But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Genesis 3:4-5
Deception comes in all shapes and sizes. Eve’s decision to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in Genesis 3 is often referred to as “The Fall” or “The First Sin.” But did you ever stop to consider what that first sin was?
Dr. Andrew Sung Park in his book, The Wounded Heart of God, describes Eve not as the original sinner but as the original sinned against. The serpent’s deception of Eve leads to the “critical wound of the heart,” which Park associates with the Asian concept of han. Han is described as the residue of being sinned against. If we fail to understand our wounds from being sinned against, we will fail to understand how to heal. Don’t be deceived to think salvation is just about the forgiveness of our sins, for it is also about the healing of our wounds from being sinned against. This is the salvation to which John the Baptist invited his followers and invites us to as well.
God of my salvation, grant that I may recognize my deep wounds and the wounds I have inflicted on others. Prepare my heart to be healed so I may know your salvation, and in turn be an agent of your healing power.
Amen.
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“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.”
Matthew 2:1
Reading scripture helps us to be wise.
Choose a family scripture for focus and memory this year.
Highland Park United Methodist Church
3300 Mockingbird Lane
Dallas, Texas
214-521-3111
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