Genesis 3:1-4:26
Matthew 2:13-3:6
Psalm 2:1-12
Proverbs 1:7-9
Genesis 3:4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
Today we read about the fall. The beginning of humanities separation from God. Starting with a desire to be like God. That was how Satan and his followers fell as well. A desire to be equal with God. He used what he knew would be a great temptation and made it sound so appealing. The beauty of the fruit and what they thought it offered them was all that it took for them to want to step away from God. Which began a path of increased separation in the hearts and minds of all of humanity.
Genesis 4:6 “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
Cain gave an offering to God but it wasn't because his heart wanted to praise and thank God for his harvest. It wasn't with an acknowledgement of the greatness of God and all He has done and provided for him. It was a perfunctory offering because he only wanted to do the minimum he had to for God. And he wanted to keep the best for himself. He had a heart to serve himself and thought that he was the one who owned and earned his harvest. As opposed to Able who gave God the best that he had. He knew in his heart the greatness of God and was thankful for His provision. He knew that all things come from God and his actions held witness to that. When God who knew their hearts didn't accept Cain's offering he became angry. How many times have you heard someone say "it's not my fault that..." when it clearly is their fault. In Cain that is what I see. An intitled person who wants the credit for anything good in his life and feels no responsibility for anything negative in their life. God calls Cain on it and tells him that it is his choice to do what is right and when he doesn't it is sin.
Psalm 2:3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”
4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.
This is just like Cain believing the lie that God's instruction to do what is right is God trying to assert His power and control. Humanity whose heart is not surrendered to God will see God as a slave driver and claim to be held captive because they can't keep what they think is best for themselves. If they follow God's law they can't live the lives that their desires would have them live so they feel like they are slaves to God. But God clearly told Cain and through him all of humanity, that when they do not have a heart for God and do what is right and pleasing to Him then they are slaves, but they are slaves to their sin. "Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” This is still the greatest lie that the devil uses to keep people from seeing and receiving the greatest gift that they could ever receive. God offers us total freedom from the slavery of sin through His Son Jesus Christ. But to be able to break those chains we must first stop blaming others for our brokenness and see the truth of our sin.
Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.
John the Baptist job was to share that message. It was the first step in preparing the Jews for Jesus. They needed to recognize that they are not just sinners but sinners who cannot save themselves. They had to recognize that their sin has a power over them that on their own they will forever be enslaved to it. Blaming others for your sin, justifying your sin, thinking that a few words of apology can make up for your sin are all lies that will keep a person separated from God. In order for someone to be able to receive Jesus as savior a person must first recognize that they need a savior.
Matthew 3:5 People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. 6 And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
John did just that. He helped the people to recognize their need to be forgiven. He then baptized them. Now there is a lot of meaning behind baptizing Jews that I am not going to get into. You can look into it on your own if you like or if you want to know more leave a question in the comments. But what I am thinking about here is that baptism was ceremonial. It was a formal marking of a spiritual landmark. I am thinking about this in terms of evangelism. The king of this world, Satan, tells people that they don't need God and that they should be able to enjoy life and be happy and God will just put rules and limits on them that will keep them from being able to live their best life. He says that you don't have to worry about others just yourself and there is nothing wrong with anything you want to do if it makes you happy. So, the lost not only think that God is just a slave driver trying to control them they don't see their own sin as being wrong. They usually justify their life by believing they are whatever they consider to be "a good person" and don't even think about their sin as being what separates them from God and the Peace that He offers. So for those who are living a life founded on these lies the first step in preparing them to hear about Jesus is to help them to realize that they need a savior. Which I know that we can't do that on our own. We must start with prayer and surrender to God ourselves. When given an opportunity to talk to someone who does not know Christ be in continuous prayer for discernment and direction ask God to open their hearts and minds to the truth of their sin and their need for a savior. And if they only get that far it's okay it's a big step and it should be marked in some way. Even if they are not ready to give their life to Christ mark that spiritual milestone maybe with a prayer that you help them to pray or you pray for them. Maybe you give them a gift of a bible or a book that you put a personal note and date into. But whatever it is celebrate that first step where God used you like John to prepare the way for the Lord.
Break Every Chain - https://youtu.be/0XwbVCI_mkw?si=Tl8epETdTSUDpOHB
"Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”.
I feel this way about worry, anxiousness, etc. Crouching at the door…subduing it requires laying it at God’s feet and trusting Him. Simple, but not really. His timing…not ours. So hard sometimes.