What We Believe and What We Do

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.  Psalm 119:9-11

Internalizing the Word of God is a believer’s best weapon of defense to ward off the encroachment of sin. The practice of daily reading and meditating on the Scriptures, the power of the Holy Spirit to renew us in our mindset. It is said, seven days without your Bible makes one weak. So how does it all work? What does it mean to hide God’s Word in my heart? Let’s have a closer look. In the Book of Genesis, we read the account of Cain and Able: And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat (the best animal). And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And was very angry and his countenance fell. Now 3 questions God gives to Cain: Why are you angry?  Why has your countenance fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well (which means to repent), sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it (Genesis 4:3-7).

Now why is it that God accepted Abel’s sacrifice and did not accept Cain’s sacrifice? Abel’s offering was acceptable not just because it was an animal, nor just because it was the very best of what he had, nor even that it was a culmination of a zealous heart for God; but because it was in every way obediently given according to what God revealed to them. In the Book of Hebrews, we are told that by faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, so of the two brothers we find one offering up his sacrifices to God in faith, while the other was not. That’s the basic difference between two men then, and that is the difference between two men today. One has placed their faith and trust in God, the other not really believing, offers up what he thinks is good enough. Now Cain disdaining the divine instruction just brought what he wanted to bring, some of his crop. But when God pointed this out to him, rather than being repentant, and grateful for another chance, he was hostile toward God whom he took revenge on with prideful jealousy on Abel.

God reminded Abel and God reminds us, faith with obedience to His Word are required of us, it wasn’t for a personal preference between the two, or because of Cain’s vocation, God is not a respecter of person, meaning He doesn’t favor one man’s offerings over another, unless it is without faith. So God is saying, If your doing the right thing with the right attitude in serving Me, I will accept you. He’s encouraging him to the right kind of action. But if you don’t do well, then sin lies at your door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. Here is an example of the free moral agent of man. God did not design us as robots, programed to do His will, but has given us the choice in life, to follow Him by faith and receive salvation and eternal life in Him, for the forgiveness of our sins. And yet, we see here with Cain, God revealing to him that if you don’t want a second chance with Me, sin awaits you and to have dominion over you.

The Discipline of God—For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:3-11)

God is always watching us. But not as a policeman to put handcuffs on us when we do wrong, but as a loving Father so concerned with His child that He just can’t take His eyes off you. Let us not despise chastening, it is proof that God loves us. During the chastening process it isn’t pleasant. It isn’t joyous, but afterwards what great fruit it brings into our lives. The release of guilt, the load of pressure taken off our shoulders, we are not longer carrying this heavy burden of guilt or shame, the remarkable way you feel when God removes the guilt of your sin and restores you into fellowship with Him. The participation of being in the family of God with other believers who have all come in the same way. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1) God knows this is what we need. This is what He wants for us, He has taken away the punishment for sin in the death and crucifixion of His Son, Jesus Christ. Then He destroyed our greatest enemy which was death, and eternal separation from Him, by raising Jesus up from the grave the third day. This is the good news of the Gospel, that God sent His Son to die for our sins, so that we can have a place with Him in the family of God.

Beloved friend, If I will accept this as God’s correction for me because He loves me, no matter what the offense, I can be forgiven! But if I hold on to bitterness, and resentment; The choice I am making is that sin will be always lying at my door, and in this life will  always be unfulfilled desires and without true peace. But the choice is mine. Will I respond to God in faith? Or choose my own will and way without faith in God, but instead in myself. Give over every concern to the loving and sovereign hand of Lord. Only He can answer your heart’s cry from a vast wealth of His heavenly resources. Trust in Him, Lean on Him. And He will lead you into all righteousness.

May the Lord give you strength today!

Author: rontrujillo

Married 37 years We have six children. All of whom are adult. Three are married one of them blessed us with three beautiful grandchildren. Retired Firefighter @ Boeing Aircraft 37 years (Formally McDonnell Douglas) Born Again Summer of 1981 View all posts by rontrujillo