Motive

“By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That’s what God noticed and approved as righteous. After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice.” Hebrews 11:4 TM

Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve’s first two sons, both brought God sacrifices, which is what they did in those times. Notice that it was Abel’s faith that made his sacrifice good in God’s sight. It’s more than just going through the motions and paying homage to God; He looks at the heart. 

Your motives are everything. Are you a Christian, because that’s what your supposed to do? Or are you a Christian because you realized, on your own, you were helpless without Christ and were in desperate need to be saved from yourself? Are you just trying to be a better person and stop sinning, because that’s what you are supposed to do? Or are you truly surrendering to God and letting Him transform you from the inside out into the person He made you to be (and not just a better person)?

Take some time to sit with the Lord and work through these questions with Him.