The Terms of Worship

And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.  Genesis 4:3-4 

Few stories have stirred up hearts and permeated the consciousness of peoples of all times as the story of Cain and Abel.  It has inspired songs, led to creation of comic characters, and the very names evoke an image of certain character.  Very soon after Adam & Eve’s disobedience, the Bible gives us a window into the sin-stricken nature of man, and the description of the first fratricide.  Without a lot of detail the Bible tells us that the two brothers come to worship God and bring Him sacrifices.  Abel, the shepherd, brings the firstborn of his flock; Cain, the agrarian, brings the fruits of his fields.  We are not told specifically why, but the Bible tells us, “the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.” 

I read someone describe this as a very capricious act on God’s part. They reasoned that Cain and Abel, both made an effort, and therefore were deserving of acknowledgement and praise.  In other words, God ought to have been more understanding of Cain.  On the surface, notwithstanding the excellent reasons for God’s rejection that can be easily understood from the proper reading of the Bible,  the argument appeals to the modern mind.  We are a culture where “good intentions” count for something.  After all is it not the thought that counts?  We realize our infirmities, and therefore also realize the effort in doing good.  We can see why we ought to applaud Cain for trying. He, at least showed up with a gift! We want to side with the under-dog because we often are one ourselves.  We rate “sincerity”, especially in our spiritual pursuits, very high.  I think Cain did too.  Cain’s countenance fell because God rejected his worship, and God gently reminds him that “if he will do well, will he not be accepted?”    In other words, offer me worship on my terms, not on yours, and it will be accepted. And, instead of responding with humility to this revelation, Cain is angered, and instead kills his brother.  I can imagine Cain reasoning, “Abel is a bigot.  Why do I have to worship like he does?  That offering works for him, and this works for me.  Why should God just not accept it?”  All this while not realizing that it is not because of Abel, his worship is acceptable, it is simply Abel’s obedience to God’s prescription for worship that made him acceptable.  Abel is worshipping God on God’s terms; Cain, on his terms.  Cain does not mind God, as long as he gets to say what sort of God he ought to be, and what he ought to accept.   The under girding belief of the modern mind is not much different than Cain’s - “I am not perfect, but God ought to accept me because I am at least sincere.”  What is really being said is “I want to worship God on my terms.”   In fact, it is the most insincere thing to say.  Sincerity, in this case is simply a guise for pride.  A sincere heart is first a humble heart that yearns for God’s revelation and wants to worship God on God’s terms.  Christians insist that we cannot approach God apart from Christ, not because they are bigoted, it is simply because they believe God has revealed Himself, and has revealed the terms of approaching Him.  Jesus says, “No one can come to the Father, except through Me” and saying that, He gave Himself up on the cross for our sins, rose again, and we simply believe Him.  Like Abel we have done nothing to deserve the acceptance any more than Cain, except that we are willing to worship God on His terms.   Friend, I pray that we become sincere enough to approach God as He desires.  The Bible says, “we are to God the fragrance of Christ.”  May I invite you to trust in Christ, and He promises that “whosoever believes in Me I will in no wise cast out,” and “if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.”  In Christ, our worship is acceptable. 

Danesh Manik

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Spectator or Participator?

“Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.” Matthew 14:28,29
 
It was one strange request!  “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water”.  It is an incredulous request.  Many would say it is a rash and unthinking request.  Peter is actually asking Jesus to allow the impossible to happen!  Just for a moment consider the facts.  The disciples are fighting contrary winds when they see an apparition, and are filled with fear.  Jesus replies, “Be of good cheer, it is I.”  They have never before, as far as we know, seen Jesus walk on water, but the voice of their Master, and the knowledge that He can do the impossible, perhaps abates their fears.  While they are silent, watching Jesus perform this miracle, and are probably thankful for His presence, Peter instead asks to come to Him.  I am struck by this request of Peter.  Peter is actually asking Jesus to allow the impossible to be accomplished in him!  Peter must know well that men don’t walk on water, and therefore in his request for permission is also the request for enablement.  Jesus complies, and Peter walks on water, however short the time, and becomes a participator in one of the most fascinating miracles that seemingly had no other purpose than to validate his impulsive request.  
 
