A Matter of the Heart
Hebrews 11:4 Cain and Abel both offered sacrifices to God. But Abel offered a better sacrifice to God because he had faith. God said he was pleased with what Abel offered. And so God called him a good man because he had faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking.
You’ve perhaps heard it said that without faith it is impossible to please God. True. It comes straight out of His Word, the Bible – Hebrews chapter 11, verse 6. But what does that actually mean in the lives that you and I live day to day, hmm?
I’m a great fan of trying to make sense of God’s Word amidst the realities of life. After all, if you’re going to believe in Jesus, if you’re going to follow Him (which always, always involves trials and sacrifices … always!) you want all that to make a powerfully positive difference in your life, amen?
Well, just a few verses before that statement – without faith it is impossible to please God – the Lord gives us a practical, real-life example to explain what it means.
Hebrews 11:4 Cain and Abel both offered sacrifices to God. But Abel offered a better sacrifice to God because he had faith. God said he was pleased with what Abel offered. And so God called him a good man because he had faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking.
Now, Cain and Abel were Adam and Eve’s sons. Cain ended up murdering his brother Abel out of jealousy because God accepted Abel’s sacrifices but not his own. So why was God pleased with Abel while rejecting Cain?
Well, because Abel offered his sacrifice in faith believing that God is good whilst Cain was simply going through the motions because he had evil in his heart, as evidenced by him murdering his brother.
If you’ve ever found yourself just going through the motions, it’s time for a change of heart, because without faith it’s impossible to please God.
That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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