“Do What Is Right.

Then You Will Be Accepted.”

 

 

Adam made love to his wife Eve. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the Lord's help I have had a baby boy."  Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Abel took care of sheep. Cain worked the ground. After some time, Cain gathered some of the things he had grown. He brought them as an offering to the Lord.

But Abel brought the fattest parts of some of the lambs from his flock. They were the male animals that were born first to their mothers.

The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering. But he wasn't pleased with Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry. His face was sad.

 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why are you looking so sad? Do what is right. Then you will be accepted. If you don't do what is right, sin is waiting at your door to grab you. It longs to have you. But you must rule over it."

Genesis 4:1-7

 

It wasn’t that God didn’t like vegetables. Rather, He knew that Cain’s offering was masking an unrighteous attitude. Cain wasn’t fully committed to God, as expressed by the fact that he wasn’t living according to His ways.

 

It is easy to worship God on the outside while stubbornly keeping territory from Him on the inside. There are many outwardly religious people who use religious activities to cover the reality of their sinful lives.

 

Does the Lord take priority over our plans and dreams? Is He worth more than the sin that tempts us? When we express to Him that He is more worthy than anything or anyone else in our lives, it’s an offering He won’t refuse.

 

God won’t refuse a heart that is surrendered to Him

 

Our Daily Bread May 20, 2010