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| Determining exactly what to offer God |
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4:3 In the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4:4 Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 4:5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
In church on Sundays, it feels so good to pledge my life to my Savior, in recognition of the endless good he has done for me. But singing “take my life Lord” and actually giving it to him are two completely different things. It can be so hard sometimes, trying to figure out exactly what to give him and when I’ve given enough. Especially when we are surrounded by people, inside and outside the church, striving to please themselves. (I admit, pleasing myself is pretty high on my list of priorities too—after all, God gives us so many good things to enjoy, doesn’t he?)
I found it extremely interesting as I recently read about the contrast between the offerings of Cain and Abel. Cain offered some of the fruits of the soil, as Abel was offered fat portions from the firstborn of his flock, i.e. apparently the choicest parts. The differences in what they offered is significant. BUT…is that really all that made a difference to the Lord?
The text says the Lord looked with favor on Abel himself, as well as his offering! Seems there must have been something about Abel that pleased the Lord even before he actually presented his offering. Conversely, the Lord looked with disfavor on Cain (and that which he offered as well). I believe the key is, Abel had already offered himself first, and therefore anything he offered on top of that, as a further token of his love and appreciation for the Lord, would have been most acceptable to God! Cain, with his eyes of bitterness on his brother (rather than God), could have offered ten times what Abel offered, and it still would not have been acceptable to the Lord!
Does the Lord look with favor on what I offer him? Or more importantly, is he looking with favor on me? Are my eyes on God, rather than on what I’m considering offering to God? Or worse, am I focused on what others are offering?
If a life is fully devoted to the Father, I don't believe any offering is unsatisfactory. Last week my children gave me some of their artwork, colored in crayon, created on their own. Of course they colored outside the lines, and yes, the papers were wrinkled. But in receiving it, I certainly looked with favor on my children and their offering! First they gave me their hearts, then their time and talents. In determining what to offer God, the answer seems easy: myself, for starters. The rest will fall into place.
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| Mike- I believe it is all in the attitude of the giver, "Some give for selfish reasons, some to be seen of men, and some give out of Tradition ect. I believe in this case that Cains attitude was wrong from the beginning, he gave because it was customary to offer to the Lord "Tradition" he didn't do it out of Love and honor for the Lord just like some people in our Churches today, They give because they think it is just the thing to do,"AND IT IS" but it should first be because we Love and want to Honor him and his word. Good blog! |
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| WOW! What a powerful blog, as I finished the words of this blog I could not get out of my mind the fact that the Lord intends for us first to focus on Him and everything else will follow. If our lives our focused upon the Lord then the rest will fall into place. To be like Jesus for through His example He was focused on His father God, to do his will. |
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Keith, you've echoed the lesson that's come into focus for me at the moment. THANKS for your comment!
Larry, thanks so much! This has been on my mind on/off for a couple wks now. Lord bless you!
Rebekah, I appreciate you! |
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Good stuff Mikey
All- Whole- every deep recess our hearts are the most important! |
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"Come as little children", that is what the Lord wants from each of us, I believe. Unconditional love and devotion to him. Of course we pray and ask for protection, provision, from him and he provides it, but first we come loving him for who he is and giving of ourselves(heart) first. We cannot give what already belongs to him, what we can give is our heart,which is what he seeks, willingly as children.
Thank you Father for accepting ME, who is not worthy to be in your presence.
Thank you for your unconditional love and acceptance of a speck of dust so insignificant in this world, yet to you I am as big as the earth. Thank you for accepting my weakness, my unworthiness, my sins and faults and loving me as your own. I give completely my heart and all it contains to you for molding and maturing as you see fit. To you all the glory and honor, in the mighty name of JESUS. |
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When I read this it brought someone to mind...my 5 year old granddaughter.
She is a giver, alot of little kids are, but she's different. She knows everyone's favorite color, what they like and don't like, even each family members favorite drink. She picks flowers for everyone...but each person will get their favorite color in that flower.....she colors pictures for everyone, and each picture given will be that person's favorite color. It's not that she's just a giver....she's a "Knower".....she intimately knows each of us and if she's given something that she knows would please one of us because of knowing what we like, she wants to give it to us.
This is what God wants from us......to be a "knower".
hehehehe "lessons from a 5 year old " :) |
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Mary |
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July 20, 2008 at 7:46am |
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Hi Cindy Lou,
You are right on. My great granddaughter is very similar to yours--a lot of little kids are. I too, am praying to be a "knower". |
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| Wow! I can't say any more than that but I'll be thinking on this one. Great blog! Thanks for sharing it! |
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Thanks Bubbles! At the heart of the matter is a matter of the heart!
Mary, I prayed that prayer with you. Thanks for posting it, sister!
Wow Cindy, I was gonna say her knowing shows interest, a certain devotion, and that we become knowers too as we learn about our Father, in devotion to him. Great post!!!
Carrie Ann, I appreciate knowing this somehow touched you. God bless you sis! |
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| Mike, yep and that's what God truly wants from us.......is to know Him in love and devotion :) |
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ok this is kewl eh? i think ill read about cain and abel after
i get thru w/ josua ... so yeah if we put God first then
everything we give Him is outa love and gives
him glory instead of ourselves eh? |
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| Right on, Amber! If our offering is motivated purely by the desire to obey God and appreciate him (i.e. we've offered ourselves first), we should be "golden". Us and our offerings! Keep growing, girl! |
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| Mike, Awesome blog. Our children are watching us as well. If our attitude is do what I say and not what I do then we end up showing our children less God and risk leaving them with a lifetime of self-centeredness to cope with. God bless you for your words =0) |
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Mike: A broken and contrite heart God will not despise. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourself in the sight of the LORD and He will lift you up. You are so right my brother, that Cain's attitude poisioned his offering. God is not pleased with our offerings...the psalmist said, "You do not delight in sacrifices else I would give it. The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart." The people worship Me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me. God is looking for the one that will be a "living sacrifice" holy and acceptable unto Him.
