Dean Road church of Christ
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Beliefs and Practices
    • History of Dean Road
    • Elders & Deacons
    • Ministers
    • How to Become a Christian
    • Ministries >
      • Adult Classes
      • Teens
      • Missions/Benevolence
      • Previous VBSs >
        • Vacation Bible School 2012
        • VBS 2016
      • Gospel Meeting 2019
      • Previous Gospel Meetings >
        • Gospel Meeting 2016
        • Gospel Meeting 2017
        • Gospel Meeting 2018
  • Visitor Info
  • Lessons
    • Lesson of the Hour
    • Previous Lesson Series >
      • Study of the Holy Spirit
      • Confronting Unbelief with Trust in God's Promises
      • Where Is God's Grace
      • Which Church is the True Church
  • Resources
    • Gospel Articles
    • Bulletins
    • Bulletin Articles
    • Christian Websites
    • 40 Day Devotional
  • Contact Us

Hoping God is Pleased, While Knowing He is Not

1/17/2016

 
By: Undre Griggs, Jr.
Cain, like so many of us, wants God to be pleased with the work he is doing. Also like so many of us, Cain was trying to do things according to his own preferences, instead of obeying God’s will.
Genesis 4:3-5 (NIV): In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
We find from the account in Hebrews 11 that Abel’s faith was the reason his offering was better than Cain’s. Abel provided God the “firstborn of his flocks”, while Cain offering God “some of the fruits”.
Hebrews 11:4 (NIV): 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.
While it is not explicitly stated, it would seem God believed Cain understood what was expected of him. Like any parent, God is not pleased when His children do not obey His directions; even if they complete the task. If we want our children to buy a loaf of bread, they cannot take it upon themselves to purchase a pack of cheese with the change. As Christians, we cannot add or ignore the guidelines found in the Bible and expect God to be pleased with us. We have an understanding that obedience to God is how we show Him that we love Him.
John 14:23 (ESV): Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
If we ignore His words and fail to meet His expectations, God wants us to know He is not pleased with us. Jehovah is a just and fair God, and as such, He will reward us if we do right and walk the path of righteousness. If we do wrong, like Cain, we open ourselves up to sin and that can lead us down the path of destruction. Stay strong, show your love to God through obedience, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Genesis 4:6-7 (NIV): Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Comments are closed.

    Dean Road
    ​church of Christ

    A posting of articles from our weekly bulletin!

    Categories

    All
    Afterlife
    Angels & Demons
    Baptism
    Beatitudes
    Biblical Traits Of An Effective Leader
    Christ's Church
    Denominationalism
    Evidences Of God
    God & His Attributes
    Grace
    Holiness
    Holy Spirit
    Interpreting The Bible
    Jesus Christ
    Last Days
    Life
    Morality
    Overcoming Worry
    Relationships
    Responsibilities
    Spiritual Beings
    The Christian & Social Issues
    The Gospel
    The Scriptures
    Weddings
    Worship & Assembly

    Archives

    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    RSS Feed

Dean Road church of Christ | 1968 Dean Road, Jacksonville, Florida | p: 904.721.0055