Genesis 22:7,8
Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
What a true and powerful statement of faith! Our God is faithful and provided not only the lamb in this situation but, more importantly, provided the Lamb of God, His Son Jesus, as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. The foreshadowing in this story is amazing and encouraging; it’s another reminder that God had the answer to our problem all along. Thank You, Jesus!
Now let’s think about Abraham’s faith in that moment. The son God had promised him is now seemingly going to be taken away from him, yet he trusts that God will provide one way or another! Could we have faith like that? Faith like that isn’t born in an instant but developed over time and in different situations. This wasn’t Abraham’s first time on the faith train, but it was a process long in the making. If we want to have faith like Abraham, we have to start living in, with, through, and for the Lord today. We can’t wait till we get to that trial, test, or temptation to develop faith but need to have that foundation to fall back on.
Too often, I think we can wait till we’re in the battle to start preparing for it. The reason it may be hard to stand is that we don’t know the One whom we are standing on, in, through, and for! Let’s start today by asking God to build our faith a little at a time; that way, when the attacks come, and they will, we will be ready and able to say, “I don’t know how, but I do know Who!”
1 Peter 1:6,7- In all this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
God bless! I love you all, but His love redeems the lost! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!
Genesis 22:12
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
Abraham’s obedience was a reverent battle cry to his God, saying “I may not know how, but I know Who, and I will obey Him over everything!” His obedience showed he trusted in God more than himself! To fear God is to obey God.
John 14:15- “If you love me, keep my commands.”
Our obedience is a faithful love song to our God! Jesus equates our love for Him with our obedience to Him and His commands. To love God is to obey God!
Obedience isn’t an option in a disciple’s life; it is mandatory, and above are two of the reasons why. Sometimes we look for these great and profound ways to prove our love and reverence for Him, but really, it is shown in simple obedience to Him and His commands. We don’t have to go to great lengths to prove our loving reverence but simply, yet profoundly, read the Word of God and obey it!
I don’t know about you, but I want God and those around me to know that I both love and fear Him, respect and cherish Him, adore and bow to Him, and the way we do that is by obeying Him! So, let’s humbly obey His Word, and by doing that, we will say more to Him and those around us than a lifetime of words can!
If being purposeful in our obedience tells God we love and fear Him, then what does being purposeful in our disobedience say to Him?
1 Samuel 15:22- But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
Luke 6:46- “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
1 John 5:3- In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome…
God bless! I love you all, but His love is life-saving and life-giving! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!
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