2021-03-13 06:57:45
The Sacrifice of Abel!
A Daily Devotional for March 13, 2021
Read Genesis 4: 3-7
The book of Genesis writes the beginning of many things, and we are told that one person made the first sacrifice to God. Sacrifice is the means by which we express our love and gratitude to the God we worship.
"By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks." Hebrew 11: 4
The first two sons of Adam and Eve were believers in God and one day they both offered sacrifices to Him, but the passage of scripture in Genesis says God looked favorably at only Abel and his sacrifice. Why was Abel's sacrifice better than Cain's? Why didn’t God pay attention to Cain's sacrifice? To answer these questions, it is good to look carefully at the verse above. The writer is not comparing the sacrifices of Abel and Cain. God didn’t accept Abel's sacrifice because he offered animals, or Cain's offering was not accepted because he offered grain from the land.
The main difference between the two offerings is that God focused more on the hearts of the people rather than the sacrifices they offer. God first looks at the giver, not the sacrifice. As we can see in the passage above, God favorably looked at Abel and then his sacrifice. So, God's desire was not in their sacrifices but in who they were. He looked at Abel's heart and approved, but when He looked at Cain's heart, it was not what He desired. The effect of their sacrifice was to reveal what was in their hearts.
The writer of Hebrews explains the effect of the sacrifices of Abel and Cain. Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God not only because of his faith but also because he was righteous.
(Hebrews 11: 4)
Many kinds of sacrifices can be made today, but the most important thing to God is our testimony before Him. The altar of our hearts, which is pleasing to God, is more important than our sacrifices. A hidden sin in Cain's heart followed his sacrifice. Fellowship and friendship with each other are greater than our sacrifices of thanksgiving to God. (Matt. 5: 23-2) More than the visible expression of our sacrifices, God values our hidden and unseen intentions to please Him and value Him in our lives.
Life Application
Before we sacrifice and give, let us examine the inclinations of our heart. For God is greater than even our hearts.
Prayer
Oh God, I give you control of my heart.
154 views03:57