Good day family and friends, the Word of the Lord today is:
Gen 4:9- Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
One of the most profound stories in the Bible is that of Cain and Abel. Two brothers born to Adam and Eve. Many of us know the story. As they came to present an offering to the LORD, Abel’s offering was accepted, and Cain’s was rejected. As a result Cain was upset with God and his brother, and eventually he killed his brother Abel. Let’s read!
Gen 4:4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering,
Gen 4:5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
Gen 4:6 So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
Gen 4:8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
Gen 4:9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
There is a lot in this story, but the one thing we find in the scriptures is that God desires for us to serve and worship him in a certain way. And when we don’t do it in the way he desires, he gives us the opportunity through his grace and kindness to get it right. Isn’t it wonderful that God loves us so much that he does not want us to fail. But we must accept his way of correction and submit to it!
But we find that Cain was very angry with his brother Abel because God accepted Abel’s offering, and rejected Cain’s! As a result he killed Abel! The Bible says in verse 8 that he talked with his brother, and then when it came to pass in the field, he rose up and killed him.
Notice they had a conversation and it got ugly. Isn’t that the same today. People on both sides of an agenda often talk, sometimes yelling and screaming with anger, bitterness, resentment and even jealousy, which could lead to violence and death. We must reject this spirit of anger, resentment and jealousy!
Because as we see in the scripture, it leads to violence and judgment by the LORD. We see this division not only in the world, but in religion as well. Its amazing that people are at an all time high in division, disagreement, and disunity!
The Bible says in Psa 133:1, “A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! ” Unity is a powerful doctrine. I wrote a book on this which is very profound! How Good and How Pleasant it is: The importance and Power of Unity – Wisdom for Life Devotional (jamalquinn.com)
The sad thing about this story is that Cain killed his brother and the LORD asked him in verse 9, “Where is your brother?” Cain’s response was, ” I know not, or I don’t know: Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Not only did he commit murder, but then he lied as well. Cain made a statement in which he said, “Am I my brothers keeper?” The answer to that questions is, “Yes, you are your brothers keeper!” and guess what, it is the same for females. Yes, you are your sisters keeper! Don’t ever forget that!
How many of us know that we must look out for one another as brothers, sisters and even friends! Peter once asked Jesus a very good question:
Mar 10:28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
Mar 10:29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,
Mar 10:30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.
Notice that when you come to Christ, you lose nothing. You only gain more! Notice in verse 30, Jesus says you will receive a hundredfold in this time, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands with persecutions, now and in the age to come eternal life.
So we see that having physical relationships and spiritual relationships are very important! Don’t take either one lightly! Friendships are important as well! Look at what the Bible says!
Pro 17:17- A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Pro 18:24 – A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
Today we see that the love of many has grown cold. Don’t let your personal feelings and emotions hinder your relationships with your brothers, sisters and friends. Because if love is the greatest commandment, and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. We may stand before the LORD as a result of a lack of love for brothers and sisters in Christ.
Mat 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, you shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
We do understand that we cannot embrace everyone and all relationships. This is a fact of life. When I refer to friends, I mean those that are true friends. Not fake or fickle friends, but friends that stick closer than a brother or sister!
Sometimes we even have to love others from a distance, if it enables us to have a peace of mind. But let us never have the spirit of Cain toward one another! It only leads to sin, and sin leads to judgement if we do not control it. Read what the LORD said in Gen 4:7:
Gen 4:7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
Brothers and Sisters, remember that you are your brothers keeper! Don’t allow pride, hate and division to hinder your relationships. Look out for one another, pray for one another, encourage one another, and above all, remember that you are your brother and sisters keeper!
God Bless, Pastor Quinn