11月23日
标 题：潜伏在门前
经 节：你若行得好，岂不蒙悦纳?你若行得不好，罪就伏在门前。它必恋慕你，你却要制伏它。（创世记四章7节）
当试探进入心思意念，我们不是去面对及处理解决，就是将它付诸罪恶的行动。在试探刚临到和作抉择中间的这段时刻，是相当重要的，有许多悬而未决的部分，需要我们去平衡。
该隐知道神不喜欢自己，而喜欢亚伯。因嫉妒激起的愤怒悄悄地进入该隐的心，谋杀的意念也占满他的思想。当该隐正盘算著如何做的时候，神的话临及他。神警告他，罪就等在他生命的门口，要找机会渗透。现在不是对试探轻描淡写的时候，也不是假设罪不会造成伤害的时候。现在是制伏罪的时候，你要在罪征服你之前，弃绝它。很可悲的是，该隐没有制伏自己的罪，反由罪所征服且毁掉生命。
试探在你料想不到的时候出现，罪恶的思想可能会滑过你的脑海，自私可能开始侵入你的心。圣灵会即刻警告你，神并不喜悦你正想做的事。在悔改的时候，一定要制伏那潜伏在门前的罪。罪毁灭一切。罪带来死亡。罪不是你可以玩弄或轻看之物。今日，神照样用当初给该隐的那句话来警告你：在罪带来不可避免的毁灭性结局之前，制伏那潜伏在你门前的罪。要留心祂的警告，你会为自己或别人免去没有必要的苦痛。
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.
