Dear Father, There are certain similarities and differences between the lives of Jesus and Abel that I find compelling. First, the deaths of innocent men; while one death was unexpected, the other was predestined. Next, Abel died because of a sacrifice, and Jesus died as the sacrifice. Then there is the speaking of blood: while Abel's blood cried out for justice against the guilty, Jesus' blood cries out for mercy over the guilty. The Scripture says, "...to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel." Yet there is one more similarity that is not always emphasized. Despite the compelling power, the blood which cries has yet to obtain its response to reason. Cain, who killed Abel, was not remorseful. And many of the men who killed Jesus, even after realizing their wrongdoing, were not remorseful either. Now, it may seem limiting to speak of Jesus and think only of remorse from His persecutors, because justice for Himself was not what He sought. How oxymoronic that He seeks mercy for those who deserve judgment. How convenient it is to speak of the men who crucified Jesus, but not about humanity today. A quick scan of the world leaves me asking, Is this what He died for? Then I turn the question toward my own life. In seeking justice on behalf of the One who seeks mercy, it is easy to overlook the very result His crucifixion was meant to produce in us. How long will we let His blood speak without responding to what it says? How long will we wallow in guilt over a price that has already been paid? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #redemption #reconciliation #sin #forgiveness