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July 21 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen. ”If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:3-7. Here we find dramatic evidence of the fall of man. God had clearly told Adam and Eve that the ground was cursed; yet Cain, attempting to be wiser than God, is bringing an offering from the fruit of the ground. Then when he discovers that God is displeased, he becomes angry. Why is he angry? Because he has obtained the knowledge of good and evil and he mistakenly thinks that he knows best. He has not found the key to life—submission to the Lord. This act of Cain underlies all that is wrong with man. The blood sacrifice was instituted by God when He slayed an animal to provide skins to cover Adam and Eve. Man has been on this path of usurping God ever since. We think that we know how to conduct ourselves through life, and all the while God waits patiently to hear our cry when things go wrong. All of our offerings to God are to proceed in faith as we reckon upon the work of Christ at the cross. Only His blood sacrifice can be foundational for our acceptance by God. Cain’s offering also represented his own self-effort as he tilled the ground. We are not to offer our fleshly efforts to God for His approval. Only the works of Christ, of which we partake by faith, are acceptable. The Father is totally satisfied with the works of His Son. Heavenly Father, we ask today that we can be true worshippers of You. We claim the works of Christ, who lives within us. We know in Your mind, and increasingly within our mind as well, that we are in Christ and He is in us. We pray that we may live more and more like Him, each step of the way. Amen.
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