What's Crouching At Your Door?

Remember the story of the jealousy of Cain toward Abel when Abel’s sacrifice was accepted by God, but Cain’s was not? ( Genesis 4:3-4) God knew that Cain was angry. Cain was angry with Abel when he should have been angry with himself. God also knew what would happen if Cain kept that anger brewing within himself.

“(6) The LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? (7) If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, SIN IS CROUCHING AT THE DOOR. ITS DESIRE IS FOR YOU, BUT YOU MUST RULE OVER IT.’” ( Genesis 4:6-7 ESV)

As long as Cain harbored that anger within him the time was going to come when he would have opportunity to vent that anger. Before that happened, rather than allowing his anger to master him, he needed to master it! God was trying to get Cain to consider his actions and see that he was mad at the wrong person. He himself was the one who had done wrong. Unfortunately Cain did allow the sin to master him and he killed his brother.

Oh how we need to be careful of harboring anger within ourselves. It becomes like a cancer that eats at us until we are consumed and no longer in control.

No wonder Paul advised…
“(26) Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, (27) And GIVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO THE DEVIL.” ( Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV)

The New Living Translation reads, “(27) for ANGER GIVES A MIGHTY FOOTHOLD TO THE DEVIL.” If Satan is crouching with sin at your door, slam it on that foot! Don’t let him get a foothold!

May we accept responsibility for our own actions, and even when someone else may be at fault, let us be forgiving so that Satan does not gain a foothold and use that anger to the injury of ourselves or others. Master it!

Have a great day MASTERED BY GOD’S SPIRIT!
Carl
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[This focus was originally sent 06/17/1998, (Edited some and passages have been changed to ESV)]

See other teEn-MAIL on Anger