How much right does God have to your life?
Abraham gave a radical response to this question. When he was an old man, God fulfilled his promise to give Abraham an heir with the birth of Abraham’s son Isaac. So it’s quite a shock in Genesis 22 to see God instructing Abraham: “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering” (22:2, NIV). Just as surprising is Abraham’s response: He gets up early the next morning, prepares for a sacrifice and heads out with Isaac. There’s no arguing with God that he’s asking too much — because, amazingly, Abraham does not seem to think God is asking too much. When at the last moment, the Lord stops Abraham from taking Isaac’s life, the Lord commends Abraham’s faith, saying, “I know that you fear and revere God, since you have not held back from me or begrudged giving Me your son, your only son” (22:12, Amplified Bible).
How could Abraham not begrudge God asking Him to give his all? Because Abraham understood all he had had come from God. He saw God as God and realized God, who created him and gave him life, has the right to demand whatever He will of His creation. Who are we to begrudge God?
The question becomes even more powerful when we recognize how much love God has lavished on us. When we had nothing to offer him, he sent his Son to die for us. He looked at us in our brokenness and our sin and gave us his all for his love’s sake.
Us begrudge him? Never. Instead, in view of God’s mercy, let us offer our bodies as living sacrifices — this is our reasonable act of worship (see Romans 12:1).
Your Turn: What helps you give willingly to God?
Announcement: The registration deadline for our women’s mini-conference, God’s Big, Beautiful Story, is this Sunday, Oct. 10. Is there a woman at Riverview you can invite? A woman at work? A friend? Ask if they’ve ever wondered how the Bible fits together, and invite them to come explore with other women the amazing plotline of God’s Word. https://god-s-big-beautiful-story-riverview-baptist-church.pushpayevents.com/booking/attendees/new?fbclid=IwAR0S7NksmKUGx1TmFMi7iYIfu74dNwDeMMXOyye5_OOZpfQHL-BTzkZYkNQ