Genesis 4:8, Passed Down

Passed Down

Genesis 4:8 And Cain said to his brother Abel, Let's go out into the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Let's go out into the field, he said. Seemed innocent enough. who was it that made Cain sin. Who pushed him to attack his brother and kill him. Romans 5:12 tells us that, because Adam sinned, all of mankind would be born with sin. We see this with Cain. Sin was passed down to Adam's son and the first murder takes place. He didn't have any bad friends, he didn't succumb to peer pressure. No, evil was already in his heart. It didn't take much to convince him to act. When his offering was rejected by God, he took it out on his brother. Kill him, and God will accept you was Satan's lie, and Cain believed it. Evil took action and Able was murdered.

There used to be an excuse given back in the 60's, "The Devil made me do it." Satan doesn't make you do it. It is your choice. Sure he tempts you and convinces you it's the best way... but you choose, you act. Sin is natural for man, but Christ came so we could have a new nature, one that chooses God's way instead of Satan's.

Daughters, Jesus made it possible for you not to sin. Find forgiveness for Adam's penalty through his sacrifice. Then put to death the evil deeds of the body by yielding the parts of your body to the Spirit (Ro 6) Then, you can live as God designed, honoring him in all you say and do. You will be able to master sin as God desires you to.

~Dad

Genesis 4:8, Passed Down II

Passed Down II

Genesis 4:8 And Cain said to his brother Abel, Let's go out into the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Just a quick not since I must go to work early and then to my regular job at 3....

I was thinking how Sin is passed down to our children because Adam sinned. Note that Jesus was born without sin because he was not born of Adam but of the Holy Spirit and of Mary. That is why he could live a life free from sin, making him the perfect sacrifice.

Also I want you to consider that we cannot produce Christian offspring. When they are born we cannot pass down purity through birth. But that doesn't mean we cannot pass down to our children a Christian heritage. The life you live will make a difference in their lives. Don't make them figure it out on their own, teach it to them like the Word says to... along the road, when they get up when they lie down... teach it to them all the time. A and K, as a mother you will be responsible to teach Jesus to your children. Pass down your love for Christ and show them how to live it!

~Dad

Genesis 4:6 & 7, Sin Desires You

Sin Desires You

Genesis 4:7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.

Verse 5 says that Cain was very angry that Abel's sacrifice was acceptable and his was not. God said that if he did what was right he too would be accepted. Note that, not only is our service to him acceptable when we do it right, we personally are acceptable to God and are looked on with favor. Because Cain lost God's favor, his anger began to eat at him, and he started to despise his brother. Sin was coming for him. It was crouching at his heart's door.

The Word says "Do not let the sun go down on your anger." and "In your anger, do not sin." (Eph 4:26). Why is this important? Because sin desires to have you. Satan actively seek you out. He waits for your carnal mind to be filled with desire, keeps close by, then pounces on the opportunity to convince you to sin .

Satan is real, daughters. Like a roaring lion, he prowls about (1 Pet 5:8). Never crack the door open for him to slip in. Do not give him a foothold (Eph 4:27). He will go after you just like he went after Eve. He is cunning and sneaky, hiding around the corner, waiting to trick you into believing what you are doing is justified. Remember that carnality is not evil in itself. It is a natural desire that needs to be put under the control of the Spirit, keeping it subject to him. If your natural desires are subject to your own will, you will sin. A and K, sin wants you. You must master it.

~Dad

Genesis 4:2b - 6, God's Favor

God's Favor

Genesis 4:4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering

Cain worked the fields and Abel tended the flock. To this point in time, animals were bot permitted as food. I am not sure why he tended flock, but the scriptures note that he did. Possibly, it was for sacrifices. Cain would have raised food for the family. No doubt, he had help, but he was the main  field hand for his family.

In the course of time, they each brought a sacrifice to the Lord. Hebrew 11:4 tells us that Abel brought a better offering. Growing up we were always taught that this offering was better because it was an animal offering not a fruit and vegetable offering. The interpretation is mixed today, and most do not condemn Cain for his fruit offering. We do know that Abel brought his by faith, believing that God would accept it. He was commended as a righteous man and Cain was not.

A and K, what can be plainly seen in the text is that God commends those who do right and condemns those who do not. It also shows that doing wrong brings guilt and that makes you feel down. I pray that you will chose right and will feel the smile of the Lord upon your life. I also pray that when you do wrong and feel the displeasure of the Lord that you will recognize when your face downcast and turn to the Lord for forgiveness. Seek to know what is right, then do it. Then your spirit will be lifted and your face will shine with the joy of the Lord and his favor.

~Dad

Genesis 4:1 & 2a Glory to God

Glory to God

Genesis 4:1 & 2a Adam lay with his wife Eve and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. she said, "with the help of the Lord, I have brought forth a man."

After Adam and Eve were banished from the garden never to return, they began to work the ground and started a family. After Eve gave birth, she was thankful and gave God the glory for helping them

create a son, and the second generation began. She later conceived again and gave birth to Abel and other children, both male and female. God saw to it that life would continue, since sin would take the life of Adam and Eve and all that were born to them.

