Introduction

Grace and peace to you, dear brothers and sisters. We gather here today, not as separate individuals, but as a united body, bound together by the love of Christ.

As we prepare to turn our hearts and minds towards the Scripture, let us remember the words of the esteemed Christian author, J.I. Packer who once wrote, "Knowing God is a matter of personal dealing...Knowing God is more than knowing about Him; it is a matter of dealing with Him as He opens up to you, and being dealt with by Him" (Knowing God). This, dear friends, is the essence of our gathering today – to know God, not just in theory, but in practice, in the everyday moments of our lives.

Our Scripture today comes from Genesis, chapter 4, verses 2 to 7. It reads: "Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 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. 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.'"

In this passage, we find a tale of two brothers, Cain and Abel, their offerings to God, and the consequences of their actions. It is a story that invites us to reflect on our own lives, on the offerings that we bring to God, and on the state of our hearts.

As we move into the heart of the sermon, we will focus on three main points: Prioritizing God's Place in Your Life, Presenting Your Best to God, and Pursuing Righteousness in Service to God. These are not just abstract ideas, but tangible actions that we can incorporate into our daily lives.

Before we proceed, let us bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for the gift of Your Word, and for the opportunity to gather together in Your name. As we reflect on Your Scripture, we ask that You open our hearts and minds, that we may receive Your truth. Guide us, Lord, in our understanding and application of Your Word. May we not only hear Your Word, but live it out in our daily lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Prioritizing God's Place in Your Life

In the story of Cain and Abel, we see two brothers who both brought offerings to God. Yet, their offerings were received differently by God. Why is that? The difference lies in the priority they placed on God in their lives. Abel brought the firstborn of his flock, the best he had to offer. Cain, on the other hand, brought "some" of the fruits of the soil. The language used in the Scripture suggests that Abel prioritized God, while Cain did not.

What does it mean to prioritize God in our lives? It means to put Him first, above all else. It means to recognize His sovereignty and to submit to His will. It means to seek His kingdom and His righteousness before our own desires and ambitions.

When we prioritize God in our lives, our offerings to Him reflect that. Abel's offering was pleasing to God because it was a reflection of his heart, a heart that prioritized God. Cain's offering, on the other hand, was not pleasing to God because it was a reflection of his heart, a heart that did not prioritize God.

The first aspect of prioritizing God in our lives is recognizing His sovereignty. God is the Creator of the universe, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is in control of everything and His plans and purposes will prevail. When we recognize His sovereignty, we understand that our lives are not our own. We were created by God and for God. Our lives have purpose and meaning because of Him. Therefore, we should live our lives in a way that honors and glorifies Him.

The second aspect of prioritizing God in our lives is submitting to His will. God has a plan for our lives, a plan to prosper us and not to harm us, a plan to give us hope and a future. When we submit to His will, we trust that He knows what is best for us. We let go of our own plans and desires and allow God to lead us. This requires faith and trust. But when we submit to God's will, we find peace and joy that surpasses all understanding.

The third aspect of prioritizing God in our lives is seeking His kingdom and His righteousness. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." When we seek God's kingdom, we strive to live in a way that reflects His love and justice. We strive to be a light in the world, to show others the love of Christ. When we seek His righteousness, we strive to live in a way that is pleasing to God. We strive to be holy, as He is holy.

The fourth aspect of prioritizing God in our lives is loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the greatest commandment, according to Jesus. When we love God in this way, our lives are transformed. We find joy in His presence. We find peace in His promises. We find hope in His power. And we find love in His grace.

Transition. In the story of Cain and Abel, we see the consequences of prioritizing God and not prioritizing God. Abel, who prioritized God, was accepted by God. Cain, who did not prioritize God, was not accepted by God. This is a sobering reminder for us. Let us strive to prioritize God in our lives. Let us strive to recognize His sovereignty, to submit to His will, to seek His kingdom and His righteousness, and to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Presenting Your Best to God

In the narrative of Cain and Abel, we see a stark difference in the quality of their offerings ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO