TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 2:1-11
The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears [his] voice. - John 3:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Bible says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife” (Gen. 2:24). Marriage is God’s gift, and a marriage day should be a joyful celebration.

Yet these days, reports the New York Times, “Wedding bills are weighing down couples and their parents long after the 'I do’s,’ and many have been forced to seek financial counseling as a result.” An average wedding is now estimated to cost $22,000. The president of one credit counseling service commented, “Paying off these weddings is going to take a heck of a lot longer than the few hours the party lasted, maybe longer than the marriage lasts.”

In today’s reading, Jesus calls us back to the spirit of true joy and celebration that God intended. If godly pleasure is not self-indulgent or worldly, as we’ve seen the past few days, what does it look like? Jesus’ first miracle is an intriguing episode in which we can begin to see the answer.

Why did Jesus turn water into wine? The primary reason, as John said, was to reveal His glory and spur faith in His disciples (v. 11). But in addition to having spiritual significance, Jesus did it for a simple and immediate reason--to enable a joyous celebration to continue. He also did it to spare the host serious social embarrassment, which in the family’s memory of the wedding day could have become an indelible blot.

In the process, Jesus stood two social practices on their heads. First, He employed water from vessels used for ceremonial washing. Water that would have been used for ritual purification was transformed into the wine of pleasure and joy. Second, He ignored the custom of bringing out the cheaper wine later (for practical reasons). What-ever He did, He did well, and so the wine was top quality.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Imitate Jesus in today’s reading by planning to do something that affirms or gives pleasure and joy into another person’s life. You might organize a surprise birthday party or spend time with someone doing a hobby or sport they enjoy. You might send a card, flowers, or a gift for no special reason. Or invite someone out for dinner. You know your family and friends, and you know what would make them happy. With good intentions, the options are endless!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 23:4-44
These are the Lord’s appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies. - Leviticus 23:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Imagine a holiday dinner. The smell of roasted turkey or baked ham and your mom’s special pie drifts through the house. The living room is full of cheerful conversation. People bustle about chopping vegetables, setting the table, or helping children wash their hands. Perhaps seasonal music is playing. There are no appointments or obligations. No one is due at work soon. It’s time to relax and celebrate!

This is the kind of festive atmosphere we can imagine accompanied the Jewish feasts of the Old Testament. Occasions of joy and celebration were important not only to Jesus in the New Testament, but also to God the Father in the Old Testament. We may not associate the Mosaic Law with fun times, but such was indeed the case!

There are at least three characteristics in common among the feasts described in today’s reading. The first is rest--the people were to do no regular work. Second was worship--the nation was to hold “sacred assemblies” and make sacrifices and offerings to the Lord. The sacred assemblies had many purposes. During them, people might sing, pray, confess sin, offer verbal praises and testimonies, hear God’s Word read aloud, and receive instruction from the Levites about the meaning of the Scripture they heard. Jesus similarly connected worship, truth, and joy or pleasure.

The third characteristic is celebration--on these occasions, the people rejoiced and gave thanks for the goodness and blessing of God in their lives. This was true both in an immediate sense, as in the Feast of Firstfruits and the Feast of Harvest (Weeks), and in a historical sense, as in the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles.

Perhaps our mental picture is serious-faced worshipers making burnt offerings to atone for sin. A more complete biblical picture must include the idea of joyful celebration, not unlike our holiday picture mentioned above. These celebrations were focused and purposeful. God actually commanded His people to have a good time! They were not practicing self-indulgence or grabbing worldly pleasures by taking these opportunities to celebrate. Instead, their feasting provides an example of godly pleasure pursued in godly ways.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In Richard Foster’s classic book on the spiritual disciplines, Celebration of Discipline, he devotes the entire last chapter to the discipline of “Celebration.” We encourage you today to read or re-read this chapter. If you wish, share insights from what you read with a friend or family member.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 14:22-29
Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. - Deuteronomy 14:26
TODAY IN THE WORD
For some of the best food in America, just head for . . . a Navy submarine? That’s right. Because submarine duty is one of the most demanding assignments in the military, professionally trained Navy chefs serve such delicacies as steak, prime rib, stuffed lobster tails, and fresh-baked bread in generous portions to the sailors. On one submarine known for its chicken dishes, a week’s menu once included Sichuan chicken, Jamaican chicken, chicken cordeon bleu, savory baked chicken, chicken cacciatore, Southern fried chicken, and chicken noodle soup.

