The Daily Word: Thursday, November 12th, 2020
Ezekiel 24:1-26:21
Hebrews 11:1-16
Psalm 110:1-7
Proverbs 27:14
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. – Heb. 11:4
Two brothers offered their sacrifice to God. They had the same background and similar life experience. But one gift was “more excellent” than the other.
Cain was a “tiller of the ground” (Gen.. 4:2). He brought an offering “of the fruit of the ground…in the process of time” (Gen. 4:3). Abel was a “keeper of sheep” (Gen. 4:2). He too brought an offering to God, “of the firstborn of his flock and their fat” (Gen. 4:4). Scripture says that God “respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering “(v 5). Why did God respect one man’s gift, but reject the other’s?
Abel brought 1) the best he had 2) right away. Cain brought 1) the leftovers 2) when it was convenient. Do you see the difference? Jesus gave you His best! God gave His only Son: His most prized possession, and the best He had to give! And in return, He does not ask for your leftovers; He asks for your best, laid at his feet.
And yet I show you a more excellent way. – 1 Cor. 12:31
Prayer:
Father, I want to give You my best! I want to give you the first moments of my morning in prayer. I want to give You my celebration whenever I experience victory. You don’t deserve anything but the best! You deserve far more than I can afford to give; but I will give all I have, in Jesus’ name.
© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.