What’s Your Sacrifice of Praise?

I’m not sure I have updated my readers at Transparency in Love, but in February 2025, our family relocated to Southeast Kansas, my hometown of Independence, Kansas.

Through surprising (and many life changing) events, though not even close to being out of God’s provision, God flung open doors to allow our family to move here.

I hope to someday share the stories that had accumulated over a period of five years to get us here, but for that, I must wait for the Lord’s “go-ahead.” For now, I will just say that since we moved, my heart has been YEARNING for deep fellowship with Jesus-loving women.

Getting “Plugged In”

Shortly after moving, we knew it would be important for our family to find a local church to get “plugged in to.” After visiting a few congregations, many of which were filled with Christ-like believers, we believed the Lord was leading us to the church our kids’ school is associated with. It has been there that we have found community, budding friendships, and most importantly, the hands and feet of Jesus.

“…as each one has received a gift, minister it to one another…“

1 Peter 4:10

After a few weeks of regular attendance, I asked the leaders if there were any women’s Bible Studies I could participate in. While there wasn’t, the pastor’s wife mentioned how I was the third person in two weeks who had asked for the same thing. Sounds like the Spirit was doing some nudging!

Under the Spirit’s discernment and wisdom, the pastor’s wife decided she needed to do it. I, in turn, believed I was to open my home to host.

Bringing to Remembrance

As I prepared for hosting our first study, the Lord brought to mind the story of Cain and Abel.

I know, if you have been in the church for a while, I’m sure you have heard this story and you are probably thinking, “okay, tell me something I haven’t heard…”

Well, hear me out. Before I could dive deep into the lesson(s) of Cain and Abel, God spoke to me, through the Spirit, saying:

“It’s not about the trends.

It’s not about the decorations, cleanliness, square footage, or zip code of your home.

It’s about creating space where ALL who enter can relax their shoulders. They can be seen, and they can be heard.

It’s about cultivating a space that brings belonging, where women in the church can be encouraged, supported, and praised.

It’s about creating community with like-minded followers of Christ who desire to grow closer and strive, together, to be more like Christ- holy and perfect.

So don’t worry if someone says “this is too much” or “you didn’t need to do all this” because ‘as each one has received a gift, minister it to one another’ [1 Peter 4:10] knowing that ‘whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly, as to the Lord…‘ [Colossians 3:24].“

“…whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly, as to the Lord…“

Colossians 3:24

Grace in an Unlikely Scenario

The sacrifices of Cain and Abel reveal God’s demand for a pure heart of worship toward him.

He used this unlikely scenario, from the first generation after Adam and Eve, who were riddled with jealousy, selfishness, murder, and hatred, to display his gracious mercy to those who believe- a mercy that has repeatedly been demonstrated as mankind continues to disobey God in his sinfulness.

In the story and lesson of Cain and Abel, we read that God had regard for the offering of Abel [Genesis 4:4]. But why didn’t God accept Cain’s? They both seemed to have give good gifts according to their profession- Abel a shepherd and Cain a farmer.

Hebrews 11:4 teaches us that Abel offered his sacrifice to God by faith.

Faith. That’s it. THAT is what set his offering apart from Cain’s.

Define Faith

Let’s look at the word faith for a moment.

The Greek word for faith is pistis, meaning a conviction of truth respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.

Depending on the translation used to read the Holy Bible, faith is used 239 times in the King James Version.

Faith is pretty important, I would even say critical, in the life of a Jesus-follower. Here are some passages of Truth emphasizing the importance of faith, don’t skip over them, they’re rich in truth waiting to be savored:

• For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God… Ephesians 2:8
• By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3
• But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
• For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
• So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. Matthew 21:21
• …knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:3
• Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17
• So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
• For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17
• But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:18
• For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
• For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26
• …in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Ephesians 3:12
• By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. Hebrews 11:30
• And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
• And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:19
• By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Hebrews 11:7
• Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,… Romans 5:1
• …that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:5
• …that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,… Ephesians 3:17

Faith, therefore isn’t some relative concept many “influencers” of the world make it appear to be. Instead, God, through the writer of Hebrews, defined faith as, “…the assurance (the confirmation; the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].”

Faith supersedes belief, it enters in to a defined space of trust.

Trust in what? Glad you asked…

Sincere, genuine faith is a gift from God [Ephesians 2:8]. God patiently waits for you to welcome Him in your heart to lead your life [2 Peter 3:9] and through the Holy Spirit, grants you the gift of faithfulness so that you may begin to know Him, grow in His power, and mature as a Christ-like person. [Romans 1:19-20]

Faith is a gift– without it, it is impossible to please God.

We can do many things in life (remember, God doesn’t dictate each individual’s behavior; He is gracious to offer us choices- choices that come with blessings and consequences), but as Hebrews 11:6 states, “it is impossible to please God without faith…”

Faith is an Unwavering Trust

So, let’s tie this together.

Faith is a gift to each believer of Jesus Christ that, even without seeing the work of faith with our physical eyes, we have a complete and utter dependence (confidence and trust) in what can or will be with our spiritual eyes.

Faith exceeds intellectual belief, and instead depends on deeply-rooted trust that the God of the Bible is indeed who He says He is and will do what He says He will do.

In turn, faith means that our actions follow what is inwardly believed- it is demonstrated through obedience and acts of service.

Abel’s Demonstration of Faith

Now that we have a clearer definition of faith- lets go back to the statement that faith is what set Abel’s offering apart from Cain’s.

Abel’s offering, through faith (total dependence, confidence, and trust in God) was given out of honor and respect to the One for whom He was giving his offering to.

It was about who these two men were on the inside. It was a heart issue.

Abel’s offering was brought out of humble obedience and faith in God. Abel gave praise and adoration to God and desired to obey Him.

The Bible tells us that Cain’s heart was wicked and evil, so his deeds, or actions, therefore were also evil.

We can read that story and argue the intentions of each brother, but we aren’t omniscient like God. Only He knows everything- the past, present and future- and He knew the hearts of these men. And through Moses, God wanted to preserve this lesson as a foreshadowing to the need of the coming Lord Jesus Christ.

My Sacrifice of Praise

Now, as I prepared my home for Bible Study, it dawned on me, THIS is my sacrifice of praise! To open my home for people to gather is my offering- that in complete and utter adoration and trust, God will pour His Spirit out within our midst as we seek Him through the study of His Word.

I may spend a few extra hours baking something homemade for guests, I may bring out special China dishes, or I may spend a little extra on candles to cozy-up my home, but it is all for serving the Lord through the gifts He has given me.

Don’t Squander the Spirit

Perhaps you can relate? Like me, you enjoy making each gathering a little extra special, with a touch here or a touch there. But maybe you have also felt squandered by your spouse, family, or friends that your “extra touch” is just too much.

As long as your heart desires to serve the Lord with the gifts He has given you to serve with adoration and praise, do it, my friend. Do it!

Your “extra” may not be appreciated by all who enter your home, but remember, that’s okay, because scripture reminds us, we should do all things, with all our heart, as if we are hosting and serving Jesus right at our kitchen table. We’re not looking for adoration from man, we seek only to please our Heavenly Father.

On the contrary, if your heart is looking for a compliment or praise from man about the way your home looks or you desire to be featured on the next HGTV show, beware of the lesson of Cain and Abel.

I encourage you to come to the Lord in repentance and turn your heart towards Him. He will then direct you to put to action the gifts He has given you to serve Him and others. THEN, the compliments and blessings will come.

But this time, the blessings come from a source that never dries up or fails- Jesus, the Living God- who will honor and regard your offering as worthy. [James 3:17-18 and John 4:14].