Genesis 4:7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
God's words to Cain. This is after Cain and Abel each presented offerings to God. God was very pleased with Abel's offering and less so with Cain's. God tells Cain,"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
God says this before Cain killed his brother, Abel. God was talking about the offering but perhaps also about what God knew was coming. God told Cain to do what is right, that sin is crouching at your door, that sin wants him and that Cain must rule over sin. God is warning Cain to beware. To be aware of anger and his jealousy and his penchant for giving enough, but never his best. God warns Cain, then Cain kills Abel.
How often do we do the exact same thing? We read what we should do and what we shouldn't do. We discuss it. We (pretend to) prepare for it. We plan and determine to listen, then we let sin rule over us anyway. We gossip. We lie. We steal - but only a little. Make copies with the company's copier. Steal personal time during working hours. Stretch the truth to make ourselves look better. We spread stories under the guise of concern. We offer condolences or congratulations as though we really mean it.
Oh, don't get me wrong. We also refrain from gossip, give back too much change given, work through lunch or break, and are really concerned and compassionate. But there are times, or maybe only one time, that we are just like Cain. We let sin, crouching at the door, rule over us.
Fortunately for us, we have something that Cain didn't have. Jesus. With Jesus we have more ammunition against the sin crouching at our door. With the help of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we are more able to rule over sin. We still fall short. We still crumble but we can get help if we heed the warning that God gave to Cain. We must rule over it.
With Jesus' help, let it be so. Amen.
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