Accepted

"Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain," Hebrews 11:4.

Ok. Wow. This goes back a long, long way. Practically to the beginnings of human civilization of earth. The story: Two brothers, Cain and Abel, offered God sacrifices. God accepted Abel's but rejected Cain's. So Cain murdered Abel. Now, what made Abel's accepted? His faith. The problem was not the nature of the sacrifice, whether animals or plants. (The Bible records nothing of God's prior directions to them.) It had to do with Abel's faith. Abel's belief in God. God commended Abel's faith as good enough. His hope in God gave him assurance, things he could not see (God) convicted him. Abel believed God was there. Abel believed that if he drew near to God, God would bless him. But he died. But his faith still speaks loudly, made good by God.

When we serve kindly with a brother or sister today, we act in faith of the God we don't see. And, together, we draw near offering sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving trusting God's promises.