What's your apple? You might answer gala, cortland, macintosh....but that's not what I'm really asking. I love fall and one of my favorite things about it is apple picking. It's an annual outing for my family and a time to build tradition and memories. I can't help, as I look for that perfect apple to add to the basket, but think of Eve in the garden. So let's talk about Eve and that fruit tree. I imagine her walking amongst a forest full of fruit trees. Pears. Oranges. Lemons. Peaches. Apples. All delightfully tasteful. All available to pluck off the tree and eat whenever she wishes. But her eyes are drawn to that one tree, the one God said not to eat from. The Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. I imagine Eve taking a bite out of the tastiest apple, and while doing so, looking at the juicy fruit dangling from the tree of knowledge. Now satan, in that sly form of a snake, was watching her. He took notice of where her eyes lingered. And of course, he jumped at the chance to tempt her. But temptation wasn't Eve's downfall. We all are tempted. Temptation is an invitation to a fork in the road. The choice we make is the downfall. Do we choose obedience to God or do we choose our feelings of discontentment, entitlement, doubt, fear or pride? Eve was tempted....and she chose discontentment and doubt. She chose to think there was something more she needed. She doubted God knew what was best for her and thought her way was better. She bought the lie that if she ate that fruit she would have all she desired and life would be better. But we all know the story and we know that her way wasn't the right way (if you don't know the story, I encourage to read Genesis 3). That piece of fruit probably tasted really good while she was eating it, but it came with a price. We don't really know what kind of fruit was hanging from the tree of knowledge, but let's picture it as an apple for the moment.
So let me ask again. What is your apple? What are you looking at, that is not God, that you believe will bring you contentment? What apple is placing doubt of God's goodness in your heart? Is there an apple of disobedience in your life that you haven't realized you have taken a bite out of? The good news? We can say no to the apple. We can say no by being honest to ourselves and admitting that the temptation, the idol, the discontent, the doubt, the pride, is there. We can strengthen our resistance with prayer and reading the word. Recall your blessings and all that He has given you. And remember God has provided a way out of temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). When we do these things, the apple is more likely to remain on the tree. The next time you grab an apple for a snack, or perhaps go apple picking as my family does, I hope you are reminded of Eve. I hope you are reminded to think about the "apples" in your own life, and perhaps you will be encouraged to leave that fruit on the tree. Blessings, Elizabeth For more reflection questions, discussion, and freebies regarding this post...join the "Blue Jean Gypsy Tribe" private facebook group!
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Meet ElizabethWife. Mother. Writer. Photographer. Child of God. Encouraging others in faith through a lens of grace and seeing beauty in the ashes. All images and content belong to me (Blue Jean Gypsy), unless otherwise noted. You may use an image ONLY if it is linked back to this blog! Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
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April 2020
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