January 5, 2022

SIN OF THE HEART

Genesis 4:7

Did you not sin, even though you brought it rightly, but did not divide it rightly? Be still; his recourse shall be to you; and you shall rule over him.”

Personal Challenge

The story leading up to this verse is about how Cain brought a sacrifice to God from his crops while Abel brought a sacrifice from His flock of sheep. Cain's was rejected and Abel's was accepted. On the surface this sounds unfair. The understanding of what actually happened here is in the details around the story, some of which shows up later in the scriptures. What God rejected was the condition of Cain's heart. What he sacrificed was fine and acceptable but his heart was conflicted. His passions were of the world and not focused on God. How much do we as Christians do this today? We worship our God with rites and rituals, going through the actions of worship, yet we treat our neighbors with contempt or belittle them because we believe we are better than them. We nullify our worshipful actions towards God by the malice that we carry in our hearts. God cares more about our inward nature than our outward actions and words. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!