Verse of the Day 3/10

Through the Bible - Job 11-13, 1 Corinthians 5

 

Good morning,

In this day and age we are used to having things our way and expect instant satisfaction and gratification.  We live in an age of convenience, we eat at fast food restaurants, have instant messaging through e-mail and texting,and we have instant access to information and banking on the internet.  Some look for instant gratification in worship.  In Christianity,  in faith there are no easy buttons.  In our trials we realize that we "can't go around them, got to go through" them.

 

Eugene Peterson in his book "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" quoted Friedrich Nietsche who wrote - "the essential thing in heaven and earth is .... that there should be long obedience in the same direction; there thereby results, and has always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living."

 

Reading through and studying Genesis 22 this time through a short phrase struck me, "and the two of them went on together".  It was to be a three day journey together to the mountain for the sacrifice.  No i-phones, no facebook, no texting friends, just father and son going together.  What was going through their minds?  I'm sure there was a lot of uncertainty for both of them.  It was a long obedience, together.

 

It brought me back to about 6 years ago this time of year when our son Jason had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.  I went to pick him up at school in Texas and we made the long drive back to North Carolina together. There was a lot of uncertainty.  It was a long drive.  We listened to Christian music, we talked, prayed, cried, and we hoped.  I didn't realize it then, but we worshiped. 

Jesus' was life and ministry were the ultimate example of "a long obedience". In Matthew 26 for we see Jesus attitude as he approached the culmination.

 

Matt 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."    NKJV

Unlike Abraham and Isaac or any of us in our circumstances, Jesus knew what was in store, knew for sure the sacrifice that was to be made.  He followed through for you and for me.

 

Until now, I had not thought of the hard choices, of obedience, of acceptance as worship.  It is, if is seeking and accepting God's will.

 

Can you look back through some of your most difficult times, trusting despite the uncertainty of the future?  If you can, you probably look back and see that you found a greater appreciation for living for each new day, for each meeting, conversation, phone call or even text messages from a loved one.  Faith, trust and obedience through these times can enable us to see, have and appreciate a life worth living.

 

For today's verse we'll return to Genesis 22.

 

Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.   NKJV

 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Gen 22:1-8
Genesis 22

22:1 Abraham's Faith Confirmed (Heb 11:17-19) Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."

2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.

5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."

6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.

7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"

8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.   NKJV