Cain was Adam and Eve's first born child. He was the first person to be born in the Bible and the first murderer.
Cain was a farmer and grew crops. When Cain and Abel presented offerings to God, he was jealous because God preferred Abel's offering so he killed him - pretty extreme, right? He was banished for his sin. He moved to the land of Nod, married, had a son, Enoch and built a city named after his son. It was Cain's attitude that was the problem. God can see past our actions to the attitudes that motivate them.When Cain and Abel brought their offerings to God Cain just brought some of the produce from his farm but Abel brought the best of his flock. When we give God our time, effort and money do we give to him first, or do we give what's left? There have been many religions and gods since Adam and Eve. Every country has their own creation stories and deities or gods - many of them worship idols and statues. But Christianity is about the one, true, living God (with a capital 'G.'
It's that time of year again to pack a shoe box for an underprivileged child. Check out the Samaritan's Purse website for drop off points. Jairus was a Jewish church leader so he was an important guy. The Jewish church leaders didn't like Jesus but Jairus begged him to heal his daughter - he was desperate. While they were on their way to his house Jesus stopped to heal another woman, one who was considered unclean. God doesn't care if you're important by worldly standards, he loves everyone. He especially loves people that the world doesn't - the poor, the sick, the sinners.
When they got the news that the girl had died Jesus told Jairus, "Don't be afraid, just believe, and she will be healed." You can not be full of fear and faith at the same time. When you are feeling afraid or anxious - give you fears to God. 1 Peter 5:7 says, Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you. CHALLENGE: What are you feeling anxious or afraid about that you need to trust God with? Holiness is the thing that makes God different to us. He is holy - set apart, sacred, sinless - but we are not. The word holy is mentioned over 600 times in the Bible so it is obviously pretty important. 1 Peter 1:15 says, Be holy in everything you do, just as God is holy. It's impossible for us to be holy in our own strength. We can only be holy through the work of the Holy Spirit in us, making us more like Jesus every day.
Jack Wellman said it well in his article, What is the Biblical definition of holiness - holiness is not the way to Jesus; Jesus is the way to holiness. We can’t get holy by our best efforts. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit to make the children of God live holy lives. Read more at What Christians want to know. |
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