{"id":1534,"date":"2021-12-08T07:22:10","date_gmt":"2021-12-08T13:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/?p=1534"},"modified":"2021-12-08T07:22:10","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T13:22:10","slug":"the-heart-of-the-matter-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/2021\/12\/08\/the-heart-of-the-matter-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Heart of the Matter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cO that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!<\/strong>\u201d
Deuteronomy 5:29 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Do you remember the first murderer in the Bible? His name was\nCain. He had a brother named Able. We do not read much about them, but what we\ndo find in God\u2019s Word should help us much if we will only understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd in process\nof time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an\noffering unto the LORD<\/strong>\u201d (Genesis 4:3). We read that Cain understood\nhe was to bring an offering before God, so he brought an offering. \u201cAnd Abel, he also brought of the firstlings\nof his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to\nhis offering<\/strong>\u201d (Genesis 4:4). Abel, too, understood he was to bring\nan offering. However, we can read a difference. The Lord had respect unto Abel\nand to his offering. Why? \u201cBy\nfaith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he\nobtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it\nhe being dead yet speaketh<\/strong>\u201d (Hebrews 11:4). There is something very\nimportant to consider here. One must remember that God does not only look upon\noutward actions, He looks upon the attitude of the heart. Remember what we can\nread: \u201cBut the LORD said unto\nSamuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I\nhave refused him: for the LORD seeth<\/em> not as man seeth; for man looketh\non the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart<\/strong>\u201d (1\nSamuel 16:7). Man looks on the outside, God looks on the heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

God knew Cain\u2019s heart. God knew Abel\u2019s heart. It is always a\nheart issue with God. We can see what comes from Cain\u2019s heart as we continue to\nremember. \u201cBut unto Cain and to\nhis offering he (God) had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his\ncountenance fell<\/strong>\u201d (Genesis 4:5). Cain was angry. Read the warning\nGod gave Cain: \u201c6. And the LORD said unto\nCain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7. If thou\ndoest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth\nat the door. And unto thee shall be<\/em> his desire, and thou shalt rule over\nhim<\/strong>\u201d (Genesis 4:6-7). If Cain would respond correctly to God, he\nwould be accepted of God. On the converse, if he did not respond correctly sin\nlie at the door. Cain had a choice: To obey God, or allow the sin to rule his\nlife. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read what Cain chose: \u201cAnd Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they\nwere in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him<\/strong>\u201d\n(Genesis 4:8). He chose to kill his brother, Abel. When God came to him, he\nimmediately had a choice. He could confess and ask forgiveness. \u201cAnd the LORD said unto Cain, Where is<\/em>\nAbel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am<\/em> I my brother’s keeper?<\/strong>\u201d\n(Genesis 4:9). Do you think God would have forgiven Cain if he had only asked?\nRemember: \u201cIf we confess our sins,\nhe is faithful and just to forgive us our<\/em> sins, and to cleanse us from\nall unrighteousness<\/strong>\u201d (1 John 1:9). Instead, Cain lied to God. \u201cAnd Cain went out from the presence of the\nLORD, and dwelt in the <\/strong>land<\/strong> of <\/strong>Nod<\/strong>, on the east of <\/strong>Eden<\/strong>\u201d\n(Genesis 4:16). Cain chose to leave\nGod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See what Jesus said about Abel in the New Testament: \u201cThat upon you may come all the righteous\nblood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of\nZacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar<\/strong>\u201d\n(Matthew 23:35). Jesus declared Abel\nwas righteous. Next, read some insight we gain on Cain in the New Testament: \u201cNot as Cain, who<\/em> was of that wicked\none, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works\nwere evil, and his brother’s righteous<\/strong>\u201d (1 John 3:12). Cain was of the wicked one, Satan, and he killed\nhis brother because he chose his own works, which were evil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember what God later told Moses: \u201cO that there were such an heart in them,\nthat they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be\nwell with them, and with their children for ever!<\/strong>\u201d (Deuteronomy\n5:29).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you realized that God sees the heart and not the outward acts of your attempts at righteousness?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to be Saved<\/a><\/blockquote>