Advent Journey: December 7th

© Michael Livesay-Wright

Questions and Reflections

QUESTION: Do you often choose to disobey? What's an example of a situation when you recently chose to argue and fight rather than to obey and be kind?

Maybe you wouldn't do what Cain did, but every day each of us has the freedom to choose. We choose whether to have a good attitude or a bad attitude. We choose whether to complain or be joyful. We choose whether to obey or disobey. Often we tend towards the same kind of sins over and over again. Where are you tempted? Gossip? Complaining? Selfishness or greed? We all are born in to the same sin family that Cain and Abel were born into. I know this is sad. All of us are tempted to sin. We're tempted to be jealous like Cain. But we are not without hope. God is still protecting His children. Even Cain, after killing his own brother was still cared for by God. But it is important that we recognize in ourselves that same tendency towards sin and disobedience that was in Adam and Eve and their son Cain.

QUESTION: What should you do when you feel tempted to choose sin?

This isn't directly addressed in today's reading, but God talks to Cain before Cain commits his terrible sin. God says to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? ... if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it" (Genesis 4:6-7). I think we would all do well to think about this whenever we feel tempted. Sin is practically always crouched at the door ready to pounce. And the desire of sin is not for our good. In fact, it's the opposite. The results of sin are isolation, death, hurt, anger, and more sin. The results are never what the temptation promises. The next time you feel drawn into temptation, ask yourself why? And ask yourself what you are believing about God and what you are believing about the false promises made by this sin. I know I need to do this!

QUESTION: Do you think God's plan was messed up by Cain's horrible choice?

Of course not! But the answer is still complicated. Because, of course, the death of Abel was a tragedy and something that grieved the heart of God. It was the first time one of God's precious image bearers purposefully harmed another of God's precious image bearers. I can't even imagine how that felt to the heart of God. But as our new "chorus" reminds us, "No matter what wrongs His children will do, He has a plan, GOD IS COMING for you!" There is no wrong God's children can do that will mess up God's great and marvelous plan to save His children. He still hates sin and is deeply grieved when we choose the way of sin and death. But it doesn't stop Him. God is at work and one day every wrong will be made right and every one of us who is enslaved to sin (and that's all of us) will be set free!