Be careful before lobbing the phrase 'not fair' towards God. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 9 Q. But doesn’t God do us an injustice by requiring in his law what we are unable to do? A. No, God created humans with the ability to keep the law. They, however, tempted by the devil, in reckless disobedience, robbed themselves and all their descendants of these gifts. Summary Our opening verse today summarizes how the creation that God described seven times over as being good suddenly became entrenched in misery, murder and mayhem. Sin entered. One man - the man, Adam - missed the mark, and as a penalty incurred the penalty of death, just as God said it would. In that all of us trace our biological heritage to this one man, we not only inherited the sinful condition he introduced, but all we've been able to do in our own strength is to continue missing God's mark, often in increasingly vile ways. Adam was unique, not only because of his status as the first man, but also in that he represented all people. So his inability to keep God's simple command not only doomed him, but it "resulted in condemnation for all people (v18)." Dig Deeper We have a covenantal relationship with God. A covenant is a legal declaration, much like a contract. We enter into covenants all the time, both formally (an employment agreement, a mortgage, or a marriage) and informally (when you shove money into the machine and the car wash and then expect it to wash your car in return). A covenant boils down to the simple understanding that if I do this for you, you'll do that for me. God entered into a covenant with Adam, who represented all who would come after him. God gave Adam life, and in return, Adam must perfectly obey God. As long as Adam obeyed, life would continue. But Adam "broke the command (v14)," and so "judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation... [and] death reigned through that one man (v16-17)." The bad news is that you were born into the misery that Adam unleashed. Even if you somehow could perfectly keep God's law on your own (which you can't), you would still be condemned because of your representative's failure. Before you cry out 'not fair,' consider the awesome good news today's passage describes. What you need more than anything else is a new covenant representative, and that's exactly what the gospel announces. Adam was "a pattern of the one to come (v14)." All who remain in him will die, but God sent a new Adam, one born of a woman, but yet not descended from the original Adam. This new Adam, Jesus Christ, perfectly kept God's covenantal obligations, and thereby earned eternal life for all who are in Him. Know that because you belong in body and soul, in life and in death, to your faithful Savior Jesus Christ, you have a faithful and perfect representative before God. It's through "the obedience of the one man [Jesus] the many [including you] will be made righteous (v19)." AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our God and covenant Father ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for the "gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ," which has overflowed to you (v15). ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Mark 15

Your biggest problem is you were born in sin, so God's solution is for you to be re-born. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 8 Q. But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined toward all evil? A. Yes, unless we are born again, by the Spirit of God. Summary Heidelberg Q&A 8 elaborates more on our corrupt human nature and asks if we can do any good. This question gets at how severe and embedded the problem of sin is. It is not as if we need to clean up a bit, but it affects everything all the way down—from desires to thoughts to actions. But it does not leave us without hope by only answering the question, “yes.” God is not at fault for our problem of an evil and corrupt nature, but He uses His Spirit to regenerate / recreate us. John 3 illustrates this supernatural work of God and where the often used phrase “born again” originates. Nicodemus came at night because he did not want the other Pharisees of the time to see him giving respect to Jesus. He knew Jesus was speaking with power and authority, though. He thought maybe Jesus would give him a method he could use or a rule to follow, but instead, Jesus revealed that life only comes from the Spirit of God. Jesus is teaching that all humans are essentially dead and in need of new life. And much like our first birth, it is not something we can take credit for but is a work of God. Dig Deeper Do you celebrate your birthday because of something you accomplished when you took your first breath of air, or is it a way to celebrate your years of life and what you mean to friends and family? Similarly, you can celebrate your second birth through God’s gracious Spirit, not because of anything you did to make that happen, but because of the new life that God has given you, which is everlasting life. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead works in you so that you can share in that supernatural resurrected life and be made a renewed person who can enter into the kingdom of God where the “perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Cor 15:53). Our first birth is of this world and merely makes us fit for life as mortals on earth. The second birth is from above and is divine, making one ready for God’s kingdom, which is everlasting. Do not approach Jesus merely as a teacher as Nicodemus did or read the Bible only looking to acquire some new knowledge, but go to him as the King of Glory with faith in the one who has the words of eternal life (John 6:68). AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The God who gives us second birth and a new life in Christ that is everlasting and imperishable. ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for God’s Spirit to renew and transform you to walk in the good works He has prepared for you (Eph. 2:10). ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Mark 15

