Accept

In Genesis 4, we journey with the story of Cain and Abel. There is one simple thing that caught me off guard in verse 4...God accepted Abel THEN his offering. For so long I have focused on things like why didn't God like what Cain had given? Why would Cain be so angry that he would kill his brother? Was Cain sincere in his gift? Then that verse 4 hit me....I was asking the wrong questions. God was not so much pleased at the gift that Abel gave as he was Abel himself. God accepted him first. I believe God sees into the heart of Abel and knows the surrender and submissive spirit in which he lived and is pleased. In that, the gift Abel gives becomes pleasing to God because it comes with a heart after God.

God accepts us first, then accepts what we give. Each person's ability to give and resources to give varies. What God really wants is us and a undivided heart. I think that's why Paul says in Romans that the perfect act of worship is for us to be a living sacrifice. It's probably why Jesus tells his followers before they go to the altar they need to ask make things right with each other first. God wants all of us, un-divided and un-distracted. It's when He gets our best. God's acceptance of us is never based on our gift or ability to give. God's acceptance of us is based on His complete love for us, and our gifts are accepted on our willingness to surrender completely to Him.