Daily Devotio: The Better Offering

Scripture:
Genesis 4

Main Verse:
Genesis 4: 7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.

Observation:
They were brothers: one was a farmer and the other a shepherd. The Lord was pleased with the shepherd's offering because he brought to the Lord the best of his flock. The farmer also offered the produce of the land that he tilled. He spent months tilling the soil. He labored and toiled. But in the end, the Lord was much more pleased with his brother's offering. They were Cain and Abel. Cain got offended by God. Deep in his heart, he believed that his offering was much better than what Abel prepared. Instead of asking for God's forgiveness for his disobedience, he let his emotions get the better of him and killed Abel. He was so mad at the Lord that he directed his anger toward his brother.

Application:
We sometimes fail to ask whatever is pleasing unto the Lord and just do things on our own. We serve the Lord in our ministries, but do we ever ask the Lord if that's what He wants for us? The Lord wants us to obey Him above all else. Abel's offering was pleasing and acceptable to the Lord because he had an obedient heart. Cain's offering, on the other hand, was rejected by the Lord even though he exerted much effort to till the soil so that it may bear fruit. It is good to serve others or be active in your ministry in church, but without an obedient heart, our works of service are all futile and will never bear fruit. Obedience is a direct commandment from God, so we must obey Him first with all our heart, soul, and mind. Let us keep in mind that the better offering we can present to the Lord is an obedient heart.

Prayer:
Father, forgive me for my failures and shortcomings. Please know that in the deepest part of my heart, my desire is to obey you and follow your will. Strengthen my spirit, Lord, so that I may always have an obedient heart. This I pray in Jesus's name. AMEN.