Our Daily Bread Teens EditionSample

Read Genesis 3:1–7

1 Now the snake was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the snake, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the snake said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realised that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Being Told “Don’t”

We hate being told, “Don’t”. We hear it from parents, teachers, brothers and sisters, and even our friends. It can be so annoying when people stop us from doing what we want to do!

But sometimes we need to be told “Don’t”—for our own good. If we had the total freedom to do whatever we wanted, without anyone to guide us, we could end up making some pretty bad choices.

Take Adam and Eve for example. They lived in the most amazing place on this earth, where they had lots of freedom. However, when God said “Don’t” eat from this one specific tree to protect them from a bad decision, they didn’t listen (Genesis 3). 

Sometimes we can’t understand why we’re told “Don’t”, especially by God. But if we remember that He created this world and knows best how it works, it will change our way of thinking. It’s just like being told by the manufacturer of your phone not to put it in a microwave; it’s an instruction you’ll follow, because you trust that the manufacturer, who made it, knows that it will explode. We need to realise that when God says “Don’t”, He’s telling us the best way to live. —CHK

God doesn’t say “Don’t” to stop our fun; He says it to protect us from bad choices.

Talk to God

Father, please help me to remember that You have my best interests at heart. When I can’t understand why You say “Don’t” to certain things, show me why Your way is better and help me to trust You.

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