Sounds like a five-star underwater feast! Feasting before the Lord was a key element in the leisure-and-worship life of Israel. In today’s reading, we see in action the principles mentioned yesterday--rest, worship, and celebration. The physical pleasures of good food and drink, the combination of happiness and order, and the freedom and spiritual blessing of being in God’s presence fuse together into a beautiful picture of community pleasure.

This special covenant meal took place in the context of tithing, and so was an acknowledgment that our well-being and all that we have ultimately belongs to the Lord (v. 23). As God’s ministers, the Levites received the bulk of the tithe for their daily needs, but first the whole nation was to have a feast with it. The poor were also to be provided for, showing that a spirit of compassion is exactly in line with godly holidays. What a contrast this was to comparable Canaanite events where feasting would be accompanied by sexual immorality and drunkenness.

Celebration was such an essential part of this regulation that it included a “Plan B.” If the distance was too far, the worshipers could buy the feast fixings, “anything you wish,” and organize the worship meal somewhere else. The point was to eat together and rejoice in the Lord’s presence (v. 26).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Why not organize your own “festival” to the Lord? Plan a special meal for your family or small group which includes rest, food, fellowship, and worship--a “celebration dinner” along lines similar to those in today’s passage. Scripture readings, spontaneous testimonies, or candlelight prayers might help add the worship dimension. If a meal sounds like too much work, make it a potluck or go to a restaurant.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Timothy 3:1-5
People will be . . . lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. - 2 Timothy 3:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dave plays for the men’s softball team at church. He plays hard and wants to win, and he deeply enjoys the fellowship and shared experience of practicing and competing as a team of believers. He’s also mindful that in their community league they play against teams of unbelievers, so their behavior on the field can be a witness for Christ.

Doug is on the same team. He also plays hard and wants to win, and to him it’s as simple as that. The purpose of competition is victory, and everything he says and does is directed to that end. He really thinks that Dave’s ideas are actually excuses for losing, or at best, irrelevant extras to the point of winning.

The same leisure activity, the same framework--but different attitudes and motivations. Dave plays God-centered softball, but for Doug it’s just another human-centered activity. That’s the basic difference between us and the world--whether, in our leisure pursuits, God is truly acknowledged and honored or not.

When Paul wrote to Timothy about the “last days,” he meant the time between Christ’s First and Second Comings. During these days, people would be “lovers of themselves” and “lovers of money,” that is, self-indulgent and materialistic. The phrase “lovers of” indicates both passion and dedication. The bottom line is that unbelievers are “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (v. 4). Isaiah had also pronounced woe on people who run after pleasure with “no regard for the deeds of the Lord, no respect for the work of his hands” (Isa. 5:11–12).

Godless people can’t find genuine pleasures because they don’t know the Source. Even their happiness is illusory, just a form without power (v. 5). “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame” (Phil. 3:19). “Such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites” (Rom. 16:18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Here’s an idea which may not have occurred to you before: dedicate your next leisure activity to the Lord in prayer. It might be a nap, a golf game, or a trip to the Grand Canyon--whatever it is, offer it to God. Ask that your leisure choice would bring Him glory and you closer to Him. Pray against any self-centeredness or self-gratification to which your leisure might tempt you. Through prayer, you can bring the pleasures you experience into a right relationship with their Giver.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 4:1-8
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. - 1 Timothy 4:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Washington D.C.’s famous cherry trees gloriously signal the coming of spring. Every year at the end of March or the beginning of April, the National Cherry Blossom Festival attracts thousands of visitors, who come to see the annual profusion of pink and white blossoms on the city’s 3,700 cherry trees.

This incredible beauty was a gift. In 1912, Japan presented a gift of cherry trees to the United States--more than 3,000 cherry trees from twelve different strains. The first two trees, which are still standing today, were planted on the north bank of the Tidal Basin, near what is now Independence Avenue.

Today’s reading shows that all genuine pleasure and beauty are gifts from God. In thinking about the Christian life, we sometimes gravitate to the ideas of suffering and sacrifice, but there are other truths that complete the picture. “God’s will” is not some nasty medicine we must swallow--He has prepared pleasures for us in the here-and-now as well as eternity. Ecclesiastes advises, “I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun” (Eccl. 8:15).

