Who Is on Jehovah's Side? - JEHOVAH EXAMINES OUR HEART

For example, think of Cain.  He did not worship false gods, but still  Jehovah did not accept his worship. Why not?  Jehovah saw that there  were wicked tendencies in Cain's heart. ( 1 John 3:12)  Jehovah warned Cain: "If  you turn to doing good, will you not be restored to favor?  But if you do not turn to doing good, sin is crouching at the door, and it is craving to dominate you; but will you get the mastery over it? (Genesis 4:6, 7)  Jehovah was making it clear that if Cain repented and chose to be on God's side, He would be on Cain's side.

If Cain changed his thinking, Jehovah would accept his worship again. But Cain did not listen to God, and his wrong thinking and selfish desire led him  to wrong actions.  (James 1:14, 15)  When Cain was younger, he may never have imagined hat he would oppose Jehovah. But now he ignored God's warning, rebelled against God, and killed his own brother!

Like Cain, a Christian today might claim to worship Jehovah but actually be doing things that Jehovah hates.  (Jude 11)  He may be active in the ministry and regular at meetings.  But at the same time, he might be allowing immoral fantasies, greedy thoughts, or feelings of hatred  to control his thinking.  (1 John 2:15-17; 3:15)  Such thinking can lead to sinful actions. Other people may not know what we think or do, but Jehovah does.  He knows if we are not completely on his side. - JEREMIAH 17:9, 10. 

Even when we make small mistakes, Jehovah is not quick to give up on us. if we are heading in a dangerous direction, Jehovah invites us:  "Return to me, and I will return to you." (Malachi 3:7) Jehovah understand that we have weaknesses that we fight against. But he wants us to be firm  and oppose what is bad.  (Isaiah 55:7)  If we do, he promises that he will help us and give us the strength we need to conquer our wrong desires. - GENESIS 4:7.  

Next Time: Who Is on Jehovah's Side? - DO NOT BE FOOLED

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