REVERENT ATTITUDE=ACCEPTANCE
Genesis 4:1-7
V. 2b: “Now Abel kept the flocks, and Cain worked the soil.”
Genesis 4:1-7
V. 2b: “Now Abel kept the flocks, and Cain worked the soil.”
“Isn’t it time for us to present our offerings before the Lord?” Abel asked his brother Cain as they began a new day.
“Yeah, whatever” Cain responded.
“Aren’t you grateful for the Lord’s abundant blessings to us?”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“Meet you at sundown to present our gifts, then?” Abel inquired.
“Yeah, whatever.”
Abel prepared fat portions from a firstborn lamb (Genesis 4:4), as dusk settled upon their day. He wrapped the fat inside the lamb’s skin and brought it meet Cain.
Cain harvested fruit from one tree which had fruit that ripened a couple days earlier. Why is working the soil so hard? He wondered. The fruit ripens so quickly, and I’m too busy to get it all harvested before it begins decaying. Oh well, this will just have to do. What does the Lord need with my offering, anyway? Can’t He get His own fruit—when it’s perfect?
They met together at the designated place of worship. ”Hey Cain!” Abel greeted his brother.
“Yeah, whatever” Cain responded. “Let’s get this over with.”
“That fruit smells weird…Is it acceptable?”
“Whatever” Cain said. “It’s the best I could do.”
Abel knelt on the ground, and lifted his lambskin with the fat portions up high. “Almighty Lord, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and all things we see before us, have mercy on us. Accept this gift offering in gratitude for Your abundant blessings. With thanks and praise, I serve You every day.”
Cain knelt beside Abel, and lifted his harvested fruit up high. “Holy Lord, here’s Your offering. Thanks a lot.”
The men parted then, and God spoke to Cain. “Your offering is not anything I'll accept. Try again, son.”
Cain asked Abel, the next morning, “Want to see for yourself how quickly the fruit ripens? Come with me, brother.”
“OK” Abel agreed...It was the last thing Abel did.
Take Home Nugget
Before Cain killed his brother, Abel, the Lord tried again to win his heart. “If you had done the right thing, your offering would have been accepted, too. When you refuse to obey Me in your heart and action, sin has already won.” (Paraphrased from Genesis 4:7).
God never refuses a heart that’s surrendered to Him.
Lord, when I worship You with praise,
My heart’s already surrendered to Your ways.
Make my offerings of love
Be worthy of Your blessings from above.
J.D. Griffith
Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Reverent Attitude=Acceptance
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff
Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff
Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment
What an honor it is to meet you!
My background is a life time of worship, but seriously following Jesus came with age. Spiritual maturity is a leap of faith. Sometimes we don’t know what we’re missing until living on the edge of God’s leading. My life of self sufficiency ended abruptly when losing my job as an analytical chemist after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Now living on the edge of God’s leading has become a way of life that I wouldn’t trade for anything else.
Surrendering one’s will to the Lord can be scary. Why did I wait so long to do it? Diving into an intimate relation with the sovereign God of creation is the most secure position in the universe. Will you share your experience with me? Will you let me give you my testimony? May I introduce you to the Jesus I know?