‘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.’ – Hebrews 11:4 NKJV
When Abel offered his sacrifice to God, he offered it in faith, hoping to bring his best to please God.
God indeed respected Abel and his offering. (Gen 4:4) In fact, through God’s testimony of Abel’s offering we have Abel as an example of what it means to give God an acceptable sacrifice.
God remembered Abel and accepted his offering because he presented it to God in faith.
‘But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.’ Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
This is encouraging, because it does not matter how small or large the offering is, what matters is our faith. The position of our heart before God. In order to please God in anything that we do, we must have faith, for without it we cannot please Him.
It encourages me that if only I would believe and trust that God is faithful, and a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, when I seek Him, when I read the word, when I pray, worship, and sing in faith, He is pleased by this.
Thankfully, you and I do not have to conjure up this faith. We receive it from God by believing in Him. In Ephesians 2:8, Paul says, ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,-Ephesians 2:8 NKJV
Let us freely receive this gift and serve God by faith, in Spirit and in truth.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank You because faith is not out of reach, but a gift from You. I thank You because when we come to You diligently, You reward us with more of a revelation of who You are: a good Father. Father, if there is any area of doubt in my heart, please take it away and replace it with more faith in you in Jesus name. Amen.