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The Three Thorns (1)
'It will produce thorns...for you.' Genesis 3:18 NIV
In Scripture there are three thorns that paint a picture of redemption. Let's look at two of them today and see what we can learn.
(1) thorn-cursed creation. When Adam and Eve sinned, God said, 'Cursed is the ground because of you... It will produce thorns... By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground.' (Genesis 3:17-19 NIV) Everything changed for us in that moment. Roses began to grow thorns, fellowship with God was broken - and man, who was born to live forever, began to die. It was tragic, but God had a solution.
(2) A thorn-crowned Saviour. 'When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head...' (Matthew 27:29 NKJV) The curse that fell in a garden was lifted in a garden! When God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, He placed an angel with a flaming sword at the gate to prevent them from ever re-entering it. But at the cross Christ, the last Adam, was cut down outside the gates to become our Saviour and substitute, and secure our salvation.
Now we can re-enter God's presence. What did Adam lose? Fellowship with God, immortality and sinless perfection. At the cross Christ reclaimed and restored all these to us. 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.' (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV)
Notice the words, 'in Christ' - keep them close to your heart each day this month. Rejoice! God loves and accepts you 'in Christ'.
written by Bob Gass
'It will produce thorns...for you.' Genesis 3:18 NIV
In Scripture there are three thorns that paint a picture of redemption. Let's look at two of them today and see what we can learn.
(1) thorn-cursed creation. When Adam and Eve sinned, God said, 'Cursed is the ground because of you... It will produce thorns... By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground.' (Genesis 3:17-19 NIV) Everything changed for us in that moment. Roses began to grow thorns, fellowship with God was broken - and man, who was born to live forever, began to die. It was tragic, but God had a solution.
(2) A thorn-crowned Saviour. 'When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head...' (Matthew 27:29 NKJV) The curse that fell in a garden was lifted in a garden! When God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, He placed an angel with a flaming sword at the gate to prevent them from ever re-entering it. But at the cross Christ, the last Adam, was cut down outside the gates to become our Saviour and substitute, and secure our salvation.
Now we can re-enter God's presence. What did Adam lose? Fellowship with God, immortality and sinless perfection. At the cross Christ reclaimed and restored all these to us. 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.' (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV)
Notice the words, 'in Christ' - keep them close to your heart each day this month. Rejoice! God loves and accepts you 'in Christ'.
written by Bob Gass
