Downward Spiral of Sin, But Hope Glimmers!
Reading: Genesis 4
My Verse: "The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you but you must rule over it" (4:6,7).
And so the downward spiral of sin begins and deepens. You, LORD God begin your pleading with us to "rule over it." Sin has become a constant in the lives of mankind. All of life, every aspect of life becomes a struggle. Sin is ever "crouching at the door."
This is so graphic - "Its desire is for you. . ." Sin is portrayed as an active live creature. In the New Testament Peter likens the devil to a roaring lion. "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" I Peter 5:8). Spiritual warfare is so very real. You told Cain here that he needed to "do well." If he did well then he would "be accepted." It was Cain's choice, with Your help he could conquer sin and be victorious.
He chose not to turn to You. He allowed his anger to rule over him - he allowed sin to have its sway in his life, and his life continued that downward spiral. Yet, You still show compassion to him. Even though You made him a wanderer, You placed a mark on him to protect him from others. "the LORD put a mark on Cain." Did that mean there was still hope for him? It does not seem that his family or descendents were followers of You. Lamech, his descendent was even more rebellious. He continued that downward spiral of lawless living - living without Your perfect law, sure testimony, right precepts, pure commandments, clean fear, and true rules! (Psalm 19)
Oh, LORD God, thank You for the hope here - faint though it may seem. You show here that we do have a choice. As You told Cain. "If you do well, will you not be accepted?" And You told him that He could rule over sin - "you must rule over it." Thank You for this hope.
Oh, LORD, You are ever there, just waiting to catch us up into Your arms - to love on us as only You can! Yes, we do live in the midst of spiritual warfare which is very real and tumultous but we have the victory in You! We must unlike Cain, cry out to You for our help.
"And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, LORD, I believe; help thou mine unbelief" (Mark (:24).
"Help me, O LORD my God; O save me according to Thy mercy" (Psalm 109:26).
"Our soul waiteth for the LORD; He is our Help and our Shield" (Psalm 33;20).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: Genesis 4
My Verse: "The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you but you must rule over it" (4:6,7).
And so the downward spiral of sin begins and deepens. You, LORD God begin your pleading with us to "rule over it." Sin has become a constant in the lives of mankind. All of life, every aspect of life becomes a struggle. Sin is ever "crouching at the door."
This is so graphic - "Its desire is for you. . ." Sin is portrayed as an active live creature. In the New Testament Peter likens the devil to a roaring lion. "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" I Peter 5:8). Spiritual warfare is so very real. You told Cain here that he needed to "do well." If he did well then he would "be accepted." It was Cain's choice, with Your help he could conquer sin and be victorious.
He chose not to turn to You. He allowed his anger to rule over him - he allowed sin to have its sway in his life, and his life continued that downward spiral. Yet, You still show compassion to him. Even though You made him a wanderer, You placed a mark on him to protect him from others. "the LORD put a mark on Cain." Did that mean there was still hope for him? It does not seem that his family or descendents were followers of You. Lamech, his descendent was even more rebellious. He continued that downward spiral of lawless living - living without Your perfect law, sure testimony, right precepts, pure commandments, clean fear, and true rules! (Psalm 19)
Oh, LORD God, thank You for the hope here - faint though it may seem. You show here that we do have a choice. As You told Cain. "If you do well, will you not be accepted?" And You told him that He could rule over sin - "you must rule over it." Thank You for this hope.
Oh, LORD, You are ever there, just waiting to catch us up into Your arms - to love on us as only You can! Yes, we do live in the midst of spiritual warfare which is very real and tumultous but we have the victory in You! We must unlike Cain, cry out to You for our help.
"And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, LORD, I believe; help thou mine unbelief" (Mark (:24).
"Help me, O LORD my God; O save me according to Thy mercy" (Psalm 109:26).
"Our soul waiteth for the LORD; He is our Help and our Shield" (Psalm 33;20).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
No comments:
Post a Comment