Are you doing good or doing what is right? Are you something or doing what is right? Are you doing the minimum or doing what is right? God’s desire is that we do what is right. The devil doesn’t want us to experience the fullness of God’s blessings. The devil wants to rob, steal, and destroy where as Jesus came that we could have life and life more abundantly.
We see in the story of Cain and Abel how the devil is trying to create a gap between us and God. We see in the story of Cain and Abel how there is a difference between giving to God from your excess compared to giving your best. We see how in the story of Cain and Abel how God even provides warnings to try and help Cain get back on track and avoid the pitfalls of sin.
Using the scripture from the MSG version, we see:
‘Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn’t get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk. Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn’t get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk. Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn’t get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk. ‘
Genesis 4:3-5
Let’s be the dads who choose to do right in God’s eyes, even when it is hard! Let’s be the dads who choose to stick close to God, even when it is difficult! Let’s be the dads who choose to leave a legacy of hope and love and joy rather than one of sin and disgrace! Let’s be the dads who offer God our best so that we don’t allow the devil to put a sinful root into our hearts! Let’s be the dads who take every thought captive so that we don’t allow thoughts that will bring guilt, shame, and regret to rule over our lives!
Let’s be the dads who will stand up and take a stand as Noah did in a world where people are choosing to live their lives against the will of God!
Let’s be the dads who when God is looking for someone to stand in the gap finds us volunteering!
‘“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord , have spoken!”’
Ezekiel 22:30-31
Let’s be the dads who will humble ourselves and pray:
‘Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. ‘
2 Chronicles 7:14
Let’s be the dads who will be faithful and respond to God’s calling on our lives!
Let’s be the dads who are God-focused and God-centered so that we know the reality of the cross is that it is the very power of God to give us life and salvation! Let’s be the dads who are so God-focused that we don’t get drawn into the ways of the world and find ourselves lost, foolish, and set up for destruction! Let’s be the dads who realize who Jesus is and why God sent His one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life! Let’s be the dads who receive and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior so that God’s strength is revealed in our weakness and so that we aren’t led deeper into sin by being slaves to impurity and lawlessness! Let’s be the dads who choose to become slaves to righteous living so that we will become holy! Let’s be the dads who realize how living apart from God and against His will causes us to be slaves to sin, free from the obligation to do right, and cause us to feel ashamed of the things we used to do, things that end in eternal doom! Let’s be the dads who are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God so that we do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life! For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Let’s be the dads who know that God will never fail us and never abandon us! Let’s be the dads who are God-focused and fully trusting in Him because He is our helper and so we don’t need to live with fear! Let’s be the dads who stand firmly on God’s Word, being God-centered so that we don’t have to worry because if God is for us who can be against us? Let’s be the dads who are living as the new creations we have become through Jesus! Let’s be the dads who are living in the power of the reconciliation of God through Jesus and choosing to live as ambassadors of reconciliation to the world around us!
Are you ready to be the dads God created and purposed for you to be? It requires that you turn from the tricks and traps of the devil and walk into a life that is God-centered! Are you ready to be the dads who extend this ambassadorship of reconciliation to your wife, your kids, and your world?
Let’s be the dads who choose to live in the truth that gives us freedom from God and live God-centered rather than being self-centered and allowing ourselves to be fooled by the devil and finding ourselves living ashamed of our decisions and actions.
