The First is not Always God's Best!

1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived , and bare Cain, and said , I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect . And Cain was very wroth , and his countenance fell . - Genesis 4:1-5

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) What was the name of the first man conceived of a woman?
2) What did Abel offer to the Lord? 
3) What did Cain offer to the Lord?
4) Whose offering did the Lord accept? 
5) Why do you think that Abel's offering was accepted?
6) Why do you think that Cain was angry?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) What sacrifices have you made to the Lord within the last week?
2) How do you feel when the ministry of others is better received by people than your own?
3) Have you ever felt envious of another believer's ministry or spiritual gifting? 
4) If so, how did you handle it?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) The first, or most obvious, choice is not always God's choice for us.
2) The most acceptable sacrifices that we can make to the Lord are confession and repentance.
3) The Lord is not impressed by what we give to Him, but by who we are in Him (i.e., our character).

READ TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL