OC January 8th

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“When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.” Genesis 22:9

This is from the account where God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Out of obedience to God, Abraham follows through with the request and is ready to do whatever God asked of him, however difficult and painstaking it might be. It had taken so long for he and Sarah to have this child, the one God promised them. But he had continually trusted in the Lord and wasn’t going to doubt or question, even though I am sure he did internally - he still acted. The importance of this account that Chambers relays in the devotional is that it is not about death. That being a martyr is not what God wants from us. To seek death in His name. We need to seek to be a living sacrifice. Giving our lives to Him in obedience. Chambers says:

“God never tells us to give up things just for the sake of giving them up, but He tells is to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having, namely, life with Himself.”

“It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death.  He wants you to be a ‘living sacrifice’ - to let Him have all your strengths that have been saved and sanctified through Jesus.”

I think any honest person can read this and feel like there is more to it. That “the only thing worth having” - a life lived for God through the power of His Holy Spirit - does not cover all the things that are required of us in this life. I think of providing. My wife may think of protecting. Or we worry about everything we just do to make the best lives for ourselves and our children. But He is telling us that the most important thing is Him. Where do you fall? Are you trusting in Him? Are you letting Him lead? Or are you white-knuckling your way through life and worried about anything and everything that can happen. 

God asked Abraham to give up his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice to Him. Abraham was willing to do that for God. 

Lord, I desire to have that communion with you. I am yours. My family is yours. Help me to let go. Help me to see what I need to give up, to give you all the room you need to do your work in me and through me.  Amen

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