Advent DevotionalSample

The Story of Adam and Eve

What does Genesis 3 have to do with the arrival or “advent” of Jesus? Why start Advent there?

3 reasons:

1. The coming of Jesus was necessary because of the events in Genesis 3.
2. The coming of Jesus was first promised in Genesis 3.
3. The work of Jesus was first illustrated in Genesis 3.

Adam and Eve’s sin corrupted all that God had made and called “good.” As a result, humans were exiled from the Garden of Eden (a place representing the uninhibited presence of God with man).

As God dealt with Adam and Eve’s sin, He confronted Satan and promised that somewhere along the line, from Eve’s offspring, a Savior would come who would forever rid Satan of his power to separate God from man.

But before God sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, he clothed them.

Immediately after their sin, Adam and Eve were ashamed of what they had done and “sewed fig leaves together” to try to cover themselves up because they were afraid to stand naked before God as they once had. ut the coverings they made could not cover them.

In order for Adam and Eve to be properly clothed, a sacrifice had to be made.

In His kindness, God perfectly clothed Adam and Eve with a garment provided through the death of another—in this case, an animal. They exchanged the coverings they made for the ones God created for them.

In the same way, through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, we have been clothed with the righteousness of God. A sacrifice has been made on our behalf which perfectly covers our sin and allows us to stand before God.

Reflect

Even though Jesus made the righteousness of God available to us, we are often tempted to cover ourselves with serving, being nice, being successful, advocating for a particular people group or value, not engaging in a particular sin, etc. Where are you choosing to “cover yourself?” In what area of your life do you need to put on the righteousness of God as your covering?

Pray

Father, today I choose to put on Your righteousness and to take off whatever I’m trying to cover myself with. Holy Spirit, help me to give up the control of trying to cover myself and help me to pick up the dependence to rely on what Jesus has done for me. Amen.