Day 7 – What’s growing?

“The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground – trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden, he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:9

To understand the depths of the gardens, we need to know what grows in them and the only way to accomplish this is to spend time in the garden familiarising yourself with each specific thing God created to be there.

Immediately after we read that God put man in the garden he created, we read about trees and fruit. I love how God grabs our attention to two specific trees by placing them in the middle of the garden – the focus point of Eden – the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

If you were to stand in the middle of the garden today, between the two trees, from which one would you choose to eat? See, the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is acting on your unilateral decisions. Not seeking God’s will, making your own choices, and doing things according to what you think and not what you pray. The fruit of the Tree of Life is seeking God and acting in obedience regardless of ourselves. Two trees. One choice.

Only one came with a warning which was heeded but not obeyed. Isn’t it in our very nature to go against what we are warned against? It is this very fleshy nature we need to overcome to completely walk in obedience to God. It’s His garden, His will, and our choice to obey. Not because of any command, but because of love.

Prayer: Father, I know that it is the free will of humanity that got us kicked out of the garden, but I also want to thank You for giving me the free will to choose You and walk in obedience. Making this a daily, conscious decision has taught me to bring everything to You and seek Your will so I am sure I am eating from the right tree and producing the right fruits. I pray that we, as the Body of Christ, bear the fruits of obedience to You. Amen.