El Rachum
“God of Mercy, God of Compassion”
It was the mercy of God that He drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden. Adam and Eve entered a fallen state and if they did eat of the Tree of Life, they would continue to live in the fallen state forever.
Because of “the fall” our lives are limited to live a certain number of years and we have choices; we can choose life by partaking of the life in the Spirit or we can choose death by partaking of the flesh nature.
5Those who are motivated by the flesh only pursue what benefits themselves. But those who live by the impulses of the Holy Spirit are motivated to pursue spiritual realities. 6For the sense and reason of the flesh is death, but the mind-set controlled by the Spirit finds life and peace.
7In fact, the mind-set focused on the flesh fights God’s plan and refuses to submit to his direction, because it cannot! 8For no matter how hard they try, God finds no pleasure with those who are controlled by the flesh.
Romans 8:5-8
When we choose the way of the Spirit of God, we are eating from the Tree of Life, but if we choose the way of our mind (I think), will (I will), and emotions (I feel), reasoning our situations and circumstances based on our understanding and man’s wisdom, we are eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Adam and Eve had a choice and humanity entered a fallen state because of a poor choice. Many of us have fallen into the deception that we are stuck in this state and a lot of us blame our demise on Adam and Eve.
The truth is that we also have a choice. Yes, it is not our choice to be born into the fallen state, but we do have a choice to choose life. We choose life by living by the Spirit or we can choose death by living according to our fleshly desires.
“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: Whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord
Joshua 24:14-15 NASB (1995)
15If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.
16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counsellor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever-
17The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognise Him. But you know and recognise Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.
18I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you.
19Just a little while now, and the world will not see My anymore, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.
20At that time [when that day comes] you will know [for yourselves] that I am in My Father, and you [are] in Me, and I [am] in you.
21The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]
John 14:16-21 Amplified Version
Prayer
Father, Thank You for Your mercy Thank You that You made a way for us to eternal life, free of sin and restoring us to our identity as Your sons and daughters. Jesus, You are the Way, You are the Truth, and You are the Life I choose this day to feed off You and be led by Your Spirit in every area of my life. Jesus, You are the Word that became flesh, and as I spend time to read and meditate on Your Word which is the double-edged sword, I know that it will divide between what is of Your Spirit and what is of my flesh, the carnal, fallen nature. I know that as I yield to Your Spirit and choose to obey, then I will be led to abundant life because that is Your promise to me.