Paul warned Timothy about legalists and gnostics who rejected this truth. For example, God gave sexual pleasure as a gift within marriage, but some taught against it. And He gave food as well, but some had made rules about it. Such people are condemned in very strong language here!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul exhorted us, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children” (Eph. 5:1).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 12:28-34
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. - Mark 12:30
TODAY IN THE WORD
One Christian leader tells the story of a gift he bought his wife for Valentine’s Day. After thinking long and hard, he purchased a very useful item--a hand-vacuum. You can imagine her reaction! Later that day at a staff dinner, the other wives were talking about their gifts of flowers, candy, and jewelry. Petrified, he leaned over to his wife and begged her not to tell anyone what he had so foolishly given her as a “romantic” gift!

A good gift, of course, shows attention to the feelings and desires of the recipient. It shows love. The same principle applies in our leisure choices. If we are to make free time decisions which show love for God, we must pay close attention to our Lord’s commands and desires. This is a helpful principle we can apply on a daily basis. Beginning today, and for the remainder of the month, we’ll build on the foundations we’ve been laying in practical ways. How might we make specific godly leisure decisions in everyday situations?

The rabbis had counted 613 commandments within the Law, so the question of which one was most important wasn’t easy. But the bottom line is that there is only one God. There-fore, we are to love Him only and wholly, which also implies loving our neighbor (vv. 29–31; cf. Deut. 6:4–5). The teacher who had asked the question agreed--he understood that loving God was the heart of the spiritual life and that this far outweighed rituals and sacrifices (v. 33).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Scripture memory is a valuable tool for remembering truth and fixing our minds on things above. If you haven’t memorized the greatest commandment, why not do it today?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Peter 1:13-16
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:48
TODAY IN THE WORD
“O Lord our God, grant us grace to desire thee with our whole heart; that so desiring we may seek and find thee; and so finding thee may love thee; and loving thee, may hate those sins from which thou hast redeemed us. Amen.”

This prayer of medieval theologian St. Anselm models an important truth of doctrine: to love God is to hate sin. This is as true in leisure as it is in other areas of life, which is why our leisure choices must be holy. Today’s reading follows on the heels of what we learned yesterday. We love God, God loves holiness, therefore we should love holiness. Unfortunately, we too often equate the quest for holiness with a dour absence of pleasure, so to apply this principle to our free time may take some mental readjustments.

How can we be holy in all we do? The series of imperatives in 1 Peter fleshes this out. We need to prepare our minds for action, a phrase that suggests warming up for an athletic contest. We might think holiness is a matter of will first, but God says to prepare our minds for wise decision-making. We should also be self-controlled in the face of temptation and set our hope on God’s grace, especially His future grace. We are not to follow the sinful desires we used to have (see August 13).

In our leisure choices too, then, we need to check for sin and impurity (cf. 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Peter 2:16). For example, what about the television programs and movies we watch? The books and magazines we read? The music we listen to? The computer games we play? The Web sites we visit? Would God be pleased with our choices? Could Jesus do our free time activities with us? Are we enjoying pleasure, beauty, and rest as He intended us to do?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Our suggested application today is a thought exercise. Take one of your favorite leisure activities and write out an imagined dialogue with God about it in your spiritual journal. Tell Him why you enjoy it, how it gives you pleasure, sins to which it tempts you, how you resist them, and why you are thankful to Him for this activity.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 14:1-18
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. - Romans 14:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
“The Servant Song,” a popular chorus from the 1970s, captures the essence of what it means to be members together in the body of Christ: “Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too. We are pilgrims on a journey; we’re together on this road. We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load. . . . I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.”

The body of Christ is a critical factor that must influence our everyday leisure decision-making. As today’s passage shows, we should choose what is edifying to others. Our culture encourages us to feel that our free time is our own, but in fact leisure is often a community reality--for example, when we give or receive hospitality or play sports. That’s why loving God is biblically linked to loving our neighbor.

