Building Godly Character - January 6, 2010

From Gen. 4 (NLT)

As you know by now our theme for 2010 is “Building Godly Character”.   We will be looking at the life of a different character from scripture each week.  We will strive to learn from their lives, both in what to do and what not to do. The purpose is to help you develop into a man or woman with a strong foundation and Godly character. So tonight we begin out year long journey with a story. 

Many years ago a young couple fell in love and married. Their love was the greatest and deepest love.  It was a love rooted in God.  They lived, worked, walked, and shared together.  As time progressed God brought two beautiful sons into their lives.  These two sons saw the example of love that their parents had for each other and were taught too love God in the same manner.  As the two sons grew the older son became a very successful farmer, the younger a successful rancher.  One day the two sons went to church.  As the offering plate was passed, grumbling the oldest son threw in a few coins from his wealth.  The younger son gave richly, generously, and happily, soon after God spoke to the two boys.  God was pleased with the sacrifice that the young son had given, but was disappointed in the selfishness of the older son.  This made the older son hate his younger brother.  One day the two were out in the field of the older son.  As they were standing there the older son killed his younger brother and buried his body.  Again God spoke to the older son saying “where is your brother”?  The oldest son replied, “Am I my brother’s guardian”?  And God said, “Your brother’s blood calls out to me from the ground”.  Because of his sin, God placed a curse on the oldest son and sent him away from His presence. 

This of course is the story of Cain and Abel.  Cain brought an offering to the Lord that was not a sacrifice, it was not his best.  Abel brought the better sacrifice because he brought his best as an offering to the Lord.  What we do for God must be our best.  It must cost us something.   It must take the best of our time and energy.  Too often we are satisfied with half worship, half prayer, half devotion, half commitment.  But is God happy with this, is He only worthy of half.  No, God is worthy of our best.  Strive to live a life of full devotion to our God.

HE IS WORTHY OF YOUR BEST!

Calvary Christian Center, Assemblies of God, Louisville, KY