Both Cain and Abel worshiped the Lord. Both brought Him offerings. But the Lord rejected Cain's worship and accepted Abel's. Why?
Not because Abel's was a blood-offering while Cain's was "of the fruit of the ground." The law authorized grain offerings (e.g., Leviticus 2).
Hebrews 11:4 tells us that Abel's worship was acceptable to God because it was "by faith." And "whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).
Acceptable worship throbs with a conviction of the heart that God is real and that God rewards.
Cain did not worship God with the psychology of faith. His gift to God was safe: "Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground" (Genesis 4:3). He worshiped God out of his income from his past labours.
Abel worshiped God with the psychology of faith. His gift was risky: "Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions" (Genesis 4:4). He gave to the Lord from his breeding stock and from their best parts. The firstborn of his flock had the potential to become an adult animal that could reproduce for him more of its kind. He worshiped God out of his potentials for the future; out of his capital.
Is your worship of God safe or risky? Do you come to God just with the thanksgiving offerings of blessings in the past or do you come to God with your life and all its potentials for the future and lay it at His feet?
It is good to run from safe, no-risk worship. It is good to worship God with a practical demonstration that He alone is the future our hearts will be happy with.
"Let us offer to God acceptable worship" (Hebrews 12:28).
