Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
One of the most beautiful lessons to tell us how kind God is can be found in the story of the world's first murderer--Cain (it's in Genesis 4). He was the elder of two brothers with different ideas about God. Abel believed that God so loves us that He gave His only Son to become one of us to pay "the wages of sin" in Himself, which is death. In other words, Abel understood the sacrifice of Christ, who was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8).
Cain was the world's first pagan. His idea of God was different: God is angry with us and needs to be mollified or propitiated by some gift. So he brought to the altar a bouquet of beautiful flowers and fruits and vegetables he had grown in his garden. Surely, he thought, God will say "Thanks, Cain, for your gift!" and accept it.
Abel brought a lamb that he sacrificed--a confession of his faith that no "gift" can enrich God, but Abel's offering said that in his heart he appreciated the Unspeakable Gift God was giving for our salvation. Verse 4 says that God "had respect unto Abel and to his offering." Fire came from heaven. God was happy for evidence that Abel was someone with a melted heart, someone who said "Thank You, God!" for the cross of Christ.
When Cain saw that his splendid bouquet, and fruits and vegetables, were wilting on the altar unaccepted, he got into the world's first "road-rage" and murdered his brother. (If he could have gotten his hands on God, he would have murdered Him too--thus he was the world's first crucifier of Christ.)
But here's the beautiful lesson: verses 6-12 tell how although the Lord could not accept his offering, yet He reasoned with Cain, talked with him, told him what was wrong, did all he could to help him understand. And this was a cold-blooded murderer the Lord talked with!
No matter how much you have sinned, and your prayers have not been answered, the dear Lord is ready to talk with you also, to convict you of your sin, to reason with you, to meet with you, to teach you. Get on your knees.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 25, 2001.
Copyright © 2011 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
One of the most beautiful lessons to tell us how kind God is can be found in the story of the world's first murderer--Cain (it's in Genesis 4). He was the elder of two brothers with different ideas about God. Abel believed that God so loves us that He gave His only Son to become one of us to pay "the wages of sin" in Himself, which is death. In other words, Abel understood the sacrifice of Christ, who was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8).
Cain was the world's first pagan. His idea of God was different: God is angry with us and needs to be mollified or propitiated by some gift. So he brought to the altar a bouquet of beautiful flowers and fruits and vegetables he had grown in his garden. Surely, he thought, God will say "Thanks, Cain, for your gift!" and accept it.
Abel brought a lamb that he sacrificed--a confession of his faith that no "gift" can enrich God, but Abel's offering said that in his heart he appreciated the Unspeakable Gift God was giving for our salvation. Verse 4 says that God "had respect unto Abel and to his offering." Fire came from heaven. God was happy for evidence that Abel was someone with a melted heart, someone who said "Thank You, God!" for the cross of Christ.
When Cain saw that his splendid bouquet, and fruits and vegetables, were wilting on the altar unaccepted, he got into the world's first "road-rage" and murdered his brother. (If he could have gotten his hands on God, he would have murdered Him too--thus he was the world's first crucifier of Christ.)
But here's the beautiful lesson: verses 6-12 tell how although the Lord could not accept his offering, yet He reasoned with Cain, talked with him, told him what was wrong, did all he could to help him understand. And this was a cold-blooded murderer the Lord talked with!
No matter how much you have sinned, and your prayers have not been answered, the dear Lord is ready to talk with you also, to convict you of your sin, to reason with you, to meet with you, to teach you. Get on your knees.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 25, 2001.
Copyright © 2011 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