Why would Eve give glory to God and what does giving glory mean? In simple terms, glory is giving credit to someone for what has been done. We are very accustomed today to take this credit ourselves. "He ran a good race," "Look how beautiful she is," "My you are smart.".. are all phrases which we have heard. But there was a time when Christians gave the credit to God. But in our egocentric society of today, we think that is foolish. "Didn't God bless her with a pleasant smile?" "God sure has given him quick feet." This sounds strange to us. We rarely, if ever, hear someone speak that way. In our pride, we take the credit or give the credit to others and leave God out of it.

Ladies, God has blessed each of you in similar but different ways. You can sing, play the piano, memorize well. Me, I can sing fairly well, so you are better than I... in those areas. God has blessed us each with abilities. Let your greatest ability be your availability!

Allow God to use you. You become a blessing when God helps you succeed. Allow him to stir your soul to use what he has given you in service to him. I am grateful for the way you do serve him. God made Adam and Eve, but he used them to create Cain. God will use you too if you yield your talents to him. And when you do, I'll give glory to God for such wonderful daughters!

~Dad

Genesis 3:22 - 24, Banished for Life

Banished for Life

Genesis 3:24 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.

Man had sinned. Adam listened to his wife and took the fruit from the forbidden tree and sin passed unto all man. He became like God, knowing good and evil, so God forbade him to take fruit from the tree of life. God would no longer allow him to reach out his hand and partake of it. He was banished forever from the tree and from the Garden of Eden. From this point forward Adam and his helper Eve would work for the food they would consume. Tirelessly, they would strive to exist and physically their bodies would wear out and die and decay back into earth from whence they came.

We are children of Adam. Our DNA can be traced to his. We are born and live, then we die and decay. Some people think that this is all there is, but it is not true. We are spiritual beings as well. Adam was banished not only physically but spiritually. If we are not clothed with the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus and his work on the cross, our souls will be banished from eternal life.

A and K, there was a paradise on earth spoiled by the sinful choice of man, yet you can have that opportunity to live in the paradise Jesus is preparing for all those who love him. They are the ones who are changed by the forgiveness of sin and who follow his commands. You have been changed. Will you love him and follow his commands, and be freed to eat from the tree of life which will be located in the paradise to come? I want to see you there. The banishment will be taken away and you will live forever.

~Dad

Genesis 3:21, Covered by the Lord, Part 2: Physical Clothes

Covered by the Lord, Part 2: Physical Clothes

Genesis 3:21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Because this covers two very important areas of life; spiritual and physical clothing, I have broken this into two parts. Adam and Eve were both spiritually and physically naked. Nakedness brought shame and fear. So they made themselves clothes out of fig leaves.

When God came in the cool of the day to meet with the ones he loved and had created. He called for them, because they were hiding. Adam replied saying they hid for they were afraid because they were naked. Seems funny, odd because they had made clothes. apparently the clothes they had made did not thoroughly cover their nakedness. In their sinful state, they lacked the physical covering that would make them presentable before their maker.

When God purified them through the sacrifice of the animal, he took the skins of the animals and clothed them. Most pictorial representations of this shows more covered than in most fig leaf pictures. What Biblical insights do we have into proper clothing? Are we given any clues into how one should dress? Although it is not specific, we do have clues into what is proper.

1 Timothy 2:9 says, "I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes." "What is modesty?" you ask. Here is a scripture from the Old Testament that I never heard used before. Maybe, it can be considered as a clue into God's idea of modesty? Exodus 28:42 tells the priests to where undergarments covering the hips to the thighs. Also in Exodus, it mentions that a robe should not be able to be seen under so the priest's nakedness would not be seen. The verse in Exodus 20:26 states to not have the altar on a platform that uses steps, because God didn't want anyone to see under the robe and see the priest's nakedness.

Enough said A and K. We know God wants you to dress with modesty and decency. Do not expose yourself as the rest of the world does. Fashion is not to dictate the clothing of the follower of Christ. Keep your private parts covered with undergarments and the rest of your nakedness with outer clothes. Deuteronomy 22:5 says that men are not to wear women's clothing, nor are you to wear men's clothing. Cross dressing is wrong, that verse says God detest it.

I pray that this review of Genesis, 1 Timothy and others from God's Word helps you in choosing what to wear. As always, it is best to err on the conservative side, never trying to push the limits of God's grace. Today's church allows way to much to be exposed. It is best to be covered for the Lord than to expose your flesh before the world. If God doesn't tell you to expose it, keep it covered.

~Dad

PS. I didn't have enough time here to discuss how immodest and indecent dress affects the senses and desires of men. Be wary of enticing them. This is very important in Christian circles. Many a follower of Christ has been tempted and sinned because there was no thought given to how they might be affected. Salvation doesn't keep one from being tempted by the flesh. Help men by dress appropriately.