Blessing or Curse

Genesis 4 

Why is your face downcast? 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 rule over it.”

Cain and Abel both had a choice in their offering to God.  Abel brought fat from the firstborn of his flock, “his best”. Cain brought “some” fruit from his labors.  When God asks Cain this question, He is giving him a chance to repent to make it right. God warns Cain that the way he is proceeding will lead to sin because the enemy desires to trick him just like he did his mother and father. Cain, like Eve doesn’t take God at His word.

Once again God is confirming the gift of choice.  Even after we have sinned, He offers the opportunity to choose life. Here we find man again doing his own thing and expecting God to bless it. When God confronts Cain, He does so as an act of loving compassion and offers him the opportunity for a do-over.  If Cain truly desired to have fellowship with God, he would have repented on the spot and asked how to please God with his sacrifice?  Instead, he walks away intent on taking matters into his own hands. Thus, he suffers for his wrong choice.

Every choice we make brings blessing or a curse. My experience has taught me that God is compassionate and forgiving, but I always suffer physically, mentally, or emotionally for my wrong choices. The blessing is, when I repent of those choices, He often turns my wrong choices into lessons that lead to a blessing.  Even when I bear the scars of those wrong choices, He uses them for His glory. The scars are actually a sign of repentance and healing.

Thank You, Father, for offering life and blessing, forgiveness and restoration. Thank You for not giving up on me but offering hope and a second chance.  I gladly proclaim, “You are good, and Your mercy endures forever.” I will sing of the goodness and mercy of my God!!

One of my favorite oldies. Listen and give thanks for your scars.