More to Life
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“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” Hebrews 11:4
Raised by the same parents, no doubt Cain and Abel had been told the story of their parent’s failure in the Garden of Eden and how God had sacrificed an animal to make an atonement for their sin. They had probably participated year after year as their parents built an altar and sacrificed a lamb.
I can imagine them building their altars side by side, perhaps chatting and laughing together as they worked. Abel chose the finest lamb from his flock, slew it, and placed it on his altar. Cain arrived with a basket of his best fruits and vegetables. The Bible does not tell us how God showed His approval or disapproval of their selections. Did fire come down from heaven to consume Abel’s lamb? In some way, God showed His respect for Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s.
Genesis 4:6-7 “And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”
God gave Cain a chance to repent but instead of acknowledging his mistake, he confronted Abel and later when they were together in the field, he slew his brother. Abel felt convicted of sin and offered a sacrifice, and his faith saved him. But Cain felt a gift was all he had to bring to God.
Jesus’ death on the cross eliminated the need for animal sacrifices. His precious blood will cleanse from all sin. Faith in the finished work of Calvary causes us to repent and accept forgiveness. Faith assures us that when we seek Him with all our heart He hears, accepts us, and rewards us with His presence in our lives.
Verse 6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Lord, thank You for the confidence we have that we can come to You in faith, knowing that You hear our every cry and will always meet our needs.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
