09 February 2012

A Choice, Part I: From the Beginning



Let's just say, for fun,
That Cain gave his produce
To God 
But not his heart.
His brother Abel
Brought the best of his livestock,
And gave God his heart as well.

Let's say that God loved them both.
Loved produce and meat, Cain and Abel.
Loved so much
He couldn't let Cain escape his rebellion.
Glossing over it with a "thanks for the produce" wasn't love.

Instead God called Cain on his condition.
He invited Cain into a relationship with Him.
(If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?)
He warned Cain of the sin waiting to destroy him.
(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 4.7

We know his choice.
How Cain chose to blame his brother for loving God
Instead of loving God himself.
Cain opened the door to that crouching sin,
Murdering the shepherd of the flocks.

Hundreds of years later
David, a murderer, adulterer, king,
Worse than Cain in his sin,
And confronted by God like Cain
Chose the other way.
Repentance.
Love of God.

He penned these words, close now to the hearts of
unknown oodles of souls.

The sacrifices of God are a
broken spirit; 
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
Psalm 51.17

Even so,
The Shepherd of the flocks 
Had to die for David's sin.
For all sin.

Staying broken,
Knowing always
My need of that Shepherd,
For only He
can keep me clean.

And praying,
As I raise these children.
Though they make bad choices, sin,
That when they hear his voice,
They will not harden their hearts.

to be continued.....