Choices and Consequences 选择与后果
Dexu Xia
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food . . . she took some and ate it. Genesis 3:6
Today's Scripture Genesis 3:1-7
Today's Insights In the creation account, Adam and Eve were the only creatures privileged to be created “in [God’s] own image” (Genesis 1:27) and given His own “breath of life” (2:7). They were also given the freedom to choose how they’d live (vv. 16-17). Adam and Eve made their decision and brought sin and death into the world (3:1-7).
When God chose the Israelites to be His covenant people, they were also given a choice of whether to obey Him (Deuteronomy 11:26-28; 30:15-20). The choices they made would result in radically different outcomes—“life and prosperity, death and destruction” (30:15). Moses encouraged them to make the right choice: “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life” (v. 19). Jesus offers us the choice between the narrow road “that leads to life” and the broad road “that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Today's Devotional In 1890, amateur ornithologist Eugene Schieffelin decided to release sixty European starlings into New York City’s Central Park. While there were likely several introductions of the species, Schieffelin’s released starlings resulted in the first successful, documented nesting. Now there are roughly eighty-five million of the birds flapping across the continent. Unfortunately, starlings are invasive, pushing out native bird populations, spreading disease to cattle, and causing an estimated $800 million annually in damage. Schieffelin couldn’t have imagined the damage his choice would cause.
Choices can have massive consequences. Though warned, Adam and Eve couldn’t have envisioned the disastrous ramifications of their choice on all creation. God had told them they were “free to eat from any tree in the garden” (Genesis 2:16), save one, the tree in “the middle of the garden” (3:3). But deceived by that wily serpent, “[Eve] took some and ate it” (v. 6). Then Adam followed, also choosing to eat the fruit God forbade. So much destruction, heartbreak, and ruin because of one choice.
Every time we ignore God’s wisdom and choose another path, we invite calamity. It may seem that our choice is insignificant or only affects us; however, our narrow understanding or fleeting desires can easily lead us into a world of trouble. Choosing God’s way, though, leads us to life and flourishing.
Reflect & Pray What choice has proved disastrous for you? How can you make wiser decisions?
Dear God, please help me make wise decisions. By Winn Collier
“女人见那棵树的果子好作食物……就摘下来吃了。”（创世记 3章6 节）
今日经文：创世记 3章1-7 节
今日洞见：在创世记中，亚当和夏娃是唯一有幸“照着[上帝]自己的形象”被造（创世记 1:27），并被赋予上帝“生命的气息”（创世记 2:7）的受造物。他们也被赋予选择如何生活的自由（创世记 16-17 节）。亚当和夏娃做出了他们的选择，并将罪和死亡带入了世界（3:1-7）。
当上帝拣选以色列人作为祂的约民时，他们也被赋予了是否顺服祂的选择（申命记 11:26-28；30:15-20）。他们的选择将导致截然不同的结果——“生与昌盛，死与灭亡”（申命记 30:15）。摩西鼓励他们做出正确的选择：“我将生死、祸福陈明在你们面前，你们应当拣选生命”（19节）。耶稣让我们在“引到永生”的窄路和“引到灭亡”的宽路之间做出选择（马太福音7:13-14）。
今日灵修 1890年，业余鸟类学家尤金·希弗林决定将60只欧洲椋鸟放归纽约市中央公园。虽然该物种可能曾被多次引入，但希弗林放归的椋鸟首次成功筑巢，并有记录可查。如今，大约有8500万只椋鸟翱翔于整个美洲大陆。不幸的是，椋鸟具有侵略性，它们会挤占本地鸟类种群，将疾病传播给牲畜，每年造成约8亿美元的损失。希弗林当时无法想象他的选择会造成如此巨大的损失。
选择可能会带来巨大的后果。尽管亚当和夏娃已蒙受警告，他们却无法预见他们的选择会给所有受造物带来灾难性的后果。上帝曾告诉他们“园中各样树上的果子，可以随意吃”（创世记 2:16），除了“园子中间”的那棵树（创世记 3:3）。但被那狡猾的蛇欺骗，“夏娃摘下果子来吃了”（创世记 6 节）。亚当也跟着吃了上帝禁止吃的果子。一个选择带来了如此多的毁灭、心碎和毁灭。
每当我们忽视上帝的智慧，选择另一条道路时，我们就会自食其果。我们的选择可能看似微不足道，或者只影响我们自己；然而，我们狭隘的理解或一时兴起的欲望很容易将我们带入一个充满苦难的世界。然而，选择上帝的道路，会引领我们走向生命和繁荣。
反思与祷告 你曾作出怎样的选择，事后证明对你来说是灾难性的？你如何才能做出更明智的决定？
亲爱的上帝，请帮助我做出明智的决定。
作者：温·科利尔