This post is Day 4 in a series of studies about “Doors & Gates”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

Doors & Gates – Day 4

Since Eve gave authority over her life to the serpent, sin has been crouching at our door. The devil has never played fair. He still does not. But God said to Cain, Jesus said to His disciples, and He says to us today: You have the authority, use it!

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 rule over it.

The Thought

This is the first mention of a door in the Bible, obviously it was not a real door, but a proverbial one suggesting an entry point into life, in this case the life of Cain who had just killed his brother. How tragic that when only two brothers lived on the earth, one killed the other!

Since Eve gave authority over her life (and her subsequent offspring) to the serpent, sin has been crouching at everyone’s door. The devil has never played fair and he still doesn’t. But as God said to Cain, and as Jesus said to His disciples, so He says to us today “You have the authority, use it!”

Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. (Matthew 10:1)

Sin in the verse for today is visualised as an impure spirit waiting to devour those who give it access. Cain must have heard the story of life’s beginnings and how his mother gave in to the serpent’s temptations, how sad it was that he didn’t recognise demonic interference in his life. The notable difference in Cain and Abel’s offerings is what caused the problem. We read that Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock but Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil. It is as though Cain didn’t give enough honour to the Lord, almost as though it was an after-thought.

Action

Spend some time today thinking about the fact that The Lord knows the thoughts of our hearts and He sees our attitudes.

Ask forgiveness for when you have not given as much as you should have and pray for His help in your offerings this year.