WHAT FAITH BRINGS (PART 2)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

Hebrews 11:4

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In verse 2 of this eleventh chapter of Hebrews, the letter’s author states this about the matter of faith, faith that was defined as the “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”:

This is what the ancients were commended for.

Who were the ancients exactly?

Well, as we start to see in verse 4 of this chapter, the writer begins to use Old Testament figures to highlight examples of faith as he writes to his Jewish Christian audience. In today’s message, part 2 of this 19 message series, we find the focus on Abel.

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

We know that when God created the first human beings, Adam was made first and then Eve using one of Adam’s ribs (Genesis 2:20b-23). After the great fall in Eden’s gardens, the first couple had their first child, a son who they named Cain (Genesis 4:1). Later, they would have a second son who was named Abel (Genesis 4:2).

We go on to read in Genesis, chapter 4 how the two brothers each brought an offering to the Lord and the Lord favored Abel’s offering over Cain’s. This is because Abel offered the best he could bring and so God “commended” him “as righteous” because of his faith. Unfortunately, this faith didn’t stop a jealous, sinful Cain from murdering his own brother but not before Abel had left his mark in regard to faith-based giving to a God who provides the best for those who place their belief and trust in Him.

Indeed, this faith of Abel continues to speak to us through the scriptures well after his death as Christian believers today read the testimony about him and then follow his lead, also bringing their best to the Lord as an offering. This offering can be in the form of our time, talent, or treasure and everyone has at least one of these to provide to the Lord.

The bottom line is this. If we didn’t have faith in God, then we wouldn’t worship and honor Him with our finest gifts. Faith brings us to a place where we know God and revere Him for who He is, the Almighty Maker and Master of all things, the One who deserves the absolute greatest we can give.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.