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Genesis 4:3-7

In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry and his face fell. 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." 




This is the first time in Scripture after the Fall that the Lord commands man to rule over his sin and avoid it.    I thought that this fact was neat after coming across this passage during my quiet time this morning.  This passage stuck with me throughout the day, and I soon realized that in it, God is not only speaking to Cain, but also to me...

It had been much, much longer than I care to admit since I have had a quiet time.  I was frustrated, stressed, and... well maybe even angry.  This fellow's blog entry seems to capture the emotion quite well, actually.  I felt that my continual attempts of growing and maturing in a deep relationship with God was becoming more stressful and frustrating than joyful and reviving.  One might even say that I had become angry.

After reading the above passage - especially the bolded part - I began to be set free from this discouraging state, and began looking forward to continuing in abiding in Him with a renewed vigor.

I was further encouraged by the wording in this passage.  "If you do well, will you not be accepted?"  God does not say, "You have been accepted, therefore you will do well."  Rather, in this particular passage, it seems that God gives to Cain, and to us, the freedom to choose to rule over sin and do well, and in the end, be accepted for it.  Instead, Cain allowed his sin to rule over him, and he committed the first murder history.


Proverbs 23:17-18
Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Psalm 42:11
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.


Every day I have the choice to abide in the Lord. Every day I have the choice to rule over my sin, to do well, and to be accepted by my God and Savior.  Every day I am tempted by sinful desires and emotions that tell me I will be happier and filled with more joy serving my own self.  Sometimes I fail and succumb to these lies, and I feel unable to partake in the joy of serving my God.  Sometimes this lasts for a while.  But when it does, the two verses above encourage me to continue even when I feel that I cannot find the will to want to.  And after being reminded again this morning by God's words to Cain, I cannot help but be drawn in, once again, to my God and King.