Monthly Archives: August 2023

WHEN THE CRUNCH COMES – ABRAHAM’S FINAL TEST

Christian Life, ,

WHEN THE CRUNCH COMES – ABRAHAM’S FINAL TEST

I often reflect on Abraham’s journey of faith because he has many lessons to teach us from his responses to God’s interaction with him.

If God had given up on Abraham after his many failures, there would be no history of Israel and no Messiah to take away our sins and restore us to fellowship with God as children in His family.

Fortunately for Abraham, God knew the course of his journey from beginning to end. When Abraham’s doubts and even unbelief led him into detours in God’s plans, God patiently put up with him and took him back to His promises, even if the consequences of Abraham’s failures caused him trouble and pain.

After the slow process of growing trust in God through trials and experience, Abraham’s most crucial test came when God said, “Abraham, go kill the very son through whom all the promises I made to you will come about. Yes, Abraham, give me the one and only son who was born to you through a miracle and whom you love more than anything in the world, and watch what I will do.”

Did Abraham trust God enough to obey the Lord without question? Let’s see what happened.

Did you notice something in the story? Abraham was silent! No questions; no resistance; no bargaining. He was also obedient! No hesitation; no dragging his feet; no conversation with Sarah; no plan B, just in case… This was HIS test, and he acted promptly. They, Abraham, Isaac and the servants, left after careful preparation, early in the morning, while Sarah was still asleep.

Abraham was so confident in God’s promise, and His power and wisdom to fulfil it that he… assured the servants that THEY would be back and… he assured Isaac that GOD would provide the lamb for the sacrifice!

“It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”  Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.”

Hebrews 11:17-19 NLT

This was to be the TEST of all tests. God’s tests all eventually reach the same point, “Abraham, do you love me more than your greatest treasure?”

After Peter’s failure, Jesus asked him the same question, not “Simon, are you sorry for what you did?” but “Simon, do you love me more than these…?”

This is the essence of true faith. “Do you love me more than…” If we can honestly answer, “Yes Lord, I love you enough to give you or do for you anything you ask of me,” then, like Abraham, we have passed the greatest test we will ever be put through.

This kind of test rests on our utmost confidence in God’s love for us, that He will never do or ask us to give or do anything that will contradict His promise that He works in all things for our good.

Faith in the faithfulness of God puts God’s promises in the category of “non-negotiable”, based on God’s character that He cannot lie. Therefore, to love God is to stand squarely and unwaveringly on His promises in the face of apparent contradictions and never to give up until His promises are fulfilled.

“Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.”

Romans 4:20-21 NLT

So, God’s Word encourages us…

“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”

Hebrews 6:12 NIV

This love for God in response to His love for us is what John meant when he wrote:

“And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”

1 John 4:17-18 NLT

If we cling to our dearest treasure, afraid that God will take it away to punish us for some infringement of His holiness, God will wait until we trust His love enough to relinquish that treasure to Him.

Imagine how light-hearted Abraham must have felt on his way home with Isaac. Isaac was still his beloved son but no longer his concern because God had shown him that He had no intention of depriving him of his son. His promise still stood that through Isaac all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

Have you noticed something else about Abraham’s journey of faith? After Genesis 22, no more record of tests, only blessing; a second wife after Sarah’s death; more sons and great wealth; a worthy wife for Isaac, his miracle son of promise, and descendants through Isaac. Life went on on the blessing and favour of God.

Jesus promised us an abundant life if we follow Him. This abundant life is not about health, wealth, and happiness. This life is about love, joy and peace which are the fruit of unwavering faith in God’s love for us.

No storm, however severe, will shake us from our confidence in that love when no other love stands between us and the Father.

Jesus had an issue with the church at Ephesus. “You have left your first love, not the love you had for me when you first believed, but your love for me in response to my love for you because I loved you first before you ever loved me.”

“We love because he first loved us.”

1 John 4:19 NIV

It’s His “first love” that steadies us in every storm and cautions us when the tempter comes to lure us from the path of perfect trust. It’s the power of this great love that strengthens us to say “No!“ to the flesh, and “Yes!” to the Spirit as we constantly engage in the battle to be holy.

“So, I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.”

Galatians 5:16-18 NLT

God the Father gave us His dearest treasure, His one and only Son, not to be saved from death as Isaac was, but to be savagely beaten and crucified for us, only to defeat death forever and to offer us ETERNAL LIFE, if we believe in Him.

In conclusion, let’s go back to Abraham for a minute. What was God’s verdict on Abraham’s act of faith and obedience?

“… Now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”

Genesis 22:12 NLT

Love… Trust… Fear… These are so closely intertwined in our relationship with God that we can use them interchangeably.

