🕊️ PRAY HERE DEVOTION 🕊️ “Thou Shall Not Kill”

Scripture: Exodus 20:13 (ERV)

“You must not murder.”

Genesis 4:6–8 (ERV)

“Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why do you look so upset? If you do what is right, I will accept you. But if you don’t do what is right, sin is ready to attack you. Sin wants to control you, but you must control it.’ … Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.”

Devotion: Have you ever thought to yourself, “How can people just take another life, and why?” Every day we read or hear about murders. “God, please have mercy on us.” It is seemingly getting worse. Today, I am sounding an alarm and a warning: DON’T DO IT! THOU SHALL NOT KILL!

There are many reasons people kill, and most of them are unnecessary and avoidable. These are senseless acts of murder; moments where a person allows their mental and emotional state to drive them into pure malice. In those moments, evil takes over, and the outcomes are devastating and irreversible.

The Bible records the very first murder and reveals one common reason people kill: jealousy.

Read with me in Genesis chapter 4. Cain killed his own brother because he was jealous. Abel gave God his best, and Cain gave a lesser offering. God accepted Abel’s gift but did not accept Cain’s. Instead of learning from Abel and doing better, Cain became angry.

God lovingly warned him:

“If you do what is right, I will accept you. But if you don’t, sin is ready to attack you. It wants to control you; but you must control it.”

God reminded Cain of the reward for doing what is right, while also warning him that sin desires control. Cain rejected God’s warning and allowed sin to take over. He invited his brother into the field, attacked him, and killed him. Instead of meditating on God’s truth, Cain meditated on jealousy and anger. That jealousy grew so strong that he wanted his own brother, who had done nothing to him, dead.

Afterward, Cain even tried to lie to God about not knowing where Abel was. But God knew. God always knows.

What can we learn from the first murder?

• Jealousy is a monster

• Rejecting God leads to sin

• Sin always wants control

• God sees everything

What should Cain have done?

What would you have done if you were Cain?

Later in Scripture, Cain is mentioned again as an example of what not to be (1 John 3:12). With everything in you, make the decision to never allow anger, jealousy, or hurt to drive you to violence. Life is sacred.

Let us first love God, accept Him as our Savior, and love others. No matter what you feel, taking a life is never the answer.

Prayer: Father, have mercy on this world. Guard our hearts from anger, jealousy, and hatred. Help us to pause and turn to You when emotions rise. Teach us to love, forgive, and choose life. Protect our minds, our families, and our communities. Fill us with Your peace and self-control.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.