Genesis 4:6-7a,b And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.

I guess seeking approval is exactly this old. Abel’s sacrifice was respected and Cain’s was not. Yet notice here what God says to Cain, do well and be accepted. Respect of sacrifice and acceptable behavior are two very different things. Let me ask you this; where does approval come from, sacrifice or behavior?

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

This verse indicates approval is linked to behavior. I think we understand that instinctively. From childhood we seek to gain our father or mother’s approval. In school we seek the teacher’s or the coach’s approval. It carries on into our work life knowing that promotion comes if we work hard to win the approval of our bosses who write our reviews. It is grounded in the reward system itself.

While we live in the world we are not of this world. We are Kingdom dwellers and there is a whole different set of standards in the Kingdom.

2 Corinthians 10:18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

If we seek promotion in the Kingdom based on worldly standards, we try to commend ourselves to men. That doesn’t work. The Lord who bares your sins and knows your heart better than you ever will makes commendations. So how do we get His approval?

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

No Condemnation = Commendation

Genesis 4:4 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:

I sat pondering the great why this morning. Why do I have to suffer? When I ask pastors and theologians this simple question I almost always get THE ANSWER, “Because Christ suffered.” Yet when I went to the Lord earnestly, with a heart to know exactly why, I got a different and I would hope a better answer, while it satisfied me, I cannot guarantee it will ease your suffering.

God has the power to do anything. He has in the past violated His own nature, stopping the sun’s movement, holding back the waters of the Red Sea, healing the sick, raised the dead, and even made whole armies from dust and bones. So why, when I said yes to His Lordship, why didn’t he perfect me right then and there?

Some years ago, when I was elsewhere in my walk with Christ, the answer that satisfied me then was different. Then the answer was, “If I did there would be nothing to keep you here.” I got it, stop being selfish, think of others, the body of Christ needs to be filled and someone needs to be here to witness You to the lost. Now, years down the path we call The Way, I ask again. Why?

Please do not give me that “in weakness I am strong” speech. I am beyond that. Why?

His answer came at first within the issue of conformance, to be like Christ. Ultimately this is what I was asking and not everything that Christ is was created, because He is the Creator. I am not. So to build in me that character which I cannot have because it cannot be created in me, has to be developed in me in another way. Mind you, this was but the first issue.

Ultimately it came down to Genesis 4:4. The greatest gift given is life. That precious thing we take for granted has to be received and given as pure devotion to God before we can handle so precious a gift in our perfection.

“Love those who hatefully despise you.” Because life is precious.

I am not there yet. Keep walking.