Stories have emerged severally how some Christians become disenchanted and morally down, after participating in an elaborate thanksgiving in their churches and there is no immediate breakthrough. This is because most of these Christians see thanksgiving exercises as avenue for influencing God to rain prosperities upon them. Perhaps, these Christians are not to be completely blamed in their behaviours. This is because we have been severally told that after we have given God thanksgivings, we will gain extra-valued health, breakthroughs even longevity from God. This teaching has somewhat affected negatively, people’s perceptions on thanksgiving. Certainly, it will be wrong to think that every thanksgiving given to God will bring blessings to the giver. Today’s devotional focuses on giving the kind of thanksgiving that God wants. God will want us to offer thanksgiving to Him, but He will likely reject certain type of thanksgiving given to Him.
The quickest Bible story everyone is accustomed to, when talking of a type of offering God rejects is that of Cain in Genesis 4: 3 – 5. The two brothers know what thanksgiving is all about. The two brothers all had offering items and prepared specified altars for the thanksgiving offerings. Is likely the two brothers offered thanksgiving prayers asking God to accept their offerings respectively. At the end, Cain’s offering was rejected and Abel’s offering was accepted. The Bible says that “God is never partial” as He loves all mankind equally. Question is, how come God rejected Cain’s offering for thanksgiving and accepted Abel’s? This outcome shows that there can be acceptable methods and prescriptions an acceptable offering has to be handled.
The Bible passage did not give us details of how exactly Cain and Abel followed the prescriptions of how acceptable offering ought to be offered. The Bible said Cain gave his offering materials from the crops from his farms while Abel gave his offering materials from the fattest firstborn lambs of his flock. God rejected Cain’s offering because he did not follow God’s specifications or procedures of how burnt offering should follow. He did not bring the best of the crops, granted that he was a farmer. He ought to have brought good quality seeds and first produce; then come along with blemish lamb as seen in (Numb. 28: 11 – 13). But Abel offered items God specified of best or fattest firstborn lambs of his flock. Readers of this devotional should note what is being said here. There will be more to add tomorrow.
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, you have remain our guardian and great teacher when it comes to knowing what to do to please God. I pray today that you teach me how to give God acceptable thanksgiving all through my life time on the earth, in Jesus name.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch