Sin is crouching at your door

I have begun reading through the chronological bible with my wife. It is a commitment that we have made and desire to complete the entire scriptures within the year.

As we were reading the other day, we were reading the account of Cain and Able. After Cain and Able brought their sacrifices to God (Genesis 4:1-7) and God made it clear that He was not pleased with Cain's sacrifice, Cain became angry. God spoke to Cain and said to Him that sin crouched at his door, eager to control him and he needed to subdue it before it overcame him. Shortly after, Cain lured his brother into the field and killed him.

Cain had a verbal and clear warning that sin was about to overtake and subdue him. He had a clear warning that he was about to fall into sin. He ignored it. He chose to sin and allowed sin to subdue him.

This passage has stuck with me for the past two days. I cannot shake it away. When was the last time I thought about the fact that sin is crouching at my door desiring to subdue and master me? When was the last time I stopped to consider that I am one choice away from committing any sin under the sun? When was the last time that I took serious attention to this? I tend to think that I am doing okay and that sin could never catch me by surprise, that sin is not that near to me. The reality is, I am ALWAYS one choice away from sinning. This hits me hard because during this holiday season, I have not spent my daily time with God and only a week later, I feel it immensely. I feel the desire pulling at me to idolater myself to media, to my computer, to my appetite for food, to my lustful desires, to whatever will please my flesh. It has stuck me more than ever that I am not honoring God in my life. I am honoring the desires of my flesh; food, lust, pleasure, rest, entertainment, ease, comfort. It is the reason that my last several diet attempts have failed. It is reason that I find myself pulled so hard to sit at a computer and read, play, shop, catch up on blogs, watch youtube videos, and whatever else I can think of. It is the reason that I get frustrated when I am interrupted. It is the reason that I get angry when my rest and relaxing is interrupted by everyday tasks that require my attention. I am living to please the desires of my flesh instead of honoring God as ruler of my life and living to please His desires.

Romans chapter one is clear about what happens when we do not honor God in our lives. Sin and corruption abound. When I honor myself above God, I will naturally fall into sin and corruption. It is daily, moment by moment task of devoting myself to God.

Sin is always crouching at my door. It will NEVER NOT BE crouching there. It is waiting for me to lose my focus on it and then it will leap and attack. The moment I think I am fine, the moment I think I am not in danger, I am not most vulnerable. My heart goes out to men like Ray Boltz who have allowed sin to master them.

I fear; I fear being that man.

God strengthen my heart; strengthen my desire for you. Cause me to honor you as Lord of my life. Help me to find greater satisfaction in you than in my flesh. Help me to eat as unto you. Help me to think as unto you. Help me to work as unto you. Help me to rest as unto you. Help me to live, love, give, and BE unto you.