A Daily Devotional with Pastor Doug Crouse  May 21, 2018 Where Are You?   Scripture Reading – Genesis 3:8 - 9 (NLT) "When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?"  

Hard for you and I to even begin to imagine the wonders of the fellowship and relationship both Adam and Eve enjoyed with our God in the garden of paradise that He had provided, simply because He loved them so. Walking, talking and sharing with the One in whose image they were crafted.

Certainly there was a level of brilliance which has been clouded over, even still as amazing as our human minds are. Think of how quickly you or I would have been stumped in naming every animal that was born. But for Adam it was not a problem. What great joy for the Father to share this task with His son.  

The response we see in Adam and Eve is exactly the response that our human nature initially reacts to when there is an element of sin in our lives - we try to hide. Hide from God, what an absolutely nonsensical thought, but people still try and do the same thing today, many even denying His existence by claiming that what they do with their lives matters to nobody but themselves. 

So God called out to Adam, 'Where Are You'. Not that He was not aware. In fact - God had planned even before the foundation of the world that Christ would die for the salvation of all who would answer God's seeking call that He extended to Adam that day.

And like so many caught in sin, Adam passed the buck telling God it was woman that He gave to him. And Eve did the same - blaming God for making the serpent who deceived her. So paradise was lost, sin was born, and death became a 'normal' part of this life, to all of us who inherited our sinful nature from our first set of parents Adam and Eve.

Still today the call of God goes out to one and all, asking us where we are. And if we will realize that the buck stops with us, acknowledge our sin, and come to the Savior, the gift of life eternal will be ours. Not only to know and keep ourselves, but to tell others the Good News that Christ Jesus alone both satisfies and saves.  

Prayer Heavenly Father I remember the day that You found me, and I answered Your call. Today I draw near in fellowship to You. Order my steps I pray in Jesus name.  

Memory Verse:  Romans 1:16a NLT “For I am not ________ of this ______ News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes."