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1 John 3:12 We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother …
Cain had a broken life. Some of us may need a little backstory on Cain and why he murdered his brother. Before we turn to Genesis for the original account, let’s listen to the Apostle John just a little more on the subject for today. Back up to verse 7. I’m reading from the NLT.
(John was the last living Apostle and he had seen it all: The arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus; and His resurrection; the murder of his own brother James; the stoning of Steven; plus the Christian martyrs under the evil Emperor Nero, including Peter and Paul … John is the foremost authority on this subject, as well, John is writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God!)
1 John 3 NLT
7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.
8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.
10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
John wrote more about brotherly love and broken lives than any other writer in the Bible. But did you know that there is still twice as much evil in the Bible as there is love? What do I mean?
A survey of the Authorized Version of the Bible (KJV) reveals that the word love is found 281 times while the word evil is found 569 times – more than twice as much. We can see evil beginning to take root in lives from the very beginning of the book of Genesis. Hurting people often hurt people …
Genesis 4
1 ¶ Now Adam knew his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the LORD’s help, I have produced a man!”
2 Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground.
3 ¶ When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the LORD.
4 Abel also brought a gift — the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his gift,
5 but He did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
6 ¶ “Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?
7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
8 ¶ One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
We are all sons and daughters of Eve and are subject to the same evil intentions of the devil. When we are doing right and pleasing God, we cannot expect to be treated any better than Jesus was. He was falsely accused, horribly misunderstood, spit upon, cursed, beaten, judged, arrested, condemned and killed by those He was trying to help see the light. All of this from broken lives. Jesus only ever spoke the truth, and all He ever did, He did from a heart of love and compassion. When you can’t love others, you’re broken.
God told Cain (v.7) “If you refuse to do what is right, then watch out!” Evil is lurking at your door, and the devil wants to take control of your life. In other words … if you refuse to do what is right, the devil will master you.
1 John 3 NLT
11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
12 We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.
13 So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
When we continue doing what is wrong despite the offerings and opportunities God gives us, we can be mastered by evil and begin to hate those who are doing right. Misdirected anger can cause us to hurt or even murder a brother or sister, or a minister God has sent our way.
People who don’t like the message often hate, accuse, curse, or even kill the messenger. Jesus said we should not be surprised if the world hates us … it hated Him first.
Let me encourage you this morning to not fear the world or those who punish or abuse you for loving them enough to be honest with them. Speak the truth in love anyway. Jesus didn’t say speak the truth in anger, hate, frustration, condemnation, or with a haughty or vengeful spirit … but speak the truth in love. God heals broken lives every day … give Him a chance to do it through you.
If you refuse to do right, watch out! The devil is walking about, seeking those whom he may devour, resist him and don’t allow him to master you.
Is there anything you need to repent for this morning?
- · Someone you hate?
- · Someone you want to see get hurt or lose something valuable to them?
- · Do you love others? Even those you consider your enemies? If not, why not?
- · Are you a broken life?
- · Where is safe for you?
- · Remember John said: Anyone who does not love others, does not belong to God.
- · Turn your life over to Jesus right now, and let Him take it from here.
Pray with me now …
