11月23日

標 題：潛伏在門前

經 節：你若行得好，豈不蒙悅納?你若行得不好，罪就伏在門前。它必戀慕你，你卻要制伏它。（創世記四章7節）

當試探進入心思意念，我們不是去面對及處理解決，就是將它付諸罪惡的行動。在試探剛臨到和作抉擇中間的這段時刻，是相當重要的，有許多懸而未決的部分，需要我們去平衡。

該隱知道神不喜歡自己，而喜歡亞伯。因嫉妒激起的憤怒悄悄地進入該隱的心，謀殺的意念也占滿他的思想。當該隱正盤算著如何做的時候，神的話臨及他。神警告他，罪就等在他生命的門口，要找機會滲透。現在不是對試探輕描淡寫的時候，也不是假設罪不會造成傷害的時候。現在是制伏罪的時候，你要在罪征服你之前，棄絕它。很可悲的是，該隱沒有制伏自己的罪，反由罪所征服且毀掉生命。

試探在你料想不到的時候出現，罪惡的思想可能會滑過你的腦海，自私可能開始侵入你的心。聖靈會即刻警告你，神並不喜悅你正想做的事。在悔改的時候，一定要制伏那潛伏在門前的罪。罪毀滅一切。罪帶來死亡。罪不是你可以玩弄或輕看之物。今日，神照樣用當初給該隱的那句話來警告你：在罪帶來不可避免的毀滅性結局之前，制伏那潛伏在你門前的罪。要留心祂的警告，你會為自己或別人免去沒有必要的苦痛。

Crouching at the Door

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)

When temptation enters our hearts and minds, we either deal with it and gain mastery over it, or it eventually leads us to sinful actions. The time between the initial temptation and the chosen response is critical. Much hangs in the balance.

Cain knew that God was displeased with him but pleased with Abel. Feelings of jealous anger crept into Cain’s heart, and thoughts of murder pervaded his mind. As Cain considered what to do, God’s word came to him. God warned him that sin was waiting at the door of his life, looking for an opportunity to enter. Now was not the time to treat temptation lightly, not the time to assume sin would never cause any harm. Now was the time to master the sin and renounce it before it overcame him. Tragically, Cain did not master his sin; instead, sin overtook him and destroyed his life.

Temptations come at unexpected moments. Sinful thoughts may cross your mind. Selfish feelings may begin to invade your heart. The promptings of the Holy Spirit will warn you that God is not pleased with the direction your thoughts and feelings are taking you. At that moment of conviction, you must master the sin that crouches at the door of your life. Sin destroys. Sin brings death. Sin is not something to toy with or take lightly. God’s word to you is the same warning He gave to Cain: Master the sin at the door of your life before it brings its inevitable and disastrous consequences. Heed His caution, and you will avoid unnecessary hardship for yourself and others.