In today’s devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef shares the only remedy for the guilt of sin.
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[00:00:00] You are listening to MY Devotional, the Daily Devotional from Dr. Michael Youssef and Leading The Way.
[00:00:07] The Only Remedy for Guilt by Dr. Michael Youssef Adam and Eve owned up to their sin and they regretted
[00:00:17] the break in their relationship with God however this was not true for their son Cain.
[00:00:23] The story of Cain and Abel is familiar to us as is the defiant question Cain asked God in Genesis 4.9.
[00:00:31] Am I my brothers keeper?
[00:00:34] Cain's anger led him to murder his own brother, he was angry that God accepted Abel's offering while rejecting his own.
[00:00:41] Cain had brought an offering to the Lord from his harvest and Abel had also brought an offering, the first born from his flock.
[00:00:49] The brothers' offerings were consistent with their occupation.
[00:00:54] Cain, tilled the ground, Abel raised sheep.
[00:00:58] Outwardly both brothers seemed to be performing a righteous act but Cain wanted to approach God on his own terms.
[00:01:06] The Bible doesn't specify how either brother knew whether God accepted or rejected his offering but it's clear that they understood the outcome.
[00:01:15] The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor so Cain was very angry and his face was downcast.
[00:01:27] You can read that in Genesis 4, 4 through 5.
[00:01:31] God issued a stern warning telling Cain that sin was lying in wait for him but God also offered mercy making it clear that if Cain did what was right he would be accepted.
[00:01:44] Cain refused to heed God's warning instead he enticed his younger brother into the field where he beat him to death.
[00:01:51] Cain denied his sin.
[00:01:54] When God confronted him, Cain said he knew nothing about his brother's murder.
[00:01:59] As punishment, Cain had to leave the land of Eden and became a restless wanderer on the earth.
[00:02:07] Like Cain, many people today are running from God but running from God will never alleviate the guilt of sin.
[00:02:15] Only one remedy exists and that's found in facing up to our shortcomings.
[00:02:21] The way to deal with sin and guilt is through confession and repentance.
[00:02:26] Let's pray together. Lord there have been times when we have run from you.
[00:02:31] We have hidden from you because of our sin and our guilt. We are tired of living apart from your love and protection so today we choose to receive your grace and to live in your love.
[00:02:43] We pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
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