Legacy

by Ashley Hancock

At the end of Genesis chapter 3, we read about Adam & Eve receiving consequences for their own sin. Although they were experiencing difficulties for the first time, the Lord in His unfailing love chose to bless them at the beginning of chapter 4 with two sons. Unfortunately, it did not take long before sin entered the scene once more when God preferred Abel's offering over Cain's. Some scholars believe it was more of a heart issue, while others argue that Cain's offering was from the ground which was still cursed from chapter 3. Regardless of why He chose Abel's offering, we know the end result was the same. Cain became angry and rejected God's warning of the sin waiting to devour him. Instead, Cain murdered his brother and then received separation from the Lord. Although Cain was able to build a city outside of the Lord's presence, his sin continued to infect his family for generations.

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Far too often we relate more with Cain than we are willing to admit. We allow our emotions to have more control than the Lord. We do not recognize how destructive our sin can be until it is too late. The Lord wants us to respond with obedience to Him and to recognize the power sin can have on us. When we come to worship the Lord , we must be prepared, like Abel, to honor Him in the way He desires and to give the way He calls us to give.

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Questions to Ponder: How am I allowing sin to control my emotions and reactions? How would I react to the sin I struggle with the most if I knew it was going to affect my own family for generations to come?

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Prayer: Dear God, thank You for allowing me to worship You. You are the Creator of all things and deserve endless praise. Forgive me for all the times I have fallen short in bringing forth my own offerings; the times I have been distracted, disobedient, and dishonoring to you. Help me to serve and honor You better with the correct intentions. Open my own eyes to see when You warn me about sin and the destruction it can have not just in my life, but for generations to come. Give me the strength to turn away from sin and be obedient to You. In Your Son's name I pray, Amen.