The story of Cain and Abel is about the choices we all face about how we treat the people around us. If you have ever struggled with holding a grudge against someone, who succeeded when you failed, you will find yourself in this story. If you have ever felt like life or God isn’t fair, you will find yourself in the story. If your parents have always favored your sibling over you, you will find yourself in this story. If you have ever been jealous of a co-worker, you will find yourself in the story.

The real trouble in Genesis 3 starts happening when Adam and Eve begin listening to the snake instead of God.

We read Genesis with awe and wonder, We remember that the authors of Genesis were not trying to write a history textbook. They did not approach the story as scientist or anthropologist, but as people of faith recounting God's awesome power and profound love in a story of beginnings.

Lessons from Peter

In Isaiah 58, God describes the kind of fast that is truly pleasing to God to act compassionately toward your neighbor. This is the kind of fast that pleases God, to share your resources with those who are in need. This passage refers to the hungry and needy as kin, "your own flesh and blood.” In other words, the hungry and the needy are part of your family and when you ignore them, it is like you are ignoring your brother, or your sister. God is calling us to care for those in need. Isaiah 58.

The most famous Bible verse about poverty when taken in context has little to do with poverty. It is about devotion to Jesus. When Jesus was on earth it was right to show him devotion by anointing him with an expensive bottle of oil; now that Jesus is not physically here it is right to show him devotion by serving the poor- those Jesus loved.

In Ephesians 4 Paul begs his readers to lead a life worthy of the calling to which they have been called. The calling to grow up in Christ and become mature Christians. Then, he encourages them to learn to put up with one another in love when we fall short of maturity.

The theme of compassion and care for people in need, weaves its way through the Bible. In the Hebrew Bible, it can be seen vividly in the theologically rich Hebrew word hesed.It is often translated as “loving kindness” or “steadfast love,” “mercy.” Hesed is used over 200 times in the Old Testament. It is most often used in reference to God’s unwavering compassion for His people. Hesed describes God’s compassionate, forgiving, merciful character. The great challenge for us is that this loving-kindness, which is so central to the character of God is to be reflected in how we live out our lives.