What’s wrong with the world today? Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 7 Q. [If God created man good,] Then where does this corrupt human nature come from? A. From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise. This fall has so poisoned our nature that we are born sinners— corrupt from conception on. Summary From Q&A 6 and Genesis 1 and 2, we learned that God is not the culprit of the corruption of human nature. Q&A 7 and Genesis 3 then direct us to the source of sin: the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve. As we consider all the ways God created things good and how humans were to know and love God, we start to understand how far sin has caused us to fall. Genesis 3 is a sharp turn from the first two chapters. The garden now has an intruder: a crafty serpent has snuck in to plant the first seeds of deception in the world. Adam and Eve took the bait and questioned God’s word and wisdom, and instead believed the serpent’s lie and willfully disobeyed. They breached their covenant relationship with God and brought the curse of sin and death into the world. In July of 2010, in a small creek not far from my hometown in Southwest Michigan, a massive oil leak was discovered spilling into this tributary that flowed into the larger Kalamazoo River from a ruptured pipeline. The pollution had already contaminated a 30-mile stretch of the river as it seeped into the nearby riverbanks and wetlands. The clean-up project was immense, including excavating portions of the contaminated creek and wetlands with new fill. One spill affected everything else downstream of it. Likewise, sin started with one source and polluted all humans born after that. Paul illustrates this in Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” No one has escaped the contamination that started in the garden. Dig Deeper Often when we think about the world’s problems, we are quick to point fingers and look for blame anywhere but our own heart. As a newspaper once asked, ‘what’s wrong with the world today?’ A famous author wrote a simple response in only a few words: ‘Dear Sir: I am. Yours, G. K. Chesterton.’ The good news is that even if we are all guilty beginning with that first transgression in the garden, Romans 5:18–19 reveals the solution, Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Be honest with the sin in your own life, the wrongs you have done to others, and the bad habits you struggle to quit. Then ask God for forgiveness and trust in Jesus Christ, who took the condemnation of those sins on the cross and gave in exchange his obedience and righteousness so that we can attain the everlasting happiness of living in peace with God. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: A holy God who speaks the truth and keeps His promises ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for forgiveness for the sins you have committed this week and for the strength to turn from them and toward God. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Mark 14

What did God make you for? Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 6 Q. Did God create people so wicked and perverse? A. No. God created them good and in his own image, that is, in true righteousness and holiness, so that they might truly know God their creator, love him with all their heart, and live with him in eternal happiness for his praise and glory. Summary In the movie Apollo 13, astronaut Jim Lovell, played by Tom Hanks, is seen gazing at the moon and moving his thumb back and forth to cover it up from view with his finger. Later he is seen doing the same thing from space, only this time with the earth in view. With some distance, something massive can even look small. Space exploration has shown how our planet is just a speck in a vast universe of many stars, planets, and solar systems way beyond our galaxy. Looking up at the stars at night is an excellent way to remember how small we are compared to an expansive universe. We may ask the same question as the Psalmist in verse 4, “what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 8 reflects on Genesis 1 and calls us to praise God for his glory revealed in His good creation of heaven and earth and how he also gave human beings an honorable place within that creation. “You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor” (Ps. 8:5). God made the universe to reveal his power and glory, but He also made human beings in His image so that they might know the Creator and love him. Psalm 8 gives us a picture of how things are supposed to be between God and man and man and creation. Human beings were made to praise and worship. We enjoy being in awe of things that are bigger than us. Whether that is in being struck by the beauty of the Northern Lights, watching a crane hoist up a windmill in a matter of minutes, or cheering on the best athletes competing in a championship game. Above all, we are to praise the God who made the great features of this earth and created the humans who rule above other earthly creatures in their own creative feats and talents. Dig Deeper Heidelberg Q&A 6 reminds us that being created in God’s image comes with a great purpose: to “know God our creator, love him with all our heart, and live with him in eternal happiness for his praise and glory.” This answer is very similar to another Reformed catechism, the Westminster Catechism’s first question and answer, which says, “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” Adam and Eve’s close communion with God in the garden of Eden and proper rule over the earth was a picture of the way humans were created to live—glorifying God and living with him in eternal happiness. When you read the Bible and pray, keep these things in mind. Time with God is not a box to check off for the day but an opportunity to grow in love and knowledge of the Almighty God of this marvelous universe. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Almighty Creator and Majestic Lord ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the focus and awe to praise God for who he is and what he has done in creation and in your life ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Mark 13

