Sacrifice. That word typically does not bring inner joy and peace within, does it? To be honest, in our culture sacrifice is not something that is highly esteemed. We tend to want it all in life- even if it isn't best for you. Oh, you can't afford that new television that "everyone" seems to have- just charge it! Do you want a new spouse because this person just is too hard to deal with? Just divorce and start over! Is this baby not what you had planned right now- too busy, too many plans ahead? Just arrange an abortion. The truth is in life, we often look for quick fixes to remedy our problems that seem to require too much sacrifice. It is a lie from the evil one as in almost every case the consequences require far more "sacrifice" than the original struggle. Life is about choice and it will always include sacrifice. In reality, we can't really have it all....
In the past few days, I have been pouring over our family budget as we prepare for this new beginning in our life. While I have complete peace that we are following God's leading in this decision, it may still require some sacrifice. These decisions are not fun, and yet, God really spoke to my heart this morning in regards to it all. He longs for us to be willing to lay it all down at His feet in complete trust that He is sufficient- sufficient to meet all our needs, dreams, and longings. He is sufficient to endure the pain, challenges and hardships. He....is....truly....all....we....need. He is enough. It is easy for us to say that when we are in the midst of comfort and peace, but when life requires a sacrifice that cuts and causes pain, do we praise Him? Abraham faces a similar struggle on his journey of faith....
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. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!” “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:9-14 NLT)
For even the strongest believers, this is a hard lesson of study. It makes us wiggle in our church pews because we really want a neat, pretty Christian life that is free of strife and struggle....and, especially sacrifice. Abraham loved Isaac. He dearly LOVED Isaac. Isaac was the child that had been dreamed of and prayed for decades shaded with heartbreak and disappointment. He was their living miracle. Abraham, too, had already sacrificed a son that he loved by sending out Ishmael with his mother, Hagar, to live on their own. It hurt him deeply, but he found solace and joy in the precious life of his dear Isaac. Then, God asked Abraham to lay Isaac on the alter of sacrifice. As a parent, everything within me wants to cry out in desperation- "No!, Not my son.... The cost is too much!" I can't imagine Abraham feeling any less desperation or heartache. Yet, in faith, he climbed the mountain- the mountain of fear, the mountain of sorrow,and the mountain of conviction. I think that with each step he took, the realization hit him with full force that he had come to love the miracle more than the miracle-maker. I can relate- do I love the "miracles" in my life more than the One who allowed them to be? In the realization of our promised land, we cannot ignore the God who led every step of the way.
In broken obedience, Abraham laid Isaac on the alter. God never wanted Abraham to have to shed his son's blood, but He wanted to see that Abraham would still walk in faithful obedience- even if it cuts to the core. Beyond our comfort, beyond our emotions, beyond our physical health, and even beyond our relationships.... beyond it all lies the heartbeat of God longing for us to be willing to travel any journey to reach Him. He wants our faithful obedience, even if it means desperate sacrifice, to acknowledge that He is truly all that we need- He alone. Only in the moments when we feel that all is lost, do we truly have the eyes to see that we have all that we ever needed in Him.
What kind of God wants us to sacrifice that deeply? One that has done that for us. Our Father held nothing back to bring us redemption, healing and wholeness. While He stopped Abraham from swinging the knife, He did not stop the swinging of the hammer that brought forth our forgiveness of sins. He knows sacrifice. We must never forget that His sacrifice resulted in our healing.
My friend, sacrifice is hard. It often hurts, but when we view life from the heavens of eternity- all sacrifice made in obedient faith of Him will be worth it. He is all we need- truly. When we come to the place where we fully and completely grasp that dear truth, we will be flooded with thankfulness at the abundance He gives beyond Himself. He always out-gives our acts of sacrifice. Always.
Blessings!
For even the strongest believers, this is a hard lesson of study. It makes us wiggle in our church pews because we really want a neat, pretty Christian life that is free of strife and struggle....and, especially sacrifice. Abraham loved Isaac. He dearly LOVED Isaac. Isaac was the child that had been dreamed of and prayed for decades shaded with heartbreak and disappointment. He was their living miracle. Abraham, too, had already sacrificed a son that he loved by sending out Ishmael with his mother, Hagar, to live on their own. It hurt him deeply, but he found solace and joy in the precious life of his dear Isaac. Then, God asked Abraham to lay Isaac on the alter of sacrifice. As a parent, everything within me wants to cry out in desperation- "No!, Not my son.... The cost is too much!" I can't imagine Abraham feeling any less desperation or heartache. Yet, in faith, he climbed the mountain- the mountain of fear, the mountain of sorrow,and the mountain of conviction. I think that with each step he took, the realization hit him with full force that he had come to love the miracle more than the miracle-maker. I can relate- do I love the "miracles" in my life more than the One who allowed them to be? In the realization of our promised land, we cannot ignore the God who led every step of the way.
In broken obedience, Abraham laid Isaac on the alter. God never wanted Abraham to have to shed his son's blood, but He wanted to see that Abraham would still walk in faithful obedience- even if it cuts to the core. Beyond our comfort, beyond our emotions, beyond our physical health, and even beyond our relationships.... beyond it all lies the heartbeat of God longing for us to be willing to travel any journey to reach Him. He wants our faithful obedience, even if it means desperate sacrifice, to acknowledge that He is truly all that we need- He alone. Only in the moments when we feel that all is lost, do we truly have the eyes to see that we have all that we ever needed in Him.
What kind of God wants us to sacrifice that deeply? One that has done that for us. Our Father held nothing back to bring us redemption, healing and wholeness. While He stopped Abraham from swinging the knife, He did not stop the swinging of the hammer that brought forth our forgiveness of sins. He knows sacrifice. We must never forget that His sacrifice resulted in our healing.
My friend, sacrifice is hard. It often hurts, but when we view life from the heavens of eternity- all sacrifice made in obedient faith of Him will be worth it. He is all we need- truly. When we come to the place where we fully and completely grasp that dear truth, we will be flooded with thankfulness at the abundance He gives beyond Himself. He always out-gives our acts of sacrifice. Always.
Blessings!
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