ICS Daily Devotions
The Right Way to Approach God
We are to come to God based on His terms and the way that He has enabled us to approach Him. This concept has been recurring in the Bible many times and it can be demonstrated on the case of Cain and Abel.
Gen 4:3-7 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
There was an offering for sin or a sacrifice unto the Lord for sin. We must remember that one of the first things God did for Adam and Eve was slaughter an animal to make clothes for the first couple. This was a sacrificial act designed to remind the couple of the need for a deliverer.
The fact that Cain and Abel were bringing offerings shows that there was some instruction regarding sacrifices. Abel’s act of worship testified to the fact that a true worshiper must have come in faith, presenting the sacrifice required by God. It was required that for men to approach God, it had to be done through a sacrifice with the shedding of blood. Abel did the correct thing, that is, to sacrifice the first born of his flock and their fat in order for Him to approach God. It was an act foreshadowing the shedding of Christ’s blood for remission of sins and the access to God through His righteousness.
Cain, on the other hand, brought the offering of the fruit of the ground which is something that Cain had labored to the Lord. God did not accept Cain’s offer because it was not what He required. It was Cain’s self-righteousness and works. The problem was that Cain was seeking to worship God on his terms and not on the Lord’s terms. He was doing what was convenient and not what was required or right. But we know that sin cannot be removed by good works or conduct!
Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. Cain was offended with God. He probably felt that his offering should have been accepted because he worked for it with his strength. He labored. It was the fruit of his labor as compared to Abel who conveniently brought an animal sacrifice that did not require much work or labor! But Abel obeyed what was required by God and had faith that the animal blood would cover his sins. That is the right attitude and faith!
Cain was rejected because he lacked humbleness, faith, and obedience. He refused to come to God confessing his need. Sometimes we tend to try to come before God based on what we have done. It is because this is the way we gain approval and the acceptance by man! We say, “Maybe God will hear me or will be pleased with me based on my performance.” But God is only pleased by faith, faith in Him and the completed work of Christ!
Hebrews 11:4,6 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… 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.
God mentioned in these verses that Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. More excellent! The way to please God is to have faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ and not repeat the mistake of Cain. The mistake and the pride of Cain was to try to come before God to earn God’s love and acceptance based on Cain’s term and achievement. Cain was full of self-righteousness and pride that eventually led him to be a murderer of his own brother.
It is better for us to acknowledge that we are spiritually bankrupt and need the grace of God to bring us back to God. One of the most important lessons for us to learn is attitude! An attitude of humbleness to receive all that is being said about us in the Word of God. Apply the lesson that we learn from Abel so that we can please God and approach Him boldly!
Series: Our Identity in Christ
