If you do well, will you not be accepted?
And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is
for you, but you should rule over it.
Genesis 4:7
We have a choice when temptation enters
our hearts and minds. We either deal with it and gain mastery over
it, or it will eventually lead us to sinful actions. There is a relationship
between the initial temptation and the chosen response---and it is a very
critical time. Much is dependent on it.
We have a great example of Cain.
He knew God was not pleased with him, but that He was pleased with Able.
Those feelings we have all experienced of jealous anger crept into Cain's
heart. Thoughts of murder filled his mind. God's word came
to him as Cain considered what to do. God gave him warning that sin
was crouching at his door looking for an opportunity to enter his life.
This was not the time to treat temptation
lightly.
This was not the time to assume sin would
never cause any harm.
This was the time to master the sin and
to renounce it before it overcame him.
Unfortunately, Cain did not master his
sin; it overtook him and destroyed his life.
Temptations come in their own time-- at
unexpected moments.
Sinful thoughts may cross your mind.
Selfish feelings may invade your heart.
The Holy Spirit will try to warn you that
God is not pleased with the direction of your thoughts and feelings, and
where they are taking you. At that moment of conviction, you must
master the sin that is crouching at the door of your life.
Sin destroys.
Sin brings death.
Sin is not something to take lightly nor
to toy with.
God's word gives the same warning to you
that he gave to Cain:
Master the sin at the door of your
life before it brings its inevitable and disastrous consequences.
Heed His caution, and you can avoid unnecessary
hardship for yourself and others.
This seems to be a very hot area right
now. It seems so many people are being hit big time with temptations
they never thought would be a problem for them or temptations they can
find justifications for not fighting. God is not a God of confusion.
When He gives us a warning, we would be foolish to ignore it!
Father, I thank you for
the reminder that we can have victory over sin and temptation. Sometimes
it is so easy to slip into it because of a feeling of defeat or depression
or insecurity. But you are so faithful to gently remind us of the
power of the cross! I pray for discernment to know exactly when temptation
is sneaking in, and the wisdom to master it immediately and not to play
around with it! Teach me the way to access your power and to not
to try to overcome on my own.
Thank you for your Son
who took our sins on Himself, so we may have a place with you in heaven.
Thank you for your promises of our victory over sin because of Him!
Oh, how I love you! Forgive me for the times I have not heeded your
warnings and have suffered the consequences of my sin. How it must
have broken your heart to know I could have avoided it all if I had only
listened to your voice. May my ears be ever tuned into what you have
to say to me. May my heart be prepared to follow your leading.
May my mind be on the alert to keep every thought captive!!
