TOPIC – He Searches The Heart
MEMORISE: I the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. – Jeremiah 17:10
BIBLE READING: Genesis 4:4-12Open Heaven daily
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
MESSAGE:
Today’s Bible reading tells us that God had no respect for Cain’s offering. However, Hebrews 11:4 tells us the reason:
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
The Bible passage above makes it clear that Abel’s sacrifice was more pleasing to God because he was a righteous man. Beloved, your motive is important in everything you do, especially while rendering service to God. Today, many teenagers are serving God because their parents are forcing them to or because they want to be popular in church. Some even read this devotional just so that they can have something to say when asked questions.
My dear child, I want you to know that God searches the heart. He is more interested in the motive behind the things you do than the acts themselves. Hence, I implore you to let your motive towards everything you do be pure.
REFLECTION:
God watches the heart and not the act.
HYMN 67: HO, MY COMRADES
1 Ho, my comrades! see the signal
Waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing,
Victory is nigh!
Chorus:
“Hold the fort, for I am coming,”
Jesus signals still,
Wave the answer back to heaven,
“By Thy grace we will, “
2 See the mighty host advancing
Satan leading on:
Mighty men around us falling,
Courage almost gone!
3 See the glorious banner waving!
Hear the trumpet blow!
In our Leader’s name we’ll triumph
Over ev’ry foe!
4 Fierce and long the battle rages,
But our help is near:
Onward comes our great
commander,
Cheer, my comrades, cheer!
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Mark 11, Numbers 36, Deuteronomy 1
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye anf Pastor Folu Adeboye