Day One: What is Worship?
…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.
When people mention the term “worship,” what do you think of? I think for most, it’s the beginning of the service where we sing songs, maybe lift our hands and close our eyes.
You’re not wrong but it is incomplete. In the story of Cain and Abel, we read that God found favor on Abel’s offering but not on Cain’s. Was it that he didn’t wear his Sunday best or perhaps didn’t raise his hands at the altar? All kidding aside, I think we put too much focus on what each brought and miss the point. It wasn’t Cain’s best. I don’t think it was that Cain brought fruit to the altar, but rather his heart wasn’t in it. Not his best. Whether it was a lack of quality or a bad attitude, it still displays Cain’s heart wasn’t in it to please God.
Hebrews 11:4 says, “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.”
Abel’s desire was not only to be obedient but he desired to please God in both the quality of the sacrifice and heart. Just like buying a gift for that special someone, did you really put thought into it or was it a last-minute purchase at the checkout? We know how that story ends. You see, God doesn’t receive glory because you checked all the boxes or followed all the rules. He wants a personal relationship with you. Bring Him your offering with a heart of joy, an attitude of faith, a face that is not downcast like that of Cain’s (vs.6). God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Reading: Genesis 4:1-8, Isaiah 29:13, 2 Corinthians 9:7