Good Morning Girls!  Ready to wrap up the mystery of Abel and his acceptable gift?  I left you Friday with a challenge.  It was to 1. tell me why you think Abel's gift was acceptable and Cain's wasn't and 2.  why Abel's offering "gave evidence that he was a righteous man" as stated in Hebrews 11:4.  I assured you there were no wrong answers.

I repeat that disclaimer because I am going to share with you what I believe are the answers to the above two questions.  They are the impressions left on my heart when I sought out the answers.  You may see it differently.  That's the beauty of the Word.  There are parts that strike us each differently depending on where we are in our lives. 

For example, as I said when I began this blog entry last Monday, I used to shrug off these two verses.  I didn't "get them", and I didn't really care that I didn't get them.  However, now they contain a meaning that is important to me right now and where I am at in my life.  You may have been bored crazy this week because you could care less about this topic.......or, you find, after I explain, that this is just what you needed! 

Genesis 4:3-4 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift- the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock.

In an in depth Bible study I believe they would talk about Abel's gift being a first look at Jesus.  He is referred to as the lamb who was slain.  He was not only the firstborn, he was the only.  And most of all- he was definitely the best! 

What I want you to really see here is the word best.  The verses say Cain brought some of his crops- Abel brought his best.  We don't know what would have happened if Cain would have brought the best of his crops.  Perhaps the Lord would have still found them unacceptable because he was looking for a live offering.
Maybe, he would have found them acceptable because they would have been the best of what he had to offer.

That is what I choose to believe right now!  Maybe someday it will speak differently to my heart.  However, right now, I believe God wants our best.....even if it is "not as good" as someone else's best!  Even if someone's else's best is "perfect".

And so I determined to give God my best.  My best just happens to be the first hour I am awake.  It is when my mind is running full force and completely focused.  If I can go straight from my bed to my computer (with only one stop at the coffeepot) I can pray and write without the rest of my day creeping into my head.  Once I am fully "up" my brain is all over the place- thinking about work, school, groceries, laundry, working out, and world peace- or household peace (which some mornings seem as elusive as world peace).

So how did Abel's offering land him in the Faith Hall of Fame?  It says in Hebrews 11:4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did.  Abel's offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts.  Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

So what was Abel's example of faith?  I believe it was the fact that he understood he was a righteous man!  He was not a righteous man because he offered the lamb- No!  He offered the best lamb because he understood that he was righteous!

When we understand that we have right standing with God, we want to give our best!  When we fully realize all that Jesus did for us by dying on the cross, we want to give our best!  When we realize that even when we don't give our best, God will speak to our hearts lovingly and get us back on track, we want to give our best!

If you go back and read the account of Cain and Abel, you will see that God was not mad at Cain for his offering.  In fact he sought Cain and asked him "Why do you look so dejected?  Why are you so angry?  You will be accepted if you do what is right".  However, Cain doesn't bother asking the Lord what is right.  He is too busy being filled with anger, envy, and hurt.

I believe the reason he had this response is because he did not understand that he still had right standing with God, he just hadn't learned yet what God expected from him!  Had he understood that God is a loving God who wants to show us the best way to live he would have responded with "what would please you Lord?", instead of killing his brother in jealousy and rage!

It is critical for us to remember that as a Christian we have right standing with God every single day- whether we bring our best, some, or nothing at all!  God loves us because we love Jesus!  However, if we lose sight of who we are in Christ, the enemy starts telling us all the reasons we are not "acceptable", and that is the beginning of the end of our faith!

So Girls, what I want you to get out of this 4 day blog is not that if you don't give your best you are unacceptable!  No!  What I want you to see is that when you see yourself as having right standing with God, you will naturally want to give your best.  That doesn't mean it happens right away!  But it starts with a desire.  I have wanted to get back to writing for over a year now!  I had right standing with God every single day over the last year- whether I wrote or didn't!

But this I knew.....that God loved me no matter what.  And it takes great faith at times to believe God loves us as much as he does.  We look in the mirror and see every external and internal flaw.  God looks at us and sees a cross between Heidi Klum and Joyce Meyer-Lol!  Actually we look even better than that.  In His eyes we are perfect.  Every single day.  Whether we give our best, some, or nothing!

Girls, let the Lord love on you today.  Let him know you want to give your best, but you may not know how right now.  Understand that he loves you perfectly right now, and when the time is right, he will help you give your best!

Patience, grace, and a revelation of love to you all,
Jen