Romans 14, covered today and tomorrow, should be a key chapter in our thinking about leisure choices. The first issue in this passage was food. Paul taught that stronger faith could eat more, while weaker faith could eat less (we sometimes get this turned around). His point was not to judge one another either way, but to leave each person’s conscience free before God, because spiritual growth is His business. Paul repeated this key theme in addressing the second issue of sacred days. Each person should be “fully convinced in his own mind” and do whatever they chose as “to the Lord” (vv. 5–8).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Since we know from today’s devotional that leisure should be part not only of individual lives but also of a community’s life, we suggest you plan a leisure night sometime this week for your family or a group of friends. Make it something where you interact with one another (that is, don’t just watch a movie together). You might play board games, fingerpaint with your children, jam with fellow musicians, or play badminton, for example. Or try something totally new together . . . even something like jello-sculpting!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 14:19-15:6
You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? - Romans 14:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
The character of Aunt Pitty-Pat in Gone with the Wind makes a great show of being delicate and dainty. She feigns fainting when confronted with anything that she deems unpleasant, from bad manners to bad smells to bad news. Of course there’s not much fear that Aunt Pitty-Pat will actually faint; she uses this threat to avoid dealing with anything she doesn’t like.

The modern-day Christian legalists are much like Aunt Pitty-Pat. Often they are not actually led into sin by believers who have different standards of behavior. But they produce the “stumbling-block” argument to try to keep anyone from doing anything that they don’t like.

We know from Scripture that we should make leisure choices that edify our fellow believers (15:2). But the New Testament tells us that giving in to legalists neither edifies them nor honors the Lord. Though we are told to live at peace with all people if it’s possible, Jesus and Paul didn’t hesitate to “offend” those who distorted the truth, and as we’ve seen, freedom is a very important truth.

“When in doubt, be safe--make a rule” is not in the Bible, despite the behavior of some Christians. In fairness, though, to give our brothers and sisters the freedom to choose is not an easy command to obey. We prefer to “flock with birds of a feather,” but the reality of the body of Christ is higher and harder. Judging others, in the form of pressure to conform to a given set of convictions, is often more normal, but we should strive to give space and grace. It may help if we understand that “to stumble” or “to fall” means causing someone to sin, not merely giving offense (14:20–21). And of course accountability remains, for we will one day give a report to our divine Judge.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To put today’s Bible reading into practice, initiate a conversation with a fellow believer you know who enjoys a leisure activity you don’t understand or appreciate at all. Your goal should be not to judge or cross-examine, but genuinely to understand the pleasure, beauty, or rest experienced in that activity by your brother or sister in Christ. This doesn’t mean you will like the activity any better, but it should help you understand someone different and could be a conscious exercise in giving them the freedom to choose.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. - Psalm 90:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
A British economics professor has proven that time is money. Ian Walker of Warwick University has devised a formula that he says can show people the relative values of time spent doing different activities, and thus help them make decisions. The formula is V=(W((100-t)/100))/C, where V is the value of an hour, W is a person’s hourly wage, t is the tax rate, and C is the local cost of living. Using this formula, people can see if they’re getting paid a fair rate for overtime, if it’s worth it to save time by hiring someone to mow the lawn, or whether it’s better to take the bus or carpool.

With or without a calculator, good stewardship of time is another valuable principle to help us with our leisure decision-making. Once again, we’re moving against the currents of our culture, which may have given us the idea that the stewardship standards for leisure are lower than those for work, or even that stewardship works against our “right” to kick back and relax. Sermons on Jesus’ parable of the talents usually talk in terms of productivity about work or ministry, to the exclusion of other measures and other areas of life.

So how do we evaluate our stewardship of leisure? It’s still about our use of time, energy, money, and other resources, but now the standard is not “work accomplished by God’s grace” but “delight experienced as God’s gift.” Furthermore, stewardship should remind us to hold all the pleasures and beauty we experience with loose hands--that is, not selfishly or possessively. Contentment is key. To this end, today’s verse can become an ongoing prayer; if we learn stewardship of time, God will provide us with a heart of wisdom!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When it comes to good stewardship of time and other resources, the Book of Proverbs is a treasure trove of godly wisdom. We recommend you do some extra Bible study today, combing through Proverbs for principles and advice that can help you in your own management of time, money, and energy. If you’re not sure where to start, “go to the ant” (Prov. 6:6). You might wish to use a topical Bible or concordance to help you with your search. Be sure to apply what you learn!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Galatians 5:16-26
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. - Galatians 5:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you’ve been gardening this summer, some of the vegetables and fruits might be coming in about now, depending on where you live and what you’ve planted. Did they just spontaneously appear? Of course not. You’ve sown, watered, and weeded. Perhaps you’ve used special soils or fertilizers. No doubt you’ve checked for insect pests and maybe even set traps for gophers. The harvest you are about to reap is a result of cultivating the earth.

