Jesus talks with Cain

This is so fascinating to me. Jesus and Cain (as in Adam and Eve's firstborn), had a friendship. Duh, right? Well, I guess I just never thought about it.

We know that the Lord walked with Adam and Eve, and then where did He go? Did He just stop walking with people? I guess I've just always assumed that when shame entered the picture, which was like, right away, that Jesus didn't walk with people anymore. Really, not much thought had gone into that. This might be common knowledge to every Bible-reader out there, but sometimes things take a little slower to digest for me. I can't explain it.

But in Genesis, it says that Cain, and Abel both, brought their offerings TO the Lord. And Abel's was looked upon with favor, and Cain's was not, which made him angry. And the Lord spoke to Cain very clearly regarding the issue. I love this. It is so like Jesus to say this. I am surprised these exact words were not spoken in one of His teachings. Who knows, maybe they were? But in 4:7 He says to Cain, oh this is sooo good... "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Wow... isn't that so simple? And it's Truth. Sin desires to have us. And we are commanded to master it. You must master it. That's personal responsibility. Obey the Lord, you walk forward in favor. Don't obey Lord, sins desire for you ensnares you. It puts you in a headlock, and you don't think you can breathe. Then all of a sudden you don't want to do right, because you think you are in control of your next breath... but we were told to master that. The first son was advised that obedience would keep him free. Not for control, but for the sake of communion with Jesus. Because He desires people. Proverbs 8 says that He, as the craftsman who was there at creation, continually rejoices in His presence, and rejoices in mankind. That's a God of love. He rejoices.

But sin is crouching. It's still there. It doesn't go away. It's waiting. Master it. We've got to master it. For the sake of Jesus. He is worthy.