By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Genesis 4:6-7 “Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 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.””
Abel and his brother Cain had both brought offerings to God. God accepted Abel’s animal offerings but rejected Cain’s crop offerings. This made Cain angry and led him to committing the first murder in the Bible by killing his brother. Cain became jealousy of his brother. Noting his anger, God asked him why he was angry instead of dealing with the problem. Sin was overtaking him, and he needed to take action to control it.
This happens many times when jealousy and envy controls people. Instead of ask what they did to get what happened, they see others as the problem and want to blame them. But that doesn’t solve the problem. Whenever you get upset because others are succeeding, or they were favoured and you were not, remember such things don’t just happen. It’s what you do that makes you accepted or not as God told Cain.
Our reaction to life occurrences are red flags we should watch. Don’t ignore those bouts of anger, jealousy, temper, lustful eyes, boasting, need for attention, thoughts of revenge, hatred, worldly attractions, etc. If not addressed, they lead to worse actions as it did for Cain who eventually killed his brother. It is sin crouching to take hold and master you. Paul taught that sin should not control our lives. God has given us power to overcome sin through Christ. But we have a responsibility to deal with it through that power given to us. Watch the red flags in your life!
Romans 6:12-14 “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
Shalom children of God.