The same is true in the spiritual realm, which is why “fruit of the Spirit” is such a rich and memorable metaphor. Did you think this idea was only for work or ministry? Think again! The Spirit gives wisdom for leisure as well as for every other area of life. In fact, being filled with the Spirit--a habitual walking with Him--is a key to God-centered and obedient leisure (as can be seen in the contrast between verses 16–17 and 24–25 in today’s reading). To “keep in step with the Spirit” means to “walk in line with” Him.

One question we must therefore ask ourselves is whether our leisure activities cultivate or promote the sinful qualities listed in verses 19–21. Does a certain computer game open the door to occult thinking or practices? Does the overcompetitive way you play a sport breed hatred? Are your preferred books and magazines questionable regarding sexual morality? Does your window shopping allow envy and jealousy to grow within you? In our free time choices, we must choose to crucify our sinful natures (cf. Gal. 2:20).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We’d like to suggest that you initiate another conversation with a believing friend, this time one who shares a leisure interest with you. Do a “wisdom exchange” with them, addressing issues mentioned in our study.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 4:8
Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? - Matthew 9:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Sam Snead was one of the greatest golfers of all time. He won 135 tournaments worldwide, including a record 81 PGA tour victories and three Masters championships. His career spanned nearly 50 years--he won his first tournament in 1936 and his last in 1982. His smooth swing was envied by all. As one peer said, “He had a swing so sweet, you could pour it out of a syrup bottle.” Another said, “Watching Sam Snead practice hitting golf balls is like watching a fish practice swimming.”

Sam Snead’s lifelong pursuit of golfing excellence made him a success and eventually a sports legend. The pursuit of excellence should be our passion as well!

Biblically, the idea of “thinking” does not refer to passing thoughts, but to reflecting or pondering deeply. Today’s verse translates this same verb as “entertain” in order to suggest the idea that we “play host” to thoughts. Another dimension of biblical “thinking” is action. When Paul said, “think about such things,” he meant he wanted his readers to consider or take into account these factors while making decisions. One study Bible notes, “What a person allows to occupy his mind will sooner or later determine his speech and his action.”

So what should we think about? True things in accord with Scripture or general revelation. Things that are noble or honorable are worthy of respect. Right or righteous things can be brought into the light. We should think of things that are pure, holy, and lovely. And our thoughts should dwell on things that are admirable or of good reputation. In summary, we should meditate on things that are morally excellent or praiseworthy. In this context, our redeemed minds can discern and our redeemed hearts can enjoy genuine pleasures.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You might want to follow up on yesterday’s application by agreeing to a leisure accountability relationship with a believing friend. Sometimes accountability relationships help keep us from falling into sin, and that’s a worthy goal. But we want to go beyond that, aiming not only for an “absence of sin” but also for the “presence of godliness” in our leisure choices. Perhaps you could agree to meet, call, or e-mail once a week to discuss questions prompted by Philippians 4:8 or other passages from our month’s study.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Galatians 5:1-14
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. - Galatians 5:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Regarding the term translated “freedom” in Galatians 5, W. E. Vine commented, “The phraseology is that of manumission from slavery, which among the Greeks was effected by a legal fiction, according to which the manumitted slave was purchased by a god; as the slave could not provide the money, the master paid it into the temple treasury in the presence of the slave, a document being drawn up containing the words 'for freedom.’ No one could enslave him again, as he was the property of the god.”

In Paul’s day, “for freedom” was a culturally familiar phrase linking freedom from bondage and commitment to a god--for believers, the one true God. It’s important to pursue godly leisure in this spirit of freedom. Don’t allow these guidelines to become burdensome rules; rather, let them be doorways to pleasing God and enjoying His gifts.

In our reading, Paul was extremely angry because believers had surrendered their freedom for legalism (see the July 2004 issue of Today in the Word for a detailed study of Galatians). He saw legalism as a temptation, with license as the opposite extreme. To abuse freedom is license, which indulges oneself sinfully and dishonors our purposes of service and holiness. Similarly, to give up freedom is legalism, which attempts to be stricter than God (see 1 Tim. 4:3), which dishonors His truth and stunts true spiritual growth.

