God Cares About What We Do

"So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 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." -Genesis 4:7

Sometimes the only way I can explain a truth is to talk about things that happen to me. In December, as I was praying, God showed me something. Nothing bad but a warning. The warning was for my son, Justin. I went to him, and told him what God showed me. My children know. They have front row seats. They know when I go to them with a warning from God, I’m not going to back down. They know God never gives me a word that has not (or will not) happen. The mercy of God amazes me. His loving kindness waits for the minds and hearts of people to change. The love of God humbles me.

God had already warned me how Justin was going to react and what he would say. In addition, God told me how to react towards his rejection of the warning. What I was to say, what I was not to say. My attitude towards Justin was not to change. I was to not argue, pled, or beg. Just tell him, “Ok. I respect your decision.” I did not tell Justin what God told me to do after he rejected the word God sent him.

I continued to act the same. Just like God instructed me to do. Then, Christmas morning came. Justin with the brightest of smiles, proud look in his eyes, chest all puffed up (you know that wonderful proud look guys get when they are excited and happy with what they are about to do), Justin hugs me and hands me my Christmas gift.

I was dreading this moment! You see, when God told me to deliver that warning to Justin, God didn’t just tell me what the issue was, what I was to say, what Justin would say, and how Justin would react. He also told me what I was to say and how I needed to handle myself. God told me weeks in advance, “You will give back to Justin his Christmas gift. You are not to accept his Christmas gift. Move out of the way and let me deal with your son My way. Under no circumstance are you to receive that gift.” I understood what God was doing.

I said, “Justin, I love you. You know everything I do for you and your sister. I can’t stand to see you or her hurt. Remember the warning God gave you? You remember what you told me? You see son, you didn’t reject me. You rejected the warning God gave you. I understand in your eyes this is nothing bad. But, God begs to differ with you. God told me how you would handle it and He told me what to do. You KNOW I will not go against what God tells me. He told me to reject your gift. Justin's face went from smile to sadness, his puffed up chest filled with prideful joy to being caved in with sorrow. My heart was broken. I wanted to cuddle him, like any mother would, make him feel better. God’s voice was very loud and clear. “Don’t you dare undo this moment of repentance. Don’t stand in my way. You will not like what I will do.” I recomposed myself. I reminded Justin I loved him very much. He and I could not be walking in the same spirit when He didn’t pay attention to the littlest thing God was warning him about.

Next came La Befana. Our Italian traditional Christmas. January 7. A few days before, God spoke to me again and said, “Justin will come and give you that money. You are not to take it. Justin needs to understand saying sorry doesn’t undo the damage. There are consequences to decisions and choices made by rejecting my warning. You are to tell him that and you are to tell him you will never except that money no matter how he presents it to you.” Now, I’m a mom. I don’t enjoy seeing my children hurt. So, I told God, “God, he is sorry. I don’t want Justin to feel badly.” God response was immediate. “You and Justin do not see this warning as a big deal in your eyes. The problem is I know what’s coming down the road. The enemy sets up pitfalls. I am stopping what is coming up ahead. Justin needs to understand when I give a warning I mean business. He rejected my warning. Furthermore, he rejected the call I have on your life. He rejected the word I gave you to bring to him. He dishonored the prophetic call in your life. I do not look the other way. Let me do what I need to do.”

You see, Cain was in trouble already. God knew sin was at his door. Cain was going to kill Abel. God warned him. He warned him by rejecting his offering. God knew the heart. As I always say, “It’s all about the heart.” Cain was angry. Why would Cain be angry? Cain had no interest in doing that which was right in the eyes of God. He wanted his way, and he wanted God to accept his ways. That’s why he was angry. The arrogance in this story is astonishing. So very sad. God told him point out, “if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Let’s break it down.

1) Sin had already arrived. Waiting for him to open or shut the door. It’s like, ding dong the doorbell just rang. How many times that’s happened to us and we don’t know the person so we keep the door shut, get our cell and call police if the person continues?” God told Cain. Sin is at your door. How clearer could God get? Cain rejected the word of God. That takes guts!

2) It’s our own desires that keep us from obeying God. If God warns you God means business. Don’t matter what you think. God told you something to do. You don’t start to regionalize it. You take the warning. And most importantly, you obey. You don’t have to understand it. Many times I did what God told me. Not understanding. The time (years) later God showed me.

3) This is the most important point. “You rule over it. You master it. We have the ability, capability, and every tool known to man to nail it! We have the very Spirit of God. It’s the Holy Spirit that talks to us. We reject Him when we decide to continue doing that which He said, “Don’t!” It starts by obeying God. You do what He said. It’s that simply.

Justin came to his senses immediately on Christmas morning when I rejected his gift. He left the living room, and went crying into his room. He knew he disrespected and disobeyed God, and me. He knew God wasn’t going to have him get away with it. He knew God meant and means business. He apologized a thousand times to me. He came back crying and with a broken and contrite heart. We prayed together. I knew Justin was sincere and was truly sorry for his actions. I’m very sure there will never be another display of those actions.

As for Cain he never took the warning. He choose to disobey, dishonor, and practice his own will. Sin sure was at his door, and like a fool succombed to it. He murdered his brother, and God made him a vagabond, never settling, never a home, never a hope, and never a future. All because He didn’t take the warning. I’m not feeling sorry for Cain. I make no apology.

Let us not be vagabonds. Let us examine ourselves and let us let go of anything or anyone that will compromise or steal our blessings. I have learned to let go and walk away from anything or anyone God says, “Let go!” Here in this story of Cain we clearly see obedience is better then sacrifice. God warned Cain. God already knew Cain was going to kill his brother Abel. Yet, God out of His great mercy and love tried to get him to do that which was right. Heart of people are deceitful and evil. We do not know our own hearts. Examining ourselves daily is extremely important. Rejecting God’s Word is a deadly and foolish mistake. It's really not a mistake. Let’s call it what it is: SIN! God does not give second changes like we think. Second chances are all about forgiveness and restoration, but you miss out on His best plan because of your actions. Consequences must be paid for deliberately doing that which God warned you about.

This was what Justin needed to learn. I’m glad Justin’s lesson was very minor in comparison to the great loss others suffer. I’m very sure Justin learned this lesson. His loss was my rejection of his gift. He had worked hard to give me a substantial amount of money. There goes my diamond earnings (or so I thought). However, that pain he felt on Christmas Morning will always last in his heart and mind. I’m sure he will preach about this someday. I’m sure he will not test God on this again. I’m grateful to God for this lesson He taught my son. If you asked Justin he would tell you as he told me, “Mom, I can’t stand to think I disappointed God and you. My heart hurts!” Well, from my spiritual perspective I say, “Thank You, God, for teaching my son a good lesson, keeping him from sin and causing him consequences he can’t recover from.”

As for the diamond earring, God surprised me. I received those Diamonds earrings by the kindness of Princess Diamonds who didn’t charge me what they are really worth. God gave me my earrings, bigger and of highest quality. I lost nothing! Most importantly, Justin was taught a lesson he will never forget. God was gracious, merciful, loving, and good to my son, stopping him from an arrogant heart of believing the lies he can disregard the Word of the Lord as if it’s no big deal.

Rev. Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro

Founder and President of Thread of Hope

#TopicArticle #sinm #warning #instructions