Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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God accompanies a murderer
Gen.  4. 8-16

“And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him.” (15)

What is the length and depth of God’s love? Can we measure the limit of God’s forgiveness? This passage once again telling us that these are immeasurable and unfathomable. No one forgives a cruel murderer who killed an innocent brother and no one forgets this brutal act of killing someone without any provocation from the other.
God accepts
Accepting someone will require a number of considerations in a normal human behavior. As human beings we definitely look into the past history, past relationships, previous words and actions etc. In this passage God simply accepts someone who didn’t have any positive characteristics in these areas. Cain has nothing to show up to God, nothing to claim and nothing to submit except his cruel and brutal heart. A liar, a murderer, a cheater, a rebel, a person with anger and jealousy, all these descriptions are fitting to Cain.  But when he understood his own sin and punishment he pronounced these words into the presence of the Lord; “My punishment is greater than I can bear!” These words are not clearly showing a repenting attitude but God just accepted this. Cain understood that he did something that is abominable in the sight of the Lord and if God implement the punishment he will not be able to live. But God accepted this cry for the Cain’s survival. God accepts everyone irrespective of our past history. If God can accept a murderer then we are not far from His reception.
God accompanies
God not only accepted Cain but decided to accompany Him in his journey. The passage is telling us that “And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him.” What is this mark? Bible doesn’t tell us what it is and how did God put this mark. This mark is a symbol of God’s protection and guidance in the rest of his life. God wanted to accompany him by giving him his protection. This looks strange. How can God do that to a murderer? But the other side is only God will and can do this and that is the awesome uniqueness of our God. Eph. 4.30 says we are ‘sealed by the Holy Spirit. This seal or mark that God places on our lives is the protection and redemption that we receive when we submit to his hands. This accompanies us and gives us the strength to face all the difficulties of life. God is ready to give us this mark without looking at our failures and sins by accepting us as we are. He accepts and accompanies us but are we ready to submit to Him?
Prayer: Merciful God, we are sinners but You receive us as we are. We give ourselves to you. Accept us and give us the mark of your protection and guidance. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
Thought for the Day: God forgets and forgives and gives us the mark of His protection.


Rev. V. M. Mathew, Youth Chaplain, NY.

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