MASTERING SIN
Genesis 4:2-7 New International Version (NIV)
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“Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.
4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
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 master it."
Looking at the passage, the genesis of the sin came could be traced with “not doing well”. At this junction I appreciate the phrase “do it well”. Let’s look at the steps involved in this particular sin
· Not doing your best
· Jealousy incited by work well done by others
· Failure to repent and amend
· Murder in the heart
· Murder in the physical realm
· The accompanying curse
1. Not doing your best: The bible adjures us to put in our possible effort.
All the people in the bible that God blessed and used were not lazy, they were very meticulous.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.{ Eccl 9:10}
God seldom use a lazy person, consider David, Paul, Joseph and their likes they were good in what they do.
Today, we will have several opportunities in our endeavor; let us consider putting in our best. It will definitely speak for us one day. |
2. Jealousy incited by work well done by others
Abel was jealous of Cain and it led him to commit a grievous offence.
It is normal as human being for the feelings to come when our friends and colleague are doing well, we should kill that spirit anytime it comes and don’t give it any space for you to brood upon.
3. Failure to repent and amend
Proverbs 29:1 says “He who is often reproved, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”
One effective weapon of the devil is to keep the sinner in his/her sins. God has promised never to cast anyone away when repentance comes in.
Is there any sin in your life today? Humble yourself at this moment and as for His mercy and forgiveness.
4. Murder in the heart
Here’s what Jesus said “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”
The heart is the beginning of every vice; cleanse your heart, your life becomes better. Absalom plotted Amnon’s death in his heart for two years; yet Amnon had no clue that he was a walking corpse in someone else’s mind
5. Murder in the physical realm
The physical world is simply the reflection of the spiritual world. It’s where the vice actually materializes.
The lady who bathed her rival with acid over a boyfriend had been nursing grudges in her heart with any lady who dared come close to her priced possession.
6. The accompanying curse
As sad as it might seem,
it is so unfortunate that the end result of not being able to master sin is actually the penalty of living a cursed life.
David was forgiven the sin of killing Uriah, nevertheless the curse came upon him.
it is so unfortunate that the end result of not being able to master sin is actually the penalty of living a cursed life.
David was forgiven the sin of killing Uriah, nevertheless the curse came upon him.
Conclusion:
Holding a grudge against a neighbor? Discuss it with him rather than discuss him to another. By gossiping, you not only kill your innocence but also empower the wrong. You must take charge of your heart at all times. Sanitize it with God’s words and hymns of praise. May God bless you.
Submitted by: Abiodun Kayode-Alli |
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