READ Genesis 3

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. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.      (Genesis 3:6-7)

Then the Lord God said, “See, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— therefore the Lord God sent him away from the garden of Eden, to work the ground from which he had been taken.                                                                                                                                                                        (Genesis 3:22-23)

REFLECT

Sunshine warms the garden, and big trees make cool, shady spots in just the right places. Flowers bloom wildly. Birds sing. Bunnies scamper. This garden, with a tree right in the middle, is the place where God lives with the people he created.

But when Adam and Eve ate the fruit, God knew he couldn’t trust them to live in the garden anymore. He sent them away. Since then, people haven’t been able to live as close to God as Adam and Eve did.

The Good News is that God has been working hard so that we can live with him again. In the Bible, we get a sneak preview of the end of the story. God is building a city—with a tree right in the middle—where we will live with him again!

And there’s another tree, that God uses. That one that got chopped down and put together in the shape of a cross. When Jesus died on that tree, he closed the distance between us and God. Jesus made it so that we could return to joyful, peaceful life with God.

TALK

• What things do you do that make you feel far from God?
• Have you ever done something you felt sorry about?
• What do you look forward to about living near to God?

PRAY

Loving God, we're sorry for doing things that put a gap between us and you. Along with Adam and Eve, I’m the one who eats the fruit and does things I shouldn’t—but I’m not the one who is punished. Jesus, you took on the consequences of sin, willingly being exiled from the presence of God the Father so that we could be reunited with him. Thank you for closing that gap when you died. We're excited to live with you in the city with a tree! Amen.

BLESS & DO

Add the next picture to your tree.

Say sorry to someone that you have done something wrong to in the past.

Materials adapted from: https://www.faithward.org/jesse-tree/, http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-jesse-tree-printable-pictures.html