David Bahn – Reflections

Genesis 3:1-6

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

A few days ago a friend who had returned from a fishing trip to Alaska gave us several salmon fillets. What a treat! We love to grill salmon on the barbecue and consider this gift most generous. We are looking forward to the fresh wild caught Pacific salmon! We will invite our friends to join us when we grill these.

Just this evening several of us who are part of the discipleship huddle at St. John went on a missional service project to the home of a single mom. We raked leaves and brush, cleaned out gutters, power washed, trimmed trees, cut off branches that were on the roof of the house. 14 man hours later we had made a significant dent in the neglected care and upkeep of this house. We hope she receives the blessing with thanks to God.

Our friend gave us the salmon not because we need food, or even because we cannot afford salmon (though it is not inexpensive!). He gave it out of the goodness of his heart; because he respects me as his pastor and friend. We gave the ministry of lawn care and exterior house maintenance also out of the goodness of our hearts. But there is another wrinkle to our gift: the wrinkle of sin. She is no longer married to the father of her children. He is not in her life or providing for the care of their house. There is no fault implied in regard to that, just an observation. But the reality of broken relationships – especially marriage – and broken homes and needy women is a fault of life in a broken and fallen world.

When Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit more than just nakedness and shame ensued. Sin entered the world, and death because of sin. We see it everywhere we turn. Our desire as followers of Jesus was to shed the light of his redeeming love wherever we can. We don’t know whether she will recognize it as such. But we do know that there was a need that we were able to fill.

While we were working there several neighbors passed by on the street. None asked what we were doing. None offered to help. That’s sad, but yet more evidence of the fallen nature of this world: neighbors and communities do not always respond to others needs as they should. Thank God he responded to our need by sending his Son to be our Savior. The blessing of his forgiveness and abundant and eternal life is the greatest blessing of all.