Being made in God's image is much more than skin deep. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 6 Q. Did God create people so wicked and perverse? A. No. God created them good and in his own image, that is, in true righteousness and holiness, so that they might truly know God their creator, love him with all their heart, and live with him in eternal happiness for his praise and glory. Summary “You use your hands when you talk just like your dad,” or “you have an adventurous and spontaneous side just like your mom.” Maybe you have heard phrases where others have compared similarities that you share with a parent or relative. Or when a newborn baby is born, families like to play the game of ‘which side of the family does the baby look like?’ “Oh, he is a spitting image of his dad when he was three months old.” Children often share some likeness to their parents, whether in looks or traits. Genesis 1:26–27 reveals that human beings were the pinnacle of God’s good creation because they were uniquely made in God’s image. Adam and Eve would reflect their Father in Heaven in who they were and what jobs He gave them to do in creation. The Bible tells us that God is a Spirit, so it does not mean that we look like God or that God has a body, but we do share characteristics and traits. Following God’s lead in the creation act of Genesis 1, humans were tasked to work and rest. Genesis 1:26 points explicitly to the ruling aspect over all the other creatures. We can observe the difference between humans and other creatures in many aspects. Humans inhabit all the areas of the globe, and even in less hospitable places like Antarctica, we set up stations to study the ice, animals, and climate there. We may not have any cities under the sea, but we learn SCUBA diving and build submarines to explore the ocean depths. We even build rockets to explore outer space. No other creature shares these aspirations. A Kangaroo has no thought of finding a way from Australia to Canada. Sharks are not building land machines to see what life is like beyond the shore. Humans are unique in what we make, develop technology, communicate and use language, learn other languages, work in various fields, farm, plant, raise our own food, and so on. Dig Deeper Who you are and what you do are closely related. Heidelberg Catechism 6 narrows in on a remarkable aspect in which you are made in the image of God: “in true righteousness and holiness.” The essential part of what makes you unique is sharing in God’s righteousness and holiness—doing what is right and being distinct from the rest of the world. When Paul speaks of being created in the image of God in Ephesians 4:24, he then goes on in the rest of the chapter to elaborate on what that implies. The likeness of God includes speaking in truth and grace, not being sinful in our anger, doing honest work, and forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you (4:32). Godly living reveals a godly character and will show to others that you are a child of God. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Father God, you created me in your image. ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that truth and grace may be evident in your life and that others may know you are a child of God. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Mark 12

