One Year Bible - Day 4

Today's readings are Gen 4, Ps 4, and Mt 3. I will reflect on the first reading.

I have always wondered why God accepted Abel's offering but not Cain's. Regardless it is inexcusable for Cain to have killed Abel. God warns Cain, " If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master" (vs. 7). I believe that God is speaking to me as well. Sin is a demon that desires my submission, but I must be the master. I must not give in to the many temptations that face me each day. And how must I overcome these temptations?

I cannot overcome them on my own. I need God's Grace and Love to set me free. In recent months, I have learned that it is not enough to say no to sin if I do not say yes to something else. For me, that is love. Our desire for sin exists as a result of an emptiness in our heart that can only be filled by love. In our relationship with God and in our relationship with others we come to know this love. When God rejected Cain's offering, Cain thought that God had rejected him. But this was not so. Cain closed himself off from love even for his brother. The hole in Cain's heart was easily filled with sin. Sin became his master.

We need to remember that just as important as loving others is allowing others to love us. When we close ourselves off from love, we allow sin to enter our hearts and dominate us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may I be open to receiving love today so that I can learn to love others like You.

Tomorrow's Readings: Gen 5-6:8, Ps 5, Mt 4

You Can Be Sin's Master

What can we learn from the story of Cain and Abel? It can be summed up in one verse:
"If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master" (Genesis 4:7).
I have just finished reading the story of the Fall, and a demon (the serpent) was certainly lurking at the door; however, we are called to resist all temptations. Blaming the serpent is not a sufficient excuse for God. With God, we can overcome evil; with God, we take responsibility for our sins. We can receive forgiveness if we are truly repentant. Life is a battle, but we know that Christ has overcome the world. John writes,
"If we say, 'We are without sin,' we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, 'We have not sinned,' we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" (1 John 1:8-10).

Abel's blood is a dark mark on human history, but Christ's blood saves us and gives us hope. Since God is a God of second chances, we can approach Him with confidence. We have a new year before us. Let us focus on overcoming our weaknesses. With God alone is this possible.