Read carefully the first recorded story of a worship service (Gen. 4:1–7).Why was Cain's offering not acceptable to God and Abel's was?

When we look at these two offerings there appears to be no apparent reason why God would choose one over the other. The offering that Cain brought was a sacrifice from the ground and the sacrifice that Able brought was the firstborn of his flock. Looking closer in Genesis 3 we see two things which give us a clue as to why Abel’s offering was accepted and Cain’s was refused. In genesis 3:15 God announces "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." This passage is a prophecy which points toward to when Jesus Christ will ultimately triumph over sin. Also in Genesis 3:21 the bible says that "Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them." Both of these texts point toward to what God would do in Jesus Christ for humanity. Just as God scarified an animal to clothed Adam and Even and just as God would give His firstborn for us Able too gives a animal sacrifice of the firstborn of his flock. Abel's sacrifice demonstrated his faith in what God would do through Jesus Christ(Heb 11:4).

Examine your own thoughts, motives, and inner feelings about worship. How Christ-centered is your worship, or might you be focusing too much upon yourself?

I believe the major thing that keeps our worship life fresh is our service life. If we are not helping others then we often lose the substance of our others. We we are engaged in services to others if makes our worship more meaningful and authentic. When our life is Christ-centered we do the same things which Christ did.

Prayer: Father thank you for what you did for us in Jesus Christ. Please help us to live our lives looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith.

Related posts:

1. Worship in Eden
3. Patience in the Gospel (2 Tim. 4:2)

Worship in Eden

Read the tragic story of the fall in Genesis 3:1–13. What changes now took place in Adam's relationship to his Creator? (vss. 8–10). How did Adam respond to God's questions to him? (vss. 11–13). What does his response reveal about what had happened to him?

When Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he realized realized that eating it’s fruit caused an internal change in himself. Adam was not initially struck with the gravity of his actions but it was processed he realized what he had done. In patriarch and prophets Ellen White says this.

After his transgression Adam at first imagined himself entering upon a higher state of existence. But soon the thought of his sin filled him with terror. The air, which had hitherto been of a mild and uniform temperature, seemed to chill the guilty pair. The love and peace which had been theirs was gone, and in its place they felt a sense of sin, a dread of the future, a nakedness of soul. The robe of light which had enshrouded them, now disappeared, and to supply its place they endeavored to fashion for themselves a covering; for they could not, while unclothed, meet the eye of God and holy angels.(pp 57)

After Adam recognized the he was naked he proceeded to cover himself with fig leaves. When Adam heard God walking in the garden he hid from him. Adam no longer was drawn to the presence of God but it repelled him because of his sin.

Think about times in your life when some experience, perhaps some sin, made you feel guilt, shame, and the desire to hide from God. How did this affect your prayer life? What did it do to your ability to worship Him with your whole heart? Not a pleasant feeling, is it?

I have experienced this before and I know the feeling. When I know that I am doing something that is not right then I am not as inclined to prayer of study of the scriptures. It is in these these times that we need to really seek after God and pray to Him for help and strength.

Prayer: Father sometimes we run away from you when we should be really running toward you. Help us to see our need of you even when we are feeling guilty and ashamed. Thank you in Jesus name amen.

Related posts:

1. Worship and Church Community
2. Shame