"And the
LORD had regard for Abel and his
offering, but for Cain and his
offering he had no regard." Genesis 4:4-5
When Abel and Cain both participated in the same form of
worship and one’s worship was acceptable to the Lord and the other’s was not.
How was it possible for both to participate in the same worship and yet the
Lord had regard for Abel’s worship and none for Cain’s? The difference was
found in the heart, i.e. the faith with which each brought themselves and their
offering in worship. One with a heart relationship to his earthly blessings for
the Lord and the other with a relationship to his earthly blessings for himself.
One with a faith relationship in the Lord; the other with a faith relationship
in the earthly things about him. One living according to his relationship to
the Lord; the other living according to his relationship to the earthly. One
living by the eternal; the other by the temporal.
How the Lord made known His regard to Abel, we do not know
for sure, but in light of the fact that the Lord spoke with Cain about it, it
is well to believe that the Lord spoke His blessing upon Abel. The Lord’s affirmation
to Abel was a clear sign of God’s grace and affirmation toward him. Surely, Abel
responded with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, Who had looked upon his
imperfect and sin tainted offering with grace saturated approval.
It was over the Lord’s grace given approval that the first
conflict and violence in the world began. It is little wonder that such
conflict and violence yet endures over God’s Word of grace and the life and
living it gives and works in all who believe aright. It does explains why so
many look for the assurance of the Lord’s grace and regard in anything other
than His Word … and like Cain run sin-blind from their sin to the calamity of more
sin and deeper into their self-created chaos. How many like Cain, sadly and
foolishly believe that their sin, their situation, is beyond the want and reach
of God in His mercy and grace? Such belief is the ultimate blasphemy, for it is
to believe that we and our sin are mightier, greater and more powerful than God
Himself.
Our sin is and will always be TOO MUCH … for us both before and
after our baptism. As the blood of Abel cried out to God against Cain, so also
our sinful blood cries out to God against us. Our loving God knew this and sent
His Son to be MUCH MORE than us, our sin, our conflicts and our end through His
Cross and resurrection. When Christ said “It is finished!”, these are Words of
regard for us all, for they assure us that our Savior’s offering of Himself, is
so MUCH MORE for us … than us, our sin, our experiences and MORE than enough
for us in the face of God’s wrath against us for our sin. His resurrection assures
us that our Savior is so MUCH MORE than even death for us so that even in this
fallen world, we might have the regard and favor of God Himself. Now does the
blood of Christ given and shed for you … cry out to God for you according to
His testament. Now by His grace and regard, you are made to be much more as one
born again in the waters of Baptism. Having been born against with a new and a
clean heart, each believer is free through faith to worship the Lord and
receive His regard in Jesus Christ.
Our living, worship, offerings and our service in Christ’s Kingdom are
always a confession of our regard for Him and His blessings. It is faith's regard that always makes the difference between the Abel and a Cain, between the
Church of Christ and a church of people, possessions and personal preference.
- pmwl
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