Humble Obedience Wins

Humble Obedience Wins

As I read my Bible this morning, the contrast between Pride and Humility was startling:

Genesis 11:4 And they said, "Come, LET US BUILD OURSELVES a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; LET US MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." NKJV

Genesis 11:8-9 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city….and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. NKJV

Genesis 12:1-2 Now the Lord had said to Abram:

"Get out of your country,

From your family

And from your father's house,

To a land that I WILL SHOW YOU.

2 I WILL MAKE YOU A GREAT NATION;

I WILL BLESS YOU

And MAKE YOUR NAME GREAT;

And YOU SHALL BE A BLESSING. NKJV

Genesis 12:4 So Abram departed AS THE LORD HAD SPOKEN to him,

NKJV

God scattered the prideful and caused the very thing they feared to happen.  Yet, He called Abram out of all that was familiar and promised blessing …Abram was obedient—he humbled himself and his own ideas and followed God’s directions…and we are still reaping the blessings of Abram’s humility and obedience today.

Later when the enemy came to Jesus three times in the wilderness to tempt Him—each time it was a choice of pride or humility, man’s way or God’s way.

Matthew 4:4 "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" NKJV

Jesus chose God’s way every time. 

We have choices every day.  The logical ways of the world filled with pride, self- preservation, self-provision, self-exaltation OR God’s ways of humility, trust, faith and obedience.  Let’s open our eyes to the choices and choose to:

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time NKJV

He Deserves Our Best

How I love God's Word. Every time I read it, new revelation, new understanding comes. The issue of Cain's offering not being acceptable never made sense until today. In the past I heard that because it wasn't a "blood" offering it wasn't acceptable, yet Cain was a farmer not a shepherd...Well today, I believe I finally got it.
Genesis 4:3-4
And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. NKJV

Cain's offering was NOT a "firstfruits" offering. He didn't bring his BEST. He just brought something he'd grown but without much thought or real worship to the LORD.

Able brought the "firstborn of his flock and of their fat." Able brought his BEST. Before reaping the promise of other provision, he brought the FIRST of God's provision to worship Him.

God wants our BEST. He wants us to give to Him in faith, trusting that He will meet our needs--not because we gave, but because He is LOVE. He wants the first fruit of our day, our energy, our gifts and talents. When we put Him first, every need is met.

Jesus said: Matthew 6:31-34 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. NKJV

Let's begin this year with the determination to give God our BEST as a sign of our love for Him.
 

Romans12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. NIV