Cain and Abel were brothers who gave offerings to the Lord (Genesis 4). Cain's offering of fruits did not please God as much as his brother's offering of the fat from the firstborn of his flock. One gave the best he had, the firstborn of his animals, while the other didn't seem to put as much thought and intentionality behind his offering.
Many of us are like Cain in this way. We are casual in how we approach God when making our offerings. These offerings may be of praise or thanksgiving, prayers, intercession, fasting, the payment of tithes and offerings, or our Bible study. As a result, our sacrifices may not produce the effect we expect.
Remember Cornelius? The angel who visited him said, "your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God" (Acts 10:4). Notice it wasn't the sacrifice of animals that garnered God's attention here. Instead, one man's righteous lifestyle triggered the Lord to reach out. He believed in Jesus and lived as such, obeying His instructions to take care of those in need.
He clearly took his walk seriously and that brought him a great reward. His experience is a lesson for us - modern Christians - to do the same.
Apostle Paul teaches us how we can achieve this in Romans 12:1-2 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
God wants us to make our very lives a sweet-smelling offering to Him. We should develop a lifestyle of righteousness and change how lax we are about the things of God. For instance, do we take our prayer time seriously? Do we set aside quiet time for Bible study or can anything and anyone distract us? Is living by God's word a serious thing for us? Or are we abusing His grace and the salvation it brings? Are we listening to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to change us so we become more like Jesus Christ our paradigm?
When we fail to do these things, we fail to give God an unblemished offering. And when that happens, we may fail to see the blessings we expect to see. God is concerned that His people take things seriously when it comes to Him. We must be cautious not to be like those whom He said are destroyed for their lack of wisdom in Hosea 4:6. And He said in Malachi 1:14 - “But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished— For I am a great King,” Says the LORD of hosts, “And My name is to be feared among the nations.
May the good Lord, in His grace and mercy, help us to bring Him an unblemished offering. May we take the things of God seriously so we approach His throne of grace with the boldness that reverence brings, IJMN, Amen.
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