Shema – Heed to God’s Voice
In the recount of Cain and Able in Genesis 4 after they both bring a sacrifice to God and only one’s sacrifice is accepted, the countenance of Cain is angry and fallen. God asks him why, and warns him that if he does well he will be accepted but if he does not do well sin lies at his door and it’s (sin’s) desire is for him but he should rule over it.
God comes to Cain and warns him that he should be mindful as his soul is in danger. Cain does not heed to God’s warning and chooses that anger guides his actions and then kills his brother. His punishment is to be a vagabond on the earth ( someone who dwells aimlessly without purpose) being cast from the presence of God.
God’s desire is for us to hear Him, to heed to His warnings so that we may do well and be accepted. He desires to be our everyday God who can walk with us and guide us through life’s difficulties into a life of abundant victory.
Lord, be my everyday God. Life is full of choices and opportunities. But all of them do not lead to life. Some of these choices and opportunities lead to death, maybe not a physical death, but certainly a death to your spirit. The only way I know how to choose life continually is if I make these choices based on my closeness to You. If I am in Your presence I can heed Your warnings. If I live my life with my ear close to Your heart I can do things from Your perspective instead of doing things and making choices from my own fleshly failed emotional state. For so long, Father, we as Your Bride have loved You with our lips. So long, we have purposed to life only a partially dedicated life. Help us Lord to be a people who will head to Your warnings because we know Your voice. Let us see the sin lurking at our doors because our eyes are following Your gaze. Let us be a true Bride, one that refuses to leave the side of her Bridegroom.