Genesis 3:4–5 (NIV84)
4“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 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.”
Once the door of doubt is ajar, the true assault begins. The serpent, seeing the crack in the armor, moves from insinuation to open contradiction. This is the moment the “Big Lie” is introduced, a lie so vast it seeks to redefine all of reality. The serpent’s assault is a direct attack on the very character of God. First, he attacks God’s truthfulness: “You will not certainly die.” Second, he attacks God’s goodness and love, implying a malicious motive: “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened.” This is the poisonous whisper that God is holding out on you, that His commands are not for your flourishing but for His own security.
Finally, the serpent assaults God’s very nature by promising, “You will be like God.” This is the intoxicating core of all sin—the desire to be our own gods, to be the authors of our own reality, to be independent of our Creator. The lie presents God not as a loving Father but as a rival, an enemy to our own self-fulfillment. It suggests that the path to life is not through trust, but through rebellion. Sin promises to make us into a foundation pillar, giving us the power to hold up our own world. What it tragically neglects to mention is that we were never designed to bear that weight, and the instant we try, we are crushed by a universe we were never meant to support.
Reflect, Share & Prayer: In what areas of your life are you tempted to believe the Big Lie that God is holding you back, and that you would be happier or more fulfilled if you operated independently of Him? Talk to God, acknowledge these temptations, and ask Him for help.
(from Jimmy)
I don’t believe God is holding me back, but there were times where I felt I would be happier if I didn’t fully obey Him. I felt like God was keeping me from being truly happy. I was busy satisfying my flesh and being part of this world. However, after the fun settled, I would probably feel terrible physically or empty inside. It made me realize God’s commands were not to prevent me from enjoying life, but to enjoy it with Him. The way He intended life to be. His commands have given me purpose, enjoy life with Him, and shielded me from the temptations of the evil one.
Father God, thank you for your commands that preserve life. I am sorry for seeing them as something thing that got in my way. I will cherish them will all of my life. I pray your Holy Spirit continues to help me walk in the spirit and crucify the flesh. May you walk this narrow path with me and drown out all temptations. I pray all of this in Jesus name. Amen.
Celeste:
Reflect and share:
When I think about areas in my life where I’m tempted to believe the Big Lie that God is somehow holding me back, recovery is one of the biggest. In NA I’ve often wanted to run my own program and do things my way. I’ve told myself that I don’t really need to work the 12 steps or go to meetings, that somehow I can skip over them or handle things on my own. That lie tells me I can control things better on my own and that I don’t need to surrender. But in reality, when I try to work without God, I’m exhausted, stressed, and I slip back into old patterns, my old ways of thinking. What I’ve learned is that God isn’t trying to hold me back, he’s teaching me toward freedom and peace. I focus on the first three steps daily, practicing my ABCs, to admit, believe, and commit. The first three steps remind me that my own will alone isn’t enough. Admitting my powerlessness, believing in his power, and committing to turn my will over to him, a power greater than myself isn’t weakness at all, it’s the only way I can really walk in recovery and start experiencing real joy in my life.
Prayer:
Lord, help me stay away from the lie that you are holding me back. Remind me that surrendering to you isn’t limited but it frees me. Please teach me to admit my powerlessness, believe in your strength, and commit to walking with you everyday. Thank you for being patient with me, for loving me through my struggles, and for always being ready to carry me when I need to let go. In Jesus name, Amen.
I find the devotion interesting because my initial thought reading the Bible and coming across people desiring to be like God is that I don’t have a desire to be like God in that way even though we all are sinners. However, the I like how the devotion framed it as we want to be our own God’s, which I do through my actions of doubt and desire for control of my life/career. I know that this stems from anxiety of the unknown, however I also recognize that God calls us to Him and trust His plans which I may not know. God, I pray that I grow to trust you more and I acknowledge the temptation I have to “be my own god” by my desire for control. I lift that up to you.
I think similar to Timmy as well personal satisfaction. I think there are times where I can put my worth in hobbies or things that I like and I try to get that satisfaction from that but after I finish the task I don’t end up being satisfied. I remember when I felt this after I finished the LA marathon where I took a lot of pride in the training and would talk about it all the time but the moment I crossed the line I realized the satisfaction was there for like an hour then after that it was gone. So practicing to realize that the Lord is my only satisfaction.
From Monica
So interesting to see how the serpent really knows and targets the temptations of humans. The serpent is aware of our temptations to be our creators/leaders and specifically uses that to tempt Eve.
I felt convicted of this because many times, I want to take control of my own life. I sometimes believe that I know better than God in certain circumstances. I can see this many times in my marriage. I know God calls us to be unified and make decisions as one, but often times I find that I want to make decisions independently of Daniel. God, I pray that you would breathe into our marriage and allow us to operate as one. Would you protect us from temptation of desire for control and allow us to put our trust in you and your provision.
I’m tempted to waste time on news and other tasks instead of spending it with God and praying to Him. Similarly I’m fulfilling my own god instead of God’s commands. What my sinful desire gets me to do is all vanity. I’m ignoring God’s feeling and falling into the serpent’s trap. I know it’s not good to do things independently of God. I just hope with the strength of Holly Spirit I involve God more and more in my daily tasks and draw myself closer to Jesus and godly people. God and Jesus, please forgive my sin of distancing from you. Be gracious to me and give me your mercy. Holly spirit be with me as I’m fighting aiding my sinful desire. Help me to fixate on Jesus only and fulfill what God wants me to do.
I have the same thought as Louis, especially since I’ve become a mom. I never knew I would have so many fears and worries after having a child. Now, I always worry about how I can provide and protect my child, especially in a time when we see more crime, conflict, and sin than ever before.
And after all those worries, I have no solution except knowing that God is our hope, our faith, and our Creator. All I can do is pray that God will be with us, provide for us, and protect us. Ai
My twin brother and my older brother make much more money than I do. We all graduated from medical school at roughly the same time but they chose specialties that are more lucrative (radiology) while I chose a specialty that affords me opportunities to foster long-term relationships with patients. I’m addition to envying their material wealth sometimes, I also find myself envying their many vacations since they’re empty-nesters now while Kathy and I chose to foster/adopt Niko so we’re back in the child-rearing years all over again.
So to be honest, there are days when I openly question God’s whether obeying Him cost me a more many worldly pleasures that my brothers and other non Christian friends enjoy. But when I am tempted to doubt His good plans for me, the Counselor reminds me of the privilege of seeing my patients come to Christ, of experiencing the deep waters of the Gospel in adopting Niko because I was in Christ also adopted…and He reminds of of true, eternal pleasures through one of the verses engraved on my surfboard: “ “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Psalms 16:11
From John
Reading today’s passage, I can see the Big Lie apply consistently to my life in general. How I approach life and think independently that I can figure it out myself. Then when that happens, I feel that pressure that we were never meant to carry. It just so frustrating to br honest. I just want to give God everything and truly lean on Him and yet I don’t. Lord I pray please to help me to let go to You. To stop acting independently from You but to truly align my thoughts and actions with You and where You want me to go. Amen