Devotion's by Deborah

Devotion 1-8-24. Genesis 22:9 - "Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood." Abraham had obeyed God. He left everything that he knew and traveled to a place, Canaan, where he knew no one; nor did he own any land. Abraham obeyed God. He entered into a covenant with God to be the father of many nations. Abraham had believed God in faith alone that he at a 100 and Sarah at 90 would have a son. Abraham obeyed God, casting Ishmael and Hagar out of his camp after Isaac was born. Now, God had instructed Abraham to do the hardest thing yet. Verse 2- “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” Verse 1 tells us it was a test. Most readers do not know that offering children as burnt sacrifices was common. Abraham obeyed and went to the spot God indicated. This spot was where Jesus died thousands of years later. Abraham tied Isaac to the altar. He was prepared to kill him, but God intervened, providing a ram to die in Isaac's place. At this time, now, God requires living sacrifices, not dead ones. God requires our entire lives, laid on the altar, so we determine, through God's grace, to live for Him and only Him. Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Just as Abraham lived by faith, choosing God's ways by faith, we must choose to live by faith, walking by faith, obeying God, not the world. Jesus died that we might live. That is the ultimate sacrifice. Will we live for Him and Him only? God's grace is sufficient, always!