Genesis 4:7 You know that if you do what is right, I will accept you. But if you don’t, sin is ready to attack you. That sin will want to control you, but you must control it. (ERV)

Ever wonder why God only has this conversation with Cain? If you say it is because the Lord had respect for Abel’s sacrifice you are half right. The Lord had respect unto Abel AND his offering. Verse 4

This is what I call transference. Yes the sacrifice is important. Yes the sacrifice was accepted. What good is any sacrifice if there is no transference of the act back to man? Did Abel know his sacrifice would be accepted? I don’t know. I do not have scripture that clearly indicates Abel’s motives and thoughts.

Cain went and talked to Abel after this conversation with God. Then Cain killed his brother. What did they say? I don’t know. Nothing in scriptures reveal what might have been said.

The only thing I do know is what is revealed to us by God as He is the One who controls the conversation. God reveals what is right, good and acceptable. Anything left to the imagination is vanity.

Now look to the world today and answer me this; “Who controls the conversation today?”

Sinners protest that the laws are unjust and the laws need to be changed. If the law can be changed then what they do will no longer be illegal and their lives will be legitimized. Do their actions change your conversations with God, or is God still in control of the conversation?

The horrors of war are imprinted drastically upon our minds through various forms of media. It is not just television and newspapers that influence our world view. Do their actions change your conversations with God, or is God still in control of the conversation?

Disasters abound and people I personally know have been displaced, endangered, and even killed. Do the events around me change my conversations with God or is God still in control of the conversation?

Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

I can only do that if God is in control of the conversation.

Matthew 16:8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

Finish this sentence: “I can’t find it within myself to…..”

If you are like me and I am sure many are, you have uttered these words about something. It is only natural. That’s the natural man/woman talking. Maybe you put it a little different but the sentiment is still the same.

Somewhere in the vast experiences of shoulda, woulda, coulda, lays a deep seeded sense of self and it doesn’t always have to be attached to guilt, denial, or regret. Sometimes you are just being honest with yourself.

What I want to attach to this moment of introspection is that accusing bit of scripture which addresses “O ye of little faith.” We do ourselves a great injustice to attach these moments to our faith life. What Jesus is saying to His disciples here is; “Why look within yourself for that which comes from above?”

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith is initiated by God. It does not start with us, nor does it end with us. If we look for it within ourselves, we will not find it.

Hebrews 12:2a Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

It is vanity to think we can manufacture faith.