Genesis 3:8-13 English Standard Version (ESV)

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

God asks Adam “where are you” and Adam does not answer the question. God asks “who told you” and Adam does not answer. So often we read scripture and do not see the obvious. We take what is said and try and make sense of it without looking to what was not said. Adam would not face God, show God his countenance.

Song of Solomon 2:14 English Standard Version (ESV) O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

If we do not let the Lord see our face there is a breakdown in relationship. Communication is more than just verbal. Our expressions are more than just mere words. When there are walls up between us, we do not hear as well and we lose all those visual cues.

Psalm 105:4 English Standard Version (ESV) Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Psalm 36:11 English Standard Version (ESV) Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

My accountability partner posed a question recently about living in a world of sinners and being able to minister to them without being influenced by them. The issue of engaging in conversations with those who have opinions that oppose the gospel is a slippery slope. On one hand we can slip on the footfall of arrogance and what others do to draw us into their sins is the other.

Psalm 36:7 English Standard Version (ESV) How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Our refuge from falling is His steadfast love. If we walk in love, His love, we can expect protection.

2 John 8-9 English Standard Version (ESV) Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

The full reward John speaks of here is bringing the lost children back to God by means of the gospel.

Psalm 127:3 English Standard Version (ESV) Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

For us, in the world of lost sinners, we must first have learned of His steadfast love, learn how to abide in that love, and to be able to walk in the world without losing contact with His abiding presence. He is always there, He is always available but He will not respond to arrogance nor in joining sinners in those moments when we are to show a better way.