Mike when I first joined mychurch I wrote a blog about Cain and Able, it was before I became known on MYchurch. Check it out. Love you man!http://www.mychurch.org/blog/140918/the-sin-of-cain |
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Hey Todd, thanks! And I just read yours, good one! The way I write em, there's enough material in yours for about four blogs! (I had tacked on Romans 12:1 at the end of this, like yours, but removed it b/c it deviated slightly from the intended point.)
That's a good observation Robin. Our kids don't need mixed signals, it erodes their trust and our authority! |
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| Complementing, not taking over. Thanks for the links Todd! (ps... I found it even before you linked it, mister! hahahaha) |
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| Great blog Mike. I think more than anything else, as you stated, Able offered himself in total surrender. As Paul said, "I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship". |
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God loves it when we offer ourselves. He wants us to give everything to him. He wants our hearts, minds, souls, hands, feet, eyes, our everything and we will be so much happier when we do.
good post.
Theresa |
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| Thanks Theresa! I'm guessing it's simpler when we just give him our hearts, rather than trying to figure out exactly what to give, and how much, and when, etc... Simpler doesn't necessarily mean easier though!! (Those were some of my thoughts as I prepared to write the blog.) God bless! |
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Good thoughts Mike, and I agree with much of what you said here. You made an absolutely awesome observation about the role of the firstborn not many see that but its the whole crux of the passage. I'd also like to offer a few observations you did not consider in your post.
Hebrews 11:4, “ 4By faith(A) Abel offered to God(B) a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And(C) through his faith, though he died, he(D) still speaks. “ This teaches s about the condition of Cain and Abel’s hearts.
1) God saw the heart of Cain and knew his true motives.
2) Motive for worship 1st Samuel 16:7, “7But the LORD said to Samuel,(A) "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance,(B) but the LORD looks on the heart."
3) Lord requires that worship be from an obedient and upright heart (1st Samuel 15:14, “ 14And Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?" “Hosea 6:6, “6For(A) I desire steadfast love[a] and not sacrifice, (B) the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. “ Matthew 5:24, “24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. “
Genesis 4:6-7, “6The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7(E) If you do well, will you not be accepted?[b] And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door.(F) Its desire is for[c] you, but you must rule over it."” 1) Cain’s offering was rejected because it was done on his terms not with a heart set upon God. 2)) James 1:14-15, “ 14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15Then desire(A) when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and(B) sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. “3) Sin has a pervasive power that seizes occasion to enslave its victims (Romans 3:9, “ 9What then? Are we Jews[a] any better off?[b] No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both(A) Jews and(B) Greeks, are(C) under sin, “ ; 1st Corinthians 15:56, “ 56The sting of death is sin, and(A) the power of sin is the law. “ 1st John 5:19, “ 19We know that we are from God, and(A) the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. “ |
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Thanks Dave, I deeply appreciate what you've added on the subject. No doubt, what I've written was abbreviated from what it could have been! (ooh, I like that Hosea scripture...happens to be from one of my fav books! I see you posted from the ESV, I like that rendering better than the NIV, NKJV, etc.)
ps... What you posted appears to be a cut n paste, may I ask what site it came from? |
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That is absolutely precious, Mama Strout! Childlike faith, innocence, trust... that is a beautiful picture! Elizabeth, I appreciate hearing from you! Yep, the motivation for the giving is even more important that the giving itself. |
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Mike, I preach from the ESV translation of the Bible. I like it and I've preached from NIV, NKJV, and NLT. I always tell people I think the ESV is crisper and easier to read plus it is just as accurate as the NASB but not as rigid. I didn't copy and paste from another site, but I did copy and paste from my sermon note outline from my sermon on the Way of Cain. Keep up the good work bro. |
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| Thanks Dave, it's an honor to host a small part of one of your sermons here. :-) |
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Angela |
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July 21, 2008 at 12:14pm |
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| WOW Mike thanks for that...I am so encouraged by your heart to honor God with all He has given you!!!!!I was touched by your children's offering to you and more so by your acknowledgement to it!!!!! |
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offering? Myself for starters... wow. :) |
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| Angela, thanks for that encouraging comment! Just thinking that God could be so deeply touched by my offerings (of myself, first) as I am touched by my children's, leaves me in a state of complete wonder! |
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| Aravind, bro! (I see the rest of the world still knows you as TDK! lol) Hey man, YOU are the best thing you can offer God....how about that!!! |
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Lee |
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July 22, 2008 at 11:02am |
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Are my eyes on God, rather than on what I’m considering offering to God?
This hit me between the eyes -- pun intended -- because I sometimes find myself so immersed in what and how much to give that I lose sight of the reason I need to give anything at all.
Thanks for leaving me a star on my blog -- and this one definitely gets one from me! |
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| Thanks Lourdes!!! And thank you Lee, I appreciate meeting you here on MyChurch, glad the Lord was speaking to us both with this one! :-) |
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Deb |
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July 25, 2008 at 2:45pm |
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| Our Father loves us, and whatever we give from the heart is enough for Him. He mostly wants us to love Him and give Him our souls to do with as He pleases. |
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| "from the heart" Deb, sounds about right to me! :-) |
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| awsome .- simply put... awsome. |
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I have spent much time pondering if I do enough, and if what I do is good enough or worthy enough for God. When considering what He has given me, I will always fall short, however, I have reached level of understanding, and when I feel like i am giving, or doing enough, or if I feel like I dont have all that it takes.... I remember this...
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. |
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