Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Life-Saving Faith:Offering to God in
Living Faith
Christina George
St. Thomas
MTC, Delaware Valley, Philadelphia, PA
12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do
anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld
your son, your only son, from me.”
While Abraham is known as ‘father of all nations,’ he is a man of great faith in intricate circumstances. A portion of Genesis focuses on Abraham’s life events in which his faith is tried. He walked with God closely and left familiar homeland for a place he did not know. Abraham and Sarah bore Isaac at a very old age, a time when they laughed to themselves about God finally providing a son. Isaac was at the brink of sacrifice at the hand of his own father. Though Abraham undergoes tests and tribulations similar to our own, he consciously chose in each event to walk with God in order to further His will. Abraham’s human understanding could not fathom God’s will, yet he chose to obey the one who directed the course of his life.
These events reveal a key word in Abraham’s life: go. Abraham’s response to God’s calling is consistently, “Here I am.” In Genesis 22, God asks Abraham to offer his only son as sacrifice. While Abraham’s response to God’s command to sacrifice Isaac is not written, we can only imagine the heartache Abraham feels while preparing materials needed for burnt offering. To note that Abraham splits wood, saddles donkeys, and even prepares Isaac for this sacrifice confirms Abraham’s strong faith. Abraham does not halfheartedly compose a sacrifice he knows is meant for the Lord. Though the uncertainty and heartache remain, he chooses to act upon the Lord’s command, to ready himself, to go up the very mountain the Lord has ordained for the sacrifice.
Abraham has trusted God to demonstrate His will and complete His work in him, because Abraham has already witnessed many of God’s works. While Isaac’s response to Abraham’s doing is not recorded, Isaac follows his father’s orders, the exact parallel to the Father offering Jesus as perfect sacrifice in the NT. Once again, when God calls out Abraham’s name as the knife is lowered, he answers, “Here I am.” Abraham did not withhold himself from God’s will at any point in this painful circumstance. God asked this of Abraham not for a sacrifice, but because He asks him to completely surrender his life and his hopes. God ultimately desired Abraham’s submission to Him at all costs.
While Abraham is known as ‘father of all nations,’ he is a man of great faith in intricate circumstances. A portion of Genesis focuses on Abraham’s life events in which his faith is tried. He walked with God closely and left familiar homeland for a place he did not know. Abraham and Sarah bore Isaac at a very old age, a time when they laughed to themselves about God finally providing a son. Isaac was at the brink of sacrifice at the hand of his own father. Though Abraham undergoes tests and tribulations similar to our own, he consciously chose in each event to walk with God in order to further His will. Abraham’s human understanding could not fathom God’s will, yet he chose to obey the one who directed the course of his life.
These events reveal a key word in Abraham’s life: go. Abraham’s response to God’s calling is consistently, “Here I am.” In Genesis 22, God asks Abraham to offer his only son as sacrifice. While Abraham’s response to God’s command to sacrifice Isaac is not written, we can only imagine the heartache Abraham feels while preparing materials needed for burnt offering. To note that Abraham splits wood, saddles donkeys, and even prepares Isaac for this sacrifice confirms Abraham’s strong faith. Abraham does not halfheartedly compose a sacrifice he knows is meant for the Lord. Though the uncertainty and heartache remain, he chooses to act upon the Lord’s command, to ready himself, to go up the very mountain the Lord has ordained for the sacrifice.
Abraham has trusted God to demonstrate His will and complete His work in him, because Abraham has already witnessed many of God’s works. While Isaac’s response to Abraham’s doing is not recorded, Isaac follows his father’s orders, the exact parallel to the Father offering Jesus as perfect sacrifice in the NT. Once again, when God calls out Abraham’s name as the knife is lowered, he answers, “Here I am.” Abraham did not withhold himself from God’s will at any point in this painful circumstance. God asked this of Abraham not for a sacrifice, but because He asks him to completely surrender his life and his hopes. God ultimately desired Abraham’s submission to Him at all costs.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You
for Your perfect sacrifice to us on the cross. Help us to understand the
significance of submitting and laying our lives down for what You have done.
May we offer our lives as living sacrifice as a sign of gratefulness for the
wondrous ways you have worked in our circumstances. Open our eyes to the ways
you work in us, that we may give You glory and honor. Amen.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
“For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
I Samuel 16:7b (NKJV)
“For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
I Samuel 16:7b (NKJV)