Cain and Abel

It's Leigh Anne again, and I wanted to share a little bit from what God has been teaching me this week. I'm in the midst of studying the book of Genesis right now. This week, part of my study was on the story of Cain and Abel from chapter 4. I can't tell you how many times I have read Genesis and stories like Cain and Abel, yet I am still growing in my understanding of who God is and how he relates to me when I study them. I am so thankful that God's Word is so renewing!

Anyway, Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain was basically a farmer and Abel a shepherd. The story focuses in on the offerings that they brought before the Lord. Abel brought the "firstling" of his flock - the fattest, best animal he could find. Cain brought fruit...and that is about as specific as the text gets. It doesn't say he brought the best of the land or anything -- it just says that he brought fruit. According to Hebrews 11:4, the difference between the offerings is that Abel brought his offering with great faith:

"It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith."

What is faith? Faith is the conviction or belief in something unseen. Faith is the hope that God is who he says he is, and therefore, we live like we believe in him! Unfortunately, Cain brought his offering with a lack of faith and a really selfish attitude. In the end, Cain was so jealous of his brother Abel's right standing with God that he murdered him. His real character was revealed.

Do you get it? God found favor on Abel, not because of his actions, but because of his heart!

Are you living like Cain? Angry, insecure, jealous, or hard-hearted towards God or those walking with God? Doing things because you have to? Or are you like Abel? You genuinely love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength? You want to give him the best you have?

God's Word tells us that from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Basically, whatever is in your heart is bound to come out. It did for Abel. It also did for Cain...and it wasn't pretty.

What is in your heart? Is there anything that you would be ashamed of if it came out? A lot to think about, isn't it?