Don't hold anything back

"(2) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom though lovest, and get thee into the land of Mo-ri'-ah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon  one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. (3)"...and went unto the place of which God had told him." (12) "...for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." Genesis 22:2,3,12


 Today at nursing home service, Bro. Bryant preached a little on Abraham's faith and the peace God gave him. I had to come back and read the entire chapter because God got my attention on a few things. Abraham has always been a favorite of mine but I never really stopped and made application to my own life. 

  In this chapter Abraham is told to offer his son as a sacrifice. This is his only son. Remember this is son God promised Abraham and Sarah. The son they waited for! They got impatient with waiting and tried to fulfill God's promise another way. But this son, Isaac, was the promised son. Now God wanted Abraham to sacrifice him. 

  What is it in our life that God wants us to sacrifice? It may not be anything bad like a sin but it could be. It might be our plan for our life or something else. What did God show me? The hardest things for me to surrender of course. I'm a control freak and I like to plan out my life step by step. But I don't need to. God already has and it's far better than I could ever plan. I can mess it up, yes, and God will honor my choices. But I know His way is best. 

  Do you see Abraham question God in this? No. Maybe he did but I don't really think he did. I think God would have told us. We question God so often. Why are you doing this to me? Why is this happening? But we don't see Abraham do that. He was willing to sacrifice his son because God asked him to. I don't know if this was the case but it made me wonder if Abraham had let Isaac have first place in his life. Was Isaac the most important part of his life? It was his promised son after all! Had he started to put God in second place? We are guilty of this many times as Christians. God wants us to be willing to sacrifice our wants and desires for what He wants. God wants and deserves to have first place in our life. Nothing and no one should come before God. 

  Abraham was willing to sacrifice all and God blessed him because of his faith. He didn't hold anything back from God, not even this son he had waited so long for. God rewards our faith and blesses us abundantly. God knows our deepest desires and our greatest dreams. He wants to give us good things and bless us. First we must be willing to surrender all and trust that His plan and way is BEST!! God will bless our faith. 

  Read this chapter! It was a blessing to me and I just had to share. 
    Linda