ODJ: taking calls

August 12, 2015 

READ: Genesis 3:1-13 

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 (v.8).

When asked what’s the coolest thing about being the commander-in-chief, American President Barack Obama said, “For me, I think the coolest thing is that if there is somebody interesting who’s doing anything—a scientist, a sports figure, a writer, anybody in the world—if I want to call them up they will answer my phone call. That’s a pretty cool thing.” His response followed a question from a reporter’s daughter who said she thought the coolest part of being president would be spending time with pop-singers Beyoncé and Jay Z.

Everyone will take your call. It is likely that most people would take a call from the president of a powerful nation. But what if the Creator of the whole world wanted to speak with you? Would you take His call?

Having disobeyed God by eating of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the middle of the garden, Adam and Eve did not want to have a conversation with Him. “Their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves” (Genesis 3:7). And then “they hid from the LORD God among the trees” (v.8). But God called out, “Where are you?” (v.9). He didn’t call just to get a conversation going but to open the door for a confession of sin from Adam and Eve (vv.10-13).

Not much has changed since that time. While people will eagerly take a call from a president, not everyone is eager to respond to the Creator’s call.

—K.T. Sim

365-day-plan: Luke 14:1-14