"The Substitute"

"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."  Hebrews 11:4

Abel didn't bring God what he wanted Him to have when he brought his offering to God, he brought Him what He wanted.  How many times has God required something of you and you tried to please Him with something else?  Has God spoken something to your heart, has He put His finger on a particular thing, yet you'd rather give Him what you want Him to have?  Cain got in trouble for this.  He knew that God required a lamb, yet he brought Him vegetables.      

There are many reasons why we try to "substitute" what we want to give up for what God wants us to give up.  Sometimes we are so fond of that thing we just don't want to part with it.  Another reason could be laziness.  We would have to get out of our comfort zone in order to give it to God. Still another reason could be that we aren't willing to pay what it would cost to give that thing up.  Who knows? There are many reasons. 

When God speaks to you to bring a certain thing to Him and you try to substitute it for something else, you need to stop and look into your heart and ask yourself the question, "Why don't I just give Him what He wants?  What's stopping me?  Why can't I do it?"  As you find out the answer, ask the Holy Spirit to help you get past it and give you the grace to be obedient.  

Remember, just because we bring God something, doesn't mean that He accepts it.  Cain brought Him something, but He rejected it.  Abel brought Him what He wanted and it was accepted.  "Obedience is better than sacrifice."  

Have a great day.  What has the Lord asked you for?  Have you given it or tried to substitute it with something else?