Today’s Reading, Genesis 4-7
Focal Scripture: Genesis 4:7 “If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
Being desired seems like a good problem to have, until it just becomes a problem. If you have ever had someone desire you that you were not interested in, you know exactly what I am talking about. Many years ago I went on a double date with a friend and his date. The girl I was matched up with was very nice and we had a decent time. However, she was not my type and I was not interested in seeing her again. When I dropped her off at her house, I thanked her for the evening and told her that would be our only date. She immediately began to cry and as I told her it was ok because it’s better to find out now before someone falls in love. She then told me “Maybe you weren’t in love, but I was.” Over the next few weeks her desire was for me and it got very awkward and scary.
Why do I tell you this story? In today’s reading God tells Cain that if he did what was right, his offering would be accepted. Then God tells him that sin is crouching at his door and it desires him intimately. Cain must rule over sin instead of it ruling over him. Sin wants to pursue us like a very unhealthy relationship. It wants to rule us and dominate us, even when we don’t want any part of the relationship. Sin is persistent and sin never stops. Ultimately, sin won in Cains life and it lead to his brother’s death.
What is the take away from today’s reading? Sin wants to rule us in every way possible. Sin will crouch at our door and lay in wait to spring up in our lives. Sin wants to dominate you and me. The problem is that our enemy knows what sins tempt us and offers us opportunities to follow through. What are we to do in such situations? We must know our weaknesses and what could cause us problems in our lives.
Our enemy has been watching humans for years and he knows how to tempt us to ruin our lives. Our temptations come in the form of pride, lust of the eyes, or the lust of the flesh. He comes after our ego and tempts us to rebel against God. Cain rebelled against God by not offering a proper sacrifice. He wanted to do things his own way. He was prideful in his attitude. Sin controlled him completely.
Know this truth, sin wants to destroy you, right now. If you are a believer you are free from the penalty of sin but you are not free from the presence of sin. Satan wants to ruin your witness and he does that by tempting in you to sin in major ways. The only way to combat this problem is to submit to the Lord. Do what is right and follow the teachings of God.
Fight sin and know how it operates in your life. Expect to be pursued by it in your life. Do what is right consistently.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Genesis 8-11
