THE COST OF TRUE WORSHIP - Michelle McKinney Hammond

Abel brought 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. - GENESIS 4:4-5

So often we want what we want from God but are unwilling to give Him what He wants. Abel’s offering pleased God, but Cain’s didn’t. Instead of seeking what would please God, Cain became angry.

I also think of Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu, who offered an unauthorized fire offering to the Lord. Perhaps they mixed up their own incense concoction even though God had provided a recipe. Or maybe they didn’t do the offering at the right time. We’re not given the exact nature of the offense, just that God wasn’t pleased by their independence. When they lit their incense, it flared, and the fire consumed them.

Perhaps we’re no longer mixing incense, but we are certainly making decisions on how much worship we’re willing to give to God and what we’re willing to do. “We tend to want to be just obedient enough to keep our agendas intact. And when God resists our selfishness and willfulness by refusing to bless our efforts, we are consumed with disappointment, with despair over our unanswered prayers, with questions asking why God hasn’t appeared on the scene, with anger because our sense of entitlement hasn’t been met.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but how justifiable is that when we have disappointed God? When we’ve put our own desires ahead of His? We need to put ourselves back under God’s authority and direction and instructions before He will fully bless us with the desires of our hearts.

Do you feel God is withholding something from you? What is it? How do you feel about the situation?

PRAY THIS PRAYER WITH ME:
“Dear heavenly Father, forgive me for my attitude. I long to offer worship that will please You. I’ll start by sacrificing my agendas so You can have Your way. Amen.”