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Faith Really Is....3
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. Hebrews 11:4 NIV
What if I sent my wife some flowers this week? It just might make her day, you think? What if, however, she found out that I really didn't want to send her the flowers, because I'm too cheap, and that her father had given me the money to send them? And, in fact, my wife's mother had actually made the call to the flower shop, told them where to send them, and asked them to sign my name? Do you think my wife would be impressed still?
Now, that didn't happen; and, it is hopefully not going to, but that is the kind of feeling God had over the offering Cain brought. Cain didn't want to bring it. He didn't want to give up what was his. Possibly because he didn't see how he would get it back.
Abel, on the other hand, was pleased to offer God a sacrifice. He wanted to take something he had and give it to God.
Taking that first illustration about sending my wife the flowers. What if I did indeed send them to her. What if later she found out that I had skipped lunch for a week to save up enough money to buy her the flowers? Do you think she would have felt special then?
By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice, knowing that God was worthy of the sacrifice. He didn't consider his own agenda, but only the feelings of God, wanting to give God something just because he loved Him. That faith pleased God.
Do you have that kind of faith? Do you want to please God just because He is God? Do you desire to give gifts to God; to serve God; because of what He did for you on the cross?
Faith is placing your trust in God so deeply that you would be willing to give Him your very best, expecting nothing in return, simply because He is worthy of whatever you give Him.
That is faith.
What if I sent my wife some flowers this week? It just might make her day, you think? What if, however, she found out that I really didn't want to send her the flowers, because I'm too cheap, and that her father had given me the money to send them? And, in fact, my wife's mother had actually made the call to the flower shop, told them where to send them, and asked them to sign my name? Do you think my wife would be impressed still?
Now, that didn't happen; and, it is hopefully not going to, but that is the kind of feeling God had over the offering Cain brought. Cain didn't want to bring it. He didn't want to give up what was his. Possibly because he didn't see how he would get it back.
Abel, on the other hand, was pleased to offer God a sacrifice. He wanted to take something he had and give it to God.
Taking that first illustration about sending my wife the flowers. What if I did indeed send them to her. What if later she found out that I had skipped lunch for a week to save up enough money to buy her the flowers? Do you think she would have felt special then?
By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice, knowing that God was worthy of the sacrifice. He didn't consider his own agenda, but only the feelings of God, wanting to give God something just because he loved Him. That faith pleased God.
Do you have that kind of faith? Do you want to please God just because He is God? Do you desire to give gifts to God; to serve God; because of what He did for you on the cross?
Faith is placing your trust in God so deeply that you would be willing to give Him your very best, expecting nothing in return, simply because He is worthy of whatever you give Him.
That is faith.
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