“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every form of malice” - Ephesians 4:31 (NIV)
The sin of Cain and Abel which happened millenniums ago unfortunately still lives with us. Cain was bitter that his brothers offering were more acceptable to the Lord. Rather than deal with the problem he took to the easy escape of hating his brother. Consumed with envy he ultimately stabbed his brother to death. What followed is telling. Cain was banished into the wilderness.
Envy and bitterness are cancers we should all be wary of! There are always many trappings that could lead us into that poisonous spirit of bitterness and envy. It could be because someone has a better piece of property or maybe a more grandiose job. Some people the fact one has an apparently more beautiful spouse is enough to get them going.
The fact of the matter is there is never shortage of things to be envious of. Someone out there will always seem to be better off at something. But while what others have we can’t control there is something we can control. Bitterness and envy. And when we do so we are free of that cancer that can come to take away all of our joy and bring ruin to us, just as was for Cain!
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray that I never allow the cancer of bitterness and envy to take hold of my life.
Related upcoming events
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20/04/2024 - 21/04/2024 All day“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Cor 16:13)
Tourists who happen to visit Bukingham palace will be expected to notice the King’s royal guards. Dressed in colorful often red uniforms and adorning tall black helmets they stand on guard and no one dare cross them. Elsewhere in life we find guards in all manner of places quite firm on deterring any intruder wherever they may be.
For us Believers being on constant guard is a calling we must permanently observe. And why? Once in the course of his work, “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Mathew 16:23). Peter had just protested that he would not deny Jesus only to be sported out!
There is something for us to note here. Satan had penetrated the ranks of Jesus and was going through his closest disciple. It is clear that Peter was not even aware that he was being used. Anyway, he found his target, Jesus, was on guard. Immediately Satan was sent packing.
No Believer is immune to attacks from Satan. After all when once the Lord asked Satan his whereabouts: “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it” (Job 1:7). Clearly the guy is out there 24/7 looking for whom to devour. “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as you have warned us to be on “guard” help me ever to be on the watch out for the attacks of the enemy and with your word rebuke Satan, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
