Genesis: The Story of God's FaithfulnessSample

LIVING BY FAITH 

Listen to the audio guide to hear the complete devotional with Scripture, teaching and a worship song! Find a condensed, written version of this devotional below: 

Have you ever fallen into the trap of “doing something for God” when you’re really doing it for yourself? For gaining the approval of others; for feeling good about yourself; for seeking to gain favor with God? 

We find an example of this played out in the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. Both brothers bring an offering to God, but God only approves of Abel’s offering. What set their offerings apart?

The New Testament book of Hebrews sheds some light on this. In Hebrews 11:4 we read, “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous.” What set the offerings apart is that Abel’s was made in faith and Cain’s was not. Offerings and works done for God, even if they look obedient on the outside, are worthless to God if they stem from ulterior motives.

God delights in offerings motivated by faith!

He wants us to give our money and resources because we have faith that He will take care of us in the future.

He wants us to serve and help the poor because we have faith that he will one day bring this work of restoration to completion at Christ’s second coming. 

He wants us to obey him even when it causes us to sacrifice financial gain or social standing because we have faith that our eternal reward is better. 

REFLECT: Think of one specific way that you can make an offering of faith today. Remember that the root is a heart motivated by belief in God and hope in his promises.