To fear God, then, is to love and trust Him so implicitly and to hold Him in such awe, honour and reverence that we dread even a nano-second of disconnection from Him through sin or unbelief.

Our love for Him grows, as, we remain rooted in His love for us.

“But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.”

Jude 1:20-21 NLT

BLESS THE LORD O MY SOUL

Devotion, ,

BLESS THE LORD O MY SOUL

When I open my curtains on these mid-winter mornings, I catch a glimpse of the first rays of the sun peeping through the tree at the bottom of our garden. Then my mind turns to Matt Redman’s beautiful song, “Ten thousand reasons,” and I begin to sing as I make my bed.

“The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing His song again.
Whatever may pass and whatever may befall me
Let me be singing when the evening comes.”

My heart leaps with joy as I burst into the chorus…

“Bless the Lord, O my soul,
O my soul,
Worship His holy name.
Sing like never before, O my soul
I’ll worship your holy name.”

The first verse sets the tone for my day – a declaration of trust in the one I worship, that He is God and will order all the circumstances of my day as He pleases.

The second verse directs my thoughts to this God whom I bless and praise in my song.

“You’re rich in love and you’re slow to anger
Your name is great and your heart is kind.
For all your goodness I will keep on singing,
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.”

I have every reason to trust Him for today and tomorrow since my yesterdays are all a testimony to His goodness.

And what of my future? God has written my days in His book and He alone knows when my final day will come. However, like Matt’s song, I have confidence that the song I sang this morning will be my song in eternity…

“And on that day when my strength is failing,
The end is near and my time has come,
Still my soul will sing your praise unending.
Ten thousand years and then forevermore.”

My faith is strong; I have declared my trust in God for another day. I am equipped with a praising heart to face whatever comes with expectation that He is working for my good in all things.

Will you also sing His song in the morning and let its lyrics and melody resound in your mind throughout the day?

 PRAYER


Father God, I can give you no greater honour than to sing your song, and to live today in the atmosphere of worship. As Jesus’ disciples confessed, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life…” so, I, too, confess that there is no one greater than you in whom to believe.

With all my heart I thank you for your great salvation, for your love that surrounds and sustains me in every test and trial, and for your grace that helps me to endure.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and everything that is within me, bless His holy name.

PURPOSEFUL PRAYER

Prayer, ,

PURPOSEFUL PRAYER

Prayer is not a willy-nilly, hit-and-miss grocery list of requests and demands. Prayer is the unfolding of our participation with the Father in His purpose to bring His kingdom to earth, to complete His plan to have a family like His Son to live with Him forever.

Thus, our focus in prayer, in the coming of God’s kingdom, involves prayer for God’s people. Jesus prayed for His disciples, present and future, not for the world.

My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.”

John 17:9 NLT

Paul also, in all his recorded prayers, does not instruct us to pray for unbelievers, except in 1 Timothy…

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. “

1 Timothy 2:1NLT

Once again, this instruction to pray points us towards the kingdom of God, asking God to create a peaceful environment to further the proclamation of the gospel.

So, Paul’s concern was, primarily, the quality of the spiritual life of kingdom citizens. He prayed for spiritual enlightenment and understanding so that God’s people would…

… know who they were in Christ and…

… live out that knowledge where they were…

… so that they would be witnesses to the rule of God in their lives. In this way, love, unity, and peaceful co-existence would draw pagan people to the gospel of Christ.

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

Philippians 2:1415 NLT

Through prayer, God’s way of drawing us into partnership with Him, we learn to share His heart. His plan is to bring everything, including people, under His rule so that we can experience all His goodness and bring glory to His name.

“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”

Romans 11:33-36 NLT

PRAYER

Father, you are an awesome God. Your plan for your people is far greater than we can ever imagine. Through our prayers, you have called us into partnership with you in the unfolding of that plan. We cannot understand how you in your sovereignty can allow us to participate with you in bringing heaven to earth, but it does.

Thank you for your wisdom, love, and power that has honoured your people by giving us this great gift of prayer. Help us, Father, to be faithful in praying for your kingdom to come and your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Help us, Holy Spirit, to hear you as you speak to us and direct us in our prayers and in our witness to Jesus to the people around us.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD – ROD CAMPBELL

Devotion, ,

THE FEAR OF THE LORD – ROD CAMPBELL

A traditional view spawned from the Old Testament represents the Israelites being terrified of God in a way that they did not want to be near His Presence. Their sin was the big obstacle, and it is sin that separates us from God. In the garden of Eden, after disobeying God, sin entered the world and Adam and Eve died. The concