Genesis 4

Day 4

Genesis 4:3-7
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—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 rule over it.”

The other day I went to Jacksonville to take my wife to get a 3D sonogram of our baby…  She's got her daddy’s nose!  After the sonogram I wanted to go get a pair of glasses form Pearl Vision because we had a 75 dollar off coupon.  After stopping in Pearl Vision I realized neither of us had remembered to bring the coupon and the store did not take my insurance…  There are strikes 1 and 2 on me!  So I remembered that Wal- Mart is across the street and they have a vision center.  We go over there and find out my prescription had expired and I had to get a new eye exam.  The only problem…  Yup, you guessed it, No optometrist working today.  It was her day off.  There is strike 3…  As I walked back to car I admit I was a little bit frustrated; okay I was mad.  I looked at my wife and I said, “I guess I have to chalk this one up as I’m having a bad luck day!”  She said, “No, you’re having a poorly planned day…”

She was right!  I had no one to blame but myself!  It was my lack of planning that had caused all this mess and wasted time.  Do you see the connection?

It was Cain’s fault!  He did NOT give God his best!  He offered God his leftovers.  If he had done what is right, he would have been accepted…  Since we are in the same boat as Cain in regards to sin, what can we do? 

There is only one answer, you must rule over the sin…  How can you do this…?  I can think of 3 ways…

1.  Admit you have a problem with the sin (lust, lying, coveting …etc)   (James 5:16)

2.  Find someone you trust who is not struggling with that same sin and hold each other accountable…  (Proverbs 27:17)

3.  Memorize scripture to combat your sin nature.  – (Romans 12:1-2) 

One doing one or two of these things will only result in temporary gains.  Using all 3 will be the most effective…  Also being involved in a small group church community of believers is a plus because as you know we were never made to do life alone!