For You to be Adored!

Michael E. Wood
February 8, 2012

Hebrews 11:1-2, 4

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

God is honored and glorified in the process of our sanctification, as He, through the merit of Christ alone by the power of His Spirit transforms us from glory to glory.

While beginning the day in the first few verses of Hebrews chapter 11 and reading where Abel by faith offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, it occurred to me what a benefit we have in our day to have the whole of the scriptures to know that which is acceptable in the sight of God. That which He commands, He also enables to accomplish through the finished work of Christ, that we with patience may receive the promise of the inheritance found in Him alone. Thus, as we read the life giving and life sustaining promises of His Word, we are stirred by the Spirit to pray that He will effectually work the promises in us, to the praise of His glorious grace.

Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God; we are told by the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul in the letter to the Romans. Take courage; though the process may seem slow. It is sure, as we are made partakers of His holiness, and thereby enabled to offer up lives of practical righteousness, receiving the commendation that comes from God alone.

Increase in me intensity, whereby I may pursue
The glory and the honor that’s befitting only You.
For as in life when others see the changes that You make,
Through Christ to show the power of the blessing I partake
By faith as a new vessel once devoted to destruction
And now as that of mercy and Your overcoming unction;
You strip away excuses by Your Spirit in their reasons
To bring a harvest of pure fruit in Your appointed seasons.


Oh, may Your people by Thy promise, as all those before
Continue to proclaim the Way which leads to heavens shore,
By lives marked with the faithfulness by which You show and prove,
In You alone, Almighty God, we are and in You move.
And as Your Presence is made known by Your appointed Seed,
Oh hear our cry, as by Your grace, for others now we plead
That they may truly see by faith the beauty of our Lord,
Christ Jesus, who has granted peace, for You to be adored!