Joel Osteen (September-30-2022) Daily Devotional: Don’t Look Back

Joel Osteen (September-30-2022) Daily Devotional: Don’t Look 

September 30: An Appropriate Offering

“Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.” Genesis 4:2-5

Abel watched over the sheep, and Cain farmed the land. Cain gave to God from what the land produced. Abel gave God the firstborn of his flock. God approved of Abel’s offering, and He rejected Cain’s. Cain became angry, and his countenance fell. His face began to reveal what was in his heart—disgust, disappointment, and anger that his labor had been for nothing. He may have felt like a failure or that doing it “his own way” was not enough. This must have intensified in the days, and weeks, and possibly months to come, as he began to observe the blessings of God manifesting in his brother Abel’s life while he continued to toil with the soil. Although he was given the opportunity, Cain did not act on divine counsel. The results were devastating, and Cain murdered Abel. What you give and where you give is a reflection of what you love. God didn’t want or need Cain’s offering; He wanted Cain.

What you give and where you give is a reflection