Is the sin and evil found in our world a bug or a feature? Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 6 Q. Did God create people so wicked and perverse? A. No. God created them good and in his own image, that is, in true righteousness and holiness, so that they might truly know God their creator, love him with all their heart, and live with him in eternal happiness for his praise and glory. Summary The first section of the Heidelberg Catechism deals with the misery of humankind caused by sin. Last week’s readings reminded us that humans cannot keep God’s law perfectly and are inclined by nature to hate God and our fellow human beings. So, Q&A 6 follows up with inquiring into the source of the problem by asking, “Did God create people so wicked and perverse?” In other words, is all the sin and suffering because God made humans that way? Can we blame the world’s problems on God? The first proof answer 6 points to is the beginning of the universe and the first chapter of the Bible: Genesis 1. We read of God creating all things in heaven and earth marked out across six days. At the end of each day, there is a phrase pattern repeated seven times in Genesis 1, “And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, & 31). When God’s creation act of the universe is over, he looks it over and declares it is all—including human beings—very good (Gen. 1:31). Dig Deeper Considering the beginning state of creation, we can start to understand that sin and evil are a corruption of the good world God created. So, the wickedness we see around us and even in our own hearts is a bug that has invaded God’s good creation and is not an original feature, just as computers are made to work a certain way and help you do countless tasks, but if the computer is hacked or has a virus, it does not work the way it should anymore and is used for ill instead. Paul in the New Testament reminds us in 1 Timothy 4:4, “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” Even though you know the misery sin and evil have brought into the world too well, you can still enjoy many of the good things God created and be thankful for them. Praise God for his goodness still present in giving another sunrise today or the beauty of the trees and rolling hills under a fresh blanket of snow. Thank him for the crops, produce, and animals that are the source of your meals today and all the people who work along the process to get it to your plate. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Almighty Creator, you made everything good. ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Help me to think about whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— [may I] think about such things (Phil. 4:8) ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Mark 11

God's law is simple, but step one in salvation is confessing you can't keep it. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 5 Q. Can you live up to all this (God's Law) perfectly? A. No. I have a natural tendency to hate God and my neighbor. Summary A sinful nature is part of the human condition, as part of our inheritance of original sin from the first human, Adam. To say that we are without sin is a falsehood. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin, has granted us forgiveness, and made us a new creation; yet we are not without sin. God enables spiritual growth in the life of the believer, however none of us will reach a point of complete righteousness in this life. It is part of our condition to continually battle our fallen nature. Those who deny their sinful nature do more than fool themselves. Not only would such a claim betray the truth, but it would also suggest a belief that you were not in need of the grace of Jesus. The truth is that we have all fallen short and are in desperate need for the grace of Christ. To claim otherwise is to disregard, or at minimum misunderstand, the Gospel. Dig Deeper While Jesus calls us to love our God and our neighbor, our natural tendency is to do the exact opposite. Respect, manners, and sharing are all things that are taught to children either in the home or at school. None of us teaches a child to be selfish, hit when angry, or throw a fit when you don’t get your way; yet these behaviors are still commonplace. These tendencies are ingrained in our very being. Part of living as a Child of God is battling our fallen nature. While the Holy Spirit does empower believers to do good; the faithful remain locked in combat with our fallen nature. This battle will continue to rage on until the end of the age when our sanctification is complete. As you acknowledge your natural state of sinfulness, lean on the Holy Spirit for the strength to do what you cannot do on your own, which is to love God and love others. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Father God, you are faithful and just to forgive my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Help me to recognize and confess my own sin, and strengthen me with the Spirit to trust in the righteousness of my Savior. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Mark 10

God's expectations for you can be summarized in four short words. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 4 Q. What does God’s law require of us? A. Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew 22— Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Summary On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week we looked to Jesus’ command to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, followed by a similar command to love your neighbor as yourself. After listing these two commands in response to the question of which is the great commandment of the law, Jesus rightly proclaims that on these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. This description of the Law and the Prophets is often considered as a way to refer to the Old Testament as a whole. Simply put, anyone who loves God and their neighbor the way Jesus teaches will not be lacking in matters of the law and how to treat others. Dig Deeper As a parent I have learned the importance of rules. Growing up, your family’s rules may have seemed arbitrary, but those who've become parents (or given other sorts of authority) can see that they are formed with a purpose. In my case, the rules are there to ensure my boys don’t hurt one another or wreck the house. Much of what we have for rules at my house is focused on how we treat one another (and not getting hurt by being reckless). Much like how loving your God and loving your neighbor summarizes the law and the prophets; our household rules could be fulfilled if everyone went out of their way to treat one another well. Simply put, if everyone in your house always treated one another with the utmost love and respect; you would have little need for family rules. Rules are there to set a standard for what is acceptable; but when love is at the center of the equation, that standard will be met. The Bible is full of various commands for God’s people. While you may struggle to recall all that Jesus asks of his followers, you can go far towards living these out simply by loving God and loving your neighbor. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, whose very being defines what love is ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for sending His Son, who has perfectly kept God's laws on your behalf. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Mark 9