Circumcision had been a sign of God’s covenant with Israel. Why then was Paul opposed to it? Christ superseded the Law, and so requiring circumcision places people back under bondage to the rules that never brought freedom from sin. This is described with strong phrases such as “yoke of slavery,” “Christ will be of no value to you at all,” “alienated from Christ,” and “fallen away from grace” (vv. 1–4). Legalism tries to earn or deserve what only God can give. The Christ-like way to live is “faith expressing itself through love” (v. 6).

Especially in the area of leisure, legalism is a common trap for believers. We see license in the world around us, and sometimes overreact. Instead, dare to take hold of the privilege and responsibility of Christian freedom!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Since we’re nearing the end of the month, now is a good time to begin reviewing what you’ve learned. List key truths and principles that have stood out to you strongly about godly leisure. Consider how and why they grabbed your attention. Pray through them, submitting your heart and mind to God’s Word and asking for His point of view on specific free time activities you enjoy. Also consider whether you’ve avoided certain activities due to legalism or fear. Ask Him for the faith to enjoy His blessings!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 3:1-7
I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. - Psalm 119:32
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his Commentary on the Whole Bible, Matthew Henry said about the Fall, “It was Eve’s weakness to enter into this talk with the serpent: she might have perceived by his question, that he had no good design, and should therefore have started back. Satan teaches men first to doubt, and then to deny. He promises advantage from their eating this fruit. He aims to make them discontented with their present state, as if it were not so good as it might be, and should be . . . . Satan ruined himself by desiring to be like the Most High, therefore he sought to infect our first parents with the same desire, that he might ruin them too.”

Many temptations were at work in Genesis 3, among them pride, discontent, and selfishness. Interestingly, we also find legalism at center stage. In verse 3, Eve cited God’s command as not to eat or touch the fruit of the tree of life. But God had never said not to touch it. Why did she say so? Perhaps she was startled by a talking animal and alarmed at the topic of conversation. Perhaps she wanted to backpedal furiously away from the temptation, hoping that “extra strictness” would keep her safe. But she misquoted God’s words, and Satan pounced. It seems that legalism--the attempt to be more strict than God--actually weakened her spiritually, just as we read yesterday.

Another leisure lesson we can take from the Fall narrative is the reminder that pleasure outside of God’s will is false pleasure. The tree was “good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom” (v. 6). Eve let these facts overrule her highest calling and pleasure: obedience. When we seek to follow Christ in the area of leisure, we need to avoid her mistake.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What are your three favorite leisure activities? In light of yesterday’s time of thought and prayer, write about them in your spiritual journal today. You might want to consider how they show faith, help you pursue excellence, and the ways you take pleasure in them as God’s gifts to you. Also consider what do you do to make them a witness and consecrate them. How will your enjoyment of these activities change or deepen as a result of this month’s study?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 10:9-16
Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love - Galatians 5:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Pharisees once challenged the Lord about why His disciples did not ceremonially wash their hands before eating, an accusation of uncleanness. Jesus responded strongly, calling the religious leaders “hypocrites” and quoting Isaiah about the contrast between outward rituals and inner heart attitudes. He condemned them for holding on to tradition while letting go of God’s commands. And He taught those watching that spiritual uncleanness was defined not by such things as food, but rather by sinful actions that flow out of sinful thoughts (Mark 7:1–23).

Peter should have remembered this episode that afternoon on the rooftop in Joppa. While praying, he saw a puzzling vision of animals lowered from heaven in a sheet. He refused to eat them because at least some of them were unclean according to the Mosaic Law. This tradition and cultural conditioning initially proved stronger than the very voice of God! What Peter couldn’t see was that God was already at work through the Roman centurion Cornelius to open the door of the gospel to the Gentiles.

Peter’s experience provides a contrast to Eve. She added to God’s command and was drawn into sin; he resisted God’s command, but God persisted and he eventually obeyed. What if he had stubbornly insisted on following the rules for the purity he knew, or thought he knew? What if he had said, “Better safe than sorry”? To choose obedience and freedom, he had to open his mind to new concepts and new practices. Later, when Peter allowed himself to be pressured into legalism, Paul confronted him in defense of the faith (see Gal. 2:11–21).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We’d like to present today our final reading application for the month. Leland Ryken started from a Puritan perspective in his excellent book, Redeeming the Time: A Christian Approach to Work and Leisure (Baker Books).