A Murdered Man's Commendable Faith That Speaks

 Considering God's Promises


A Murdered Man’s Faith: Abel

By faith, Able brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith, he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.
And by faith, Able still speaks though he is dead.
Hebrews 11:4

Abel’s life is a short story, unlike others in this Hebrews lineage of stories representing people of Faith, but his faith demonstrated the life of a faith filled, simple Shepherd of a man, who pleased God, and who demonstrated how to please God. You don’t have to be rich, famous, powerful or anything exceptional, but as you live a life of faith, God causes something special to occur. Let’s consider his story, as expressed in Hebrews 11:4. Let’s look at what his faithful journey can tell us that can help us in our individual journeys:

1. Abel's faith made his offering more acceptable to God than was Cain's offering.

Abel didn’t impress God with the size of his gift, but with the heart from which it flowed. His faith turned an ordinary offering into something God called “better.” Faith still does that today — it transforms a simple journey, of everyday living, into something God delights in. This doesn’t mean everyone will love your acts of faith. As a matter of fact, his brother murdered him because God did honor Abel's faith.

Jesus, the Son of God, was hated, and He was/is the most faith filled one ever. Jesus also told us that people would actually hate His followers just as they hated Jesus Himself; however, pleasing God has eternal dimensions of blessings, that a mere few years here on earth, cannot even begin to match. Pleasing God is far better than pleasing others.

2. His faith brought him God’s commendation:

God Himself spoke well of Abel’s offering. Abel didn’t promote himself; God did. Authentic faith always draws God’s approval. Abel’s righteousness wasn’t earned — it was credited to him because he believed God. You and I receive God’s eternal approval, and His approval each day, based on faith. Check this out. “For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourself. It is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are God’s workmanship created, in Christ, to do good works that He has prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:8-10. Think about what this faith brings us. It brings us salvation. It brings us eternal commendation that declares, and empowers us, to live Godly lives, and without it, we are lost. Without is we are not commended by God. Without it we do not receive God’s power to live a godly life. With this faith, God declares us more than enough.

3. His faith still speaks, though he is dead:

Abel’s life ended violently. His jealous brother, Cain, murdered him, but his faith did not end. His testimony outlived his breath. Faith has a voice that death cannot silence. As Christ Followers, when we live a life of faith, we leave behind seeds of something that continues to speak long after we’re gone from planet Earth in to Heaven: We testify to coming generations the good news that faith, in Jesus, because of His death, His burial, and His resurrection from the dead, provides people with Supernatural fellowship with our Eternal God. We don’t walk alone here on Earth, He is with us always, and because He lives, we can, by faith, truly live.

Reflection

Abel reminds us that faith is never wasted. It may not shield us from hardship, injustice, or even tragedy — but it always leaves us life, and and an eternal  legacy. Faith plants seeds that keep bearing witness long after our part of the story is finished. Our children see it. Our grandchildren see it. Other generations see it, and our testimony might change coming generations eternally and forever.

Let us demonstrate faith that speaks today: Let our faith speak louder than our hurts. Let it speak louder than our heart aches. Let it be God's means of  healing of our wounds. Let God given faith help us overcome our doubts and fears. Let God use faith to give us grace to live victoriously over the challenges we face daily.

God sees our faith. God commends our faith. God gives life through our faith. And God uses our faith. Like Able, let us trust God. Be certain of all the things we hope for, in Christ, and take God's promises as the proof of all that we cannot even see.  I truly believe, we will be glad we did.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Able really was not anything special, but he certainly was a man of faith. 
Empower us to live by faith, O God.
That our offerings will be well received by You.
That You would commend us so that we may glorify you by the way we live.
That our testimonies would speak loud, and clear, to future generations about You, 
About Your Son, Jesus, 
Help us live faith filled lives,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
We pray this in Jesus name.
Amen.

SoJourner

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