Monday, October 14th

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Hebrews 11:4

Who has ever heard of Hebrews, chapter 11, referred to as the Hall of Faith chapter of the Bible?  In this chapter the Lord records the names of quite a few of His followers who walked in His ways and did right.  They were common, everyday people, as we will study over the next couple of weeks, who had a passion for the Lord. 

 

You've probably read many times the tragedy of Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve.  Both boys were trained in the worship of God in the very same way.  They both knew the way to have their sins covered---it had to come through a blood sacrifice of an innocent animal.  The Scripture tells us in Hebrews 9:22,

 

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

 

There was a purpose in this, girls.  You see, the sacrifice pointed to the final sacrifice that would someday come to take away the sins of the world.  The sacrifice of the animal was an act of obedience that proved the one offering the sacrifice believed upon that final Sacrifice.   That final sacrifice, dear girls, was offered upon Calvary---our precious Savior, Jesus Christ.

Back to Cain and Abel.  Even though both boys had been taught the way to the Lord, only one came the right way.  Cain came bearing a sacrifice of the beautiful crops he'd planted.  We've all seen pretty fruit baskets and thought how delicious they looked.  Abel, on the other hand, came with a dead, bloody animal---certainly an ugly offering, wouldn't you think?  Yet, the Bible records that God respected Abel's offering and rejected Cain's.  Cain was furious, and even though God offered Cain the same forgiveness, it was under God's conditions.  Instead of coming God's way, Cain refused the Lord's directions.  He decided that it was his own way or no way.  God could either accept his sacrifice Cain's way or not; Cain didn't care.  With his rage and jealousy out of control, Cain rose up against his own flesh-and-blood brother and killed him. 

I wonder if Abel realized just how important his obedience to the Lord really was?  Indeed it was important; God records his faithful obedience in the Hall of Faith chapter---Hebrews 11. 



Scripture Reading for the Day:

Proverbs 14
Acts 23