One of the primary ways to show your love for God is by loving others. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 4 Q. What does God’s law require of us? A. Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew 22— Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Summary Yesterday we read how Jesus responded to a question on which is a great commandment by teaching us to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Jesus follows this up with a second commandment, which he says is like the first, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” While the love of God is a central aspect of our faith, this love also extends to our fellow man. While we love God with all that we have, our call is to love our neighbor as ourselves. As it was with yesterday’s text, we find these words are also not unique to the New Testament. In fact, Jesus' words in Matthew 22:39 appear to come as a direct quote of Leviticus 19:18. This section of Leviticus deals with how God’s people are to treat one another. This expression of loving your neighbor as yourself has little to do with feelings towards your neighbor and is more so directed at how you treat your neighbor. This can be seen in the provisions found in this section of Leviticus, which include leaving fallen grapes for the poor, not stealing or withholding wages, and generally treating others well. Dig Deeper While not raised to the same regard as loving the Lord your God, the command to love your neighbor comes in what may have been Jesus’ very next breath. Just as Jesus displayed a great love for others, so must his followers. As followers of Christ, our gratitude for the grace of Jesus is displayed not only in our devotion to God, but also in our love for our fellow man. When considering what it means to love your neighbor, much of what is described in Leviticus 19 falls under the category of “don’t be a jerk." That might sound like a harsh way to phrase it, but it does fit the bill of what we find there. When you have time, read Leviticus 19:9-19 again, it essentially contains a list of what NOT to do if you are living out the command to love your neighbor as yourself. How you treat people matters. Even if you are not a “people person," it is still important to treat others well because of the importance Jesus placed on loving your neighbor. Loving your neighbor as yourself is a clear example of faith leading to action. Jesus called his followers to action: to go and do. This is what we see in this call to love your neighbor, it is the action that stems from a sincere faith. Follow the example of Jesus by treating others well, for that is what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who is the LORD, the God of all justice. ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God to help you see opportunities to tangibly love your neighbors and to give you conviction to do so. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Mark 8

God expects ALL of your love, not SOME or even MOST of it. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 4 Q. What does God’s law require of us? A. Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew 22— Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Summary You are probably familiar with “gotcha journalism”. This is where the interviewer asks questions specifically designed to lead the interviewee to make a statement that is damaging to them or their cause. While prevalent today, this is far from a new tactic. From Matthew 22 we learn that this type of question was around during the time of Jesus. This passage on the question of the great commandment in the Law comes within a series of questions meant to entrap Jesus. In their attempt to discredit Jesus’ authority as a teacher, the religious leaders brought before him questions that were designed to be unanswerable dilemmas. While those present were likely expecting a quote from one of the 10 Commandments, Jesus instead answers the question by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 “5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Jesus does make one change, saying “with all your mind” instead of “all your might." Despite the change, this passage would have been familiar to those listening for it is part of the Shema, which would have been recited every day by devout Jews. Dig Deeper Details matter. Sometimes, however, we can get so lost in the details that we miss what is right in front of us. It is like looking everywhere around the house for your phone, only to realize that it is still in your pocket. By focusing on one thing, we can lose sight of everything else. That appears to be the trap the religious leaders sprung on Jesus. They posed a question hoping he would pick one of the 10 Commandments as greatest, but instead Jesus chose to quote a different passage, citing the necessity of loving the Lord our God. Instead of picking one commandment, Jesus picks what could be considered a summary of the first 5 commandments. The Rabbinic scholars of Jesus’ day recognized the overarching importance of loving God. This necessity has not changed; your relationship with God is not an exchange of goods where you offer your devotion in exchange for salvation. The depth of God’s love for you is beyond your ability to comprehend. God loves you, that is without question. The question Jesus asks you today is, do you fully love God? AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Open your prayer today the way God's people have for thousands of years, by reciting the Shema: Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. And as for you, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for an increasing ability to keep this greatest commandment. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Mark 7