Today’s New Covenant nugget is from Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent offering than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

This is a very important and a very interesting verse, Abel gave an offering to God that He testifies about, an offering that demonstrated Abel’s righteousness, and an offering that still speaks today, thousands of years later. Cain’s offering however was rejected.

Genesis 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.”

When we combine Hebrews 11:4 and Genesis 4:3-7, here is what we see.

 Abel gave his offering by faith, Cain did not. Hebrews 11:4 says, “BY FAITH Abel offered to God a more excellent offering than Cain.” Doing something ‘by faith’ implies, doing it with your whole heart, doing it enthusiastically, doing it based upon the Word, doing it as an act of worship and doing it with absolute trust in the Lord.

When we do anything for the Lord, the Lord wants us to do what we do in FAITH. When you give an offering, mix your faith with it. Faith comes from the Word, so think about what you are doing, and do it in the light of scripture, by faith. Faith actions and gifts please God, but without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Abel gave the ‘firstborn’ or the ‘first-fruit’, Cain brought his offering ‘in the course of time’. The Hebrew words for ‘in the course of time’ literally say, “at the end of days”. Cain used the first and the best for his own needs, and then gave God the leftovers as an afterthought. Abel gave God the first and the best by faith and then used the rest for himself. It is easy to fall into the trap of doing what we do for God as an afterthought, and giving offerings when we can afford it. The Lord receives what we do and what we give when it is done by faith.

God does not receive all offerings. He receives offerings that are given in faith, and thankfulness.

As you prepare your tithes and offerings this week, thank Him for what He did for you on the Cross, thank Him for His love for you and bring your gifts to Him in Faith and worship Him with your giving.

In His amazing Love,

Esther