Monday Reading: Genesis 22:1-2
Key Verse: Genesis 22:2
2 And He said, Take now your son, your only one, Isaac, whom you love. And go into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will name to you.
Devotion:
Have you ever had your love or your word tested in a way that stretched you to your limit? There are some things where we all give in, some limits that we will never reach and some trials that we do not want to face. Quite what went through Abraham’s mind when he was first asked to offer his son as a burnt offering up in the mountains is something that I don’t know I shall know until I am able to ask him myself; but what we can gain from this recount of what happened is that Abraham loved God and wanted to prove it beyond any reasonable doubt.
When you are given an opportunity to be able to do something that will show someone just how much they mean, take it with both hands and use that opportunity to the full! I had a chance to show someone that they meant a lot to me yesterday and I grasped it with both hands. I was not sure whether it would work out, but it did and I was able to show someone that they meant more to me than what my words could hope to say. I have never been one for saying the right thing at the right time – in fact I seem to be able to put my foot in my mouth more often than not! But now and again God will give you that chance to show someone your care…
As we read this chapter in Genesis we find out that Abraham had a great deal of faith that God would provide exactly what was required. God had already promised him that he would be the father or a great nation and Abraham stood up to that promise. That promise God gave him in the beginning displayed the love that God had for him, but now it was Abrahams turn to display his love to God. A love that meant trusting, no matter what. Believing, no matter what.
If we are going to want to show our love to others then we should want to be able to display that love in a way that will leave no doubt. I was able to show my Christian love for someone through a unique opportunity, one that I hope will mean more than just words. Loving someone means displaying that love and not just saying so; love will mean not holding back but going forward boldly with truth and purity. If we go forward with any other things on our mind then we are giving in to our wants and desires rather than expanding on what God has shown us is good.
Points to Ponder:
Can you say that you love someone without limits?
Do you limit your love for Christ?