Abel's offering came from a heart of faith, but Cain's offering did not, but I truly believe that on the outside, Cain brought the very best offering he could. In his mind, his offering was far better than his brother's – but he gave it out of a sinful self-sufficient heart. Cain's offering wasn't accepted because his heart was filled with pride, jealousy, anger, even murder, and God doesn't accept any worship from that kind of heart. Proverbs 15:8 says, The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. What about us this morning friends? We might think we're giving God our best. We're here every time the doors are open, we might sing the loudest, give the most, and pray the longest, but are we just going through the motions with faithless hearts that are far from God -- just like Cain? |