Many attribute it to the fact that the ardor of Peter was stronger than his faith.  Some have used this as an example of warning against  impulsiveness in faith.  I see quite the opposite.  While the other disciples believe that Jesus can do the impossible, Peter is the one who asks God to enable him to do the impossible.  I am convinced that often the difference between being a spectator in God’s miracle or a participator is this extravagance of the heart of faith.  This boldness that not only believes in the God of the impossible, but asks God the permission and enablement to participate in the impossible.  It is the ethos of a child-like heart, driven not always by practicalities, but by the undying love for its Master.  It is this romance of faith that so captivates the heart of God, and I think it is the reason Jesus never rebukes Peter for his seemingly impulsive and immaterial request, but rather for the brevity of such an impulse.  Peter’s doubt was simply that Peter became more practical.  His child-like idealism that spurred that initial impulse gave way to a grown-up practicality when it saw the contrary winds, and Peter doubted that if this miracle that he himself had asked for was really happening. 
 
I think this is often the nature of faith.  When I reflect on those early days when I first trusted in the Lord, and compare them to some of the later, more mature days, I find that, while there are many beautiful things you learn as you mature, there is one I wish to recapture from the early days.  It is this spontaneous impetuousness of child-like faith. That heart that can not only believe God for His ability to do the miraculous, but can fling itself with complete abandonment on His willingness to do so through me.   A heart that is not simply content that it serves the God who is able to do the impossible in general, but the one that dares to ask and believe in His willingness to allow me to participate in accomplishing the impossible.    I pray that this year be the year when we move from being a spectator to a participator.  May the Lord grant us that faith.
 
Danesh Manik

On Having A Successful New Year

The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man.  Genesis 39:2

You probably received holiday cards that wished you a successful or a prosperous new year.  I know I did.  In India, at least in the sub-culture where I grew up, not only was this wishing of success and prosperity for the new year a custom, there was a concept of the first that was given much importance, almost to the point of obsessive superstition.  It was the belief that the success for the new year depended on my actions on the first day of the year.  What I did on New Years day charted the course for the rest of the year.  So we were told that if we slept in on January 1st, we would be lazy for the rest of the year.  If we fought, we could expect conflict all year.  We were expected to do and behave the way we wanted the rest of the year to go.  It was as if by magic everything would go the same the rest of the year.  A successful year depended on my actions on Janaury 1st, whatever success may mean.  While I do not advocate superstitious behavior, new year is certainly a marker in life, and there is a certainly value in the discipline of commencing the actions we would like to see develop as a habit.   And, this year I not only want to join in wishing you a great and successful year, but point you to what will make us successful in the coming year. 
Some of you by now already have objections.  What is success, and what makes Danesh an authority on success?  While I may not be qualified to do so, I know the book that certainly qualifies, and the Author who knows all and sees all.  Many people associate success with position, achievement, wealth, influence, or power.  But the Bible does not equate success with any of these.  In one of the strangest places the Bible interjects the story of Joseph with a proclamation – “the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man.” 
 
We are not surprised because we know the end of the story.  We know Joseph as the ruler of Egypt under Pharoh.   But this proclamation occurs just after Joseph has been sold into slavery to the Egyptian chief prison guard Potiphar.   It happens when you would consider Joseph’s life all but over.  A young boy of seventeen abducted by his own brothers, and sold into slavery into Egypt.  I find it hard to imagine a more unfortunate case, or a bleaker chance at success.   But the Bible declares him as a successful man.  because the LORD was with him.  In other words Joseph was where God wanted him to be.  He was in God’s perfect will.  He was in the process of fulfilling his high, heavenly and holy calling.  In bleak circumstances, his relationship with God was unbroken, and God’s favor rested on him.  Success, in God’s book was not a snapshot I a moment of time, it was a progressive journey.  In other words, God views success as a process, a journey, not a destination.  He views you as a success when you know your purpose and are fulfilling it, and you are pressing forward and growing in God’s potential for you.  The Hebrew word used in this passage is tsaw-lay-ach which literally means to move forward, to push forward, or to break out.  May I suggest a definition of success – Success is a journey of unbroken fellowship with God while fulfilling our God-inspired, high, holy, and heavenly calling, utilizing our God given gifts and talents to its highest potential. 
 
God was with Joseph and he was successful.  It is even more amazing to read that God was with Joseph because apart from the dreams he had, we never read about an encounter that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had.  It has not been recorded that God wrestled, or spoke, or that Joseph saw a vision, yet even Pharoh could not contain himself to exclaim that the Spirit of God was in Joseph!  God was with Joseph.  How do you get God on your side?  You don’t.  You get on His side!  And Joseph did just that.  We find that he is still a God-fearing man who trusts in the ultimate goodness of His God, and acts in harmony with God’s Word in spite of his circumstances. 
 
The New Year is a marker in our lives.  And as you reflect, contemplate, and anticipate, I wish you a successful year!  Or, shall I say “I wish that God be with you!”
 
Danesh Manik