AND THE LORD GOD COMMANDED THE MAN, SAYING, ‘OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN YOU MAY FREELY EAT; BUT OF THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL YOU SHALL NOT EAT, FOR IN THE DAY THAT YOU EAT OF IT YOU SHALL SURELY DIE’
(Genesis 2:16-17).

 Have you noticed that God’s relationship with man in the beginning of time was based on obedience? But, man chose to obey the father-of-lies…and became naked.

 SO WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD, THAT IT WAS PLEASANT TO THE EYES, AND A TREE DESIRABLE TO MAKE ONE WISE, SHE TOOK OF ITS FRUIT AND ATE. SHE ALSO GAVE TO HER HUSBAND WITH HER, AND HE ATE. THEN THE EYES OF BOTH OF THEM WERE OPENED, AND THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED
(Genesis 3:6-7).

There was a time in my life when I followed the father-of-lies…and became naked. My disobedience delivered me to the government of the father-of-lies, who used his deception to render me abandoned, rejected, shamed, and condemned. All I had to cover myself were my own defense mechanisms. But, the covering my habits and patterns of defense offered was hard and brittle. Since I was always on the look-out to attack or to be attacked, it rendered me irritable, sensitive, and belligerent. Like the hard shell of a little seed, the outer covering of my defense mechanisms kept my heart from falling into fertile soil to yield a crop of Righteousness.

MOST ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS A GRAIN OF WHEAT FALLS INTO THE GROUND AND DIES, IT REMAINS ALONE; BUT IF IT DIES, IT PRODUCES MUCH GRAIN
(John 12:24).

 Then, God called me to come under the reign of a new government. But first, I had to let go of my covering—my own defense mechanisms that rendered me naked. Thus, I allowed Him to strip me of my outer shell that was always ready to attack or be attacked, so I may fall into the soft, fertile soil of his Presence…and grow.

BUT OTHER SEED FELL ON GOOD GROUND AND YIELDED A CROP THAT SPRANG UP, INCREASED AND PRODUCED: SOME THIRTYFOLD, SOME SIXTY, AND SOME A HUNDRED
(Mark 4:8).

 What about you? Under which government do you live, day-by-day? How do your defense mechanisms serve you? Do they render you naked? What is keeping you from giving up your hard, outer covering, so you may fall into the fertile soil of God’s Presence…and grow?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I am tired of living a naked life—always ready to attack and be attacked. Strip me of my hard, brittle defense covering, so I may fall into the fertile soil of Your Presence and yield a crop of Righteousness.