We must obey when God speaks to us and not try to get
God to accept our way of doing things. His ways are higher than our
ways. Our precious Lord would never ask us to do anything that would not
bring a blessing to our lives. Sometimes that blessing is not
immediately seen; yet if we hold fast and continue to follow in His
ways, we will discover He has a most beautiful plan for our lives. We
must let the Lord work His patient nature into our lives and not always
expect instant answers. This is difficult for us as we are living in an
age in which everything is instant: instant coffee, instant tea, instant
mashed potatoes, etc.
One of the things that must accompany our faith is
obedience, which Abel was an example of in Genesis 4. Cain and
Abel were brothers and both of them brought an offering to God. However,
Cain's sacrifice was rejected of God, while Abel's was accepted.
The reason for this was Abel obeyed God's rule and brought a blood
sacrifice, while Cain brought the fruit of the ground as his offering.
Abel obeyed and did it God's way, coming in faith and obedience, while
Cain disobeyed by bringing an offering he determined would be accepted.
Hebrews 11:4: By faith Abel offered unto God a more
excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was
righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet
speaketh.
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me
thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
The works mentioned refer to the works of the Spirit,
not works of the flesh. We can do many so-called good works and still
not be pleasing to God, for He looks upon the heart and not upon the
outward appearance. We must obey from the heart and do those things that
are pleasing to God.
Cain approached God with a sacrifice that was not
acceptable because rebellion was in his heart; he didn't do the things
God required, as Abel did. Many times we pray for God to do certain
things, but we are not willing to be the vessels that He uses to bring
them about.
For example, we pray and ask God to save our
relatives, yet we want the Lord to send someone else to them with the
salvation message. We must be willing to be the one God uses to tell
them of His love. In fact, for every prayer we pray, we must be willing
to be the vessel that God uses to answer that prayer. The Lord may not
always require it of us, but we must be willing. If we are praying that
God meets someone's financial needs, then we must be willing to be the
one who does it. If we are praying for God to provide a place for
someone to stay, then we must be ready to open our house to that person.
Whatever we pray, if it is possible for us to be the answer, then we
must be willing for the Lord to use us. We must obey God, even if our
flesh is resisting what the Lord would have us do. We must determine to
follow and obey God regardless of the cost.
We can pray long hours, fast, and sacrifice in many
ways; yet if we do not obey, it will all be in vain. That is why many do
not see the answers to their prayers. They refuse to obey the things the
Lord speaks to them. Obedience and faith go "hand in hand." They will
not work separately. Works of the Spirit are those that are commissioned
by God. All works of the flesh are futile. When the Bible speaks of
faith without works being dead, it is speaking of those spiritual works
inspired by God. They are the outcome of our faith and walk with God.
When we walk with God, we will do those works that are pleasing to Him.