Second Chances

I am still journeying through Genesis. Taking my time and focusing on every word of every story.

I just finished reading the story of Cain and Abel.

It has me pondering competition between siblings. My sister was four years older than me. She was a very good athlete. From a young age she excelled at every sport she was involved in. As the younger sister I decided early on that I didn't want to compete with her success. I chose to go in a different direction.

While she won medals in gymnastics, I chose to sing. While she won races in cross-country, I chose to cheer for the football team.

One thing we both did was run. She was out of high school before I entered. I was slow to gain success, but in the end we were both successful.

In Genesis 4, Cain and Abel took two different roads. Cain working the land and Abel keeping the flocks. They both had equal opportunity to find favor in God's eyes in the paths that they were on.

Abel offered the best he had to God. Cain did not. God found favor in Abel and his offering. God gave Cain a second chance.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Genesis 4:6-7

God gave Cain a second chance to find favor in His eyes. Instead Cain chose to sin and he took Abel's life.

I am so thankful that I worship a God of second chances. A God that looks at me and tells me I have a chance to do what is right. I know that at every corner sin is waiting. But I also know that I can overcome it. However, I cannot master it on my own, I can only master it with His help.

There are times that I don't master sin and it starts to win in my life. I fall down, but God is right there to pick me up and offer me a second chance.