3:17-19
Listen: Genesis 3
TODAY’S MESSAGE
The world is beautiful and full of order. At the same time, we all know there is plenty of ugly as well. We each have personal experience of pain and loss. It makes it hard for some of us to approach, trust, follow or even believe in God.
The Bible doesn’t shy away from or avoid the ugly. Instead, the Bible introduces it right in the first few chapters. In Genesis 3, ugliness shows up as a reverberation of humanity’s rejection of the creator. The rebellion of Adam and Eve was a direct rejection of God—and brought ugliness into both creation itself and the human heart.
We just need to turn on the news or scroll social media to see this ugliness around us, especially in our divided culture. However, it can be a bit harder for us to see the ugliness in our own hearts. We too harbor the same rebellious spirit that drove Adam and Eve to reject God. We need to be people who not only recognize the ugliness in our world—but recognize it deep within us.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Find a quiet moment to talk to God about the ugliness in your heart. Pray something like this: “God, I know that I am broken. I know that at times my actions hurt myself and those around me. I am sorry. Would you forgive me and help me to grow more like you? Help me clearly see the ugliness in my heart. Thank you for your grace and forgiveness today.”
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
