One of the hardest verses for a Christian to read is 2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Today many Christians are martyred for their faith. In America, we don’t face those threats, but we often experience hardship as a result of our choice to live for God. Sometimes it even comes at the hands of those who are closest to us. This is what happened to Abel.

Abel lived a short but meaningful life. He trusted God and faithfully brought his sin offering. Cain was a proud man who had his own agenda for the sacrifice which God rejected.

You can imagine how Cain burned inside every time he saw his brother being blessed. Abel walked closely with his God. Cain hated that.

There will be those who will resent you for your spiritual decisions. Don’t let their attitude keep you from what’s right and don’t let it get you down, because it’s a privilege to suffer for Jesus. In doing so, we identify with His sufferings in a small way.

In the end, it’s better to have lived the life of Abel, who suffered for his faith, than the life of Cain who was marked by bitterness and jealousy.