From Pastor Tesch

LynnDaily Devotion

May 11, 2020 Offer Your Heart

 

Cain worked the ground. Cain brought an offering to the Lord. It sounds like Cain was a solid, hard-working citizen. And it seems like he was a faithful worshiper.

But God did not look favorably on Cain or his offering.

Why not? God looked favorably on Abel’s offering. Abel and Cain were doing the same things. Abel worked and Cain worked. Abel brought an offering and Cain brought an offering.

What’s the difference? How could Abel’s actions be good and Cain’s be evil when they were doing the same things?

The difference was Cain’s heart. Abel brought his offering by faith (Hebrews 11:4). Cain had sold out to the devil (1 John 3:12). Abel brought his heart. Cain only brought his stuff.

By faith, we naturally want to thank God for everything he does. We thank him by offering whatever we have, whether it’s our time, our talents, or our treasures. Our offering is just a way for us to show God we love him.

Cain’s heart was somewhere else, so his offering was empty.

By faith, we fill every offering with our love. It comes from our heart.

Genesis 4:2–7 (EHV)

2Abel tended sheep, but Cain worked the ground. 3As time passed, one day Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the soil. 4Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord looked favorably on Abel and his offering, 5but he did not look favorably on Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and his face showed it.

                   6The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why do you have that angry look on your face? 7If you do good, will you not be lifted up? If you do not do good, sin is crouching at the door. It has a strong desire for you, but you must rule over it.”

 

God bless you,

Pastor Tesch

Check out our new website! It’s the same address trinitymarinette.com. Let us know what you think! It will always be a work in progress, so let us know how we can make it better. Our website is our front door, so we want to make it welcoming!

If you have some pictures you are willing to share in our worship video on Sunday, please send them in! It’s always wonderful to see the faces of our Trinity family.

Here’s the link to yesterday’s service: https://youtu.be/w-ls-bn5H30

Here’s this week’s bulletin announcements: 2020-05-10-Announcements Easter 5.pdf

If you know of someone who would like the service on DVD or the audio on CD, please let us know.

If you would like to support the Lord’s work at Trinity, you may contribute at  trinitymarinette.com/contribute or you can mail it to

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

1501 Thomas St.

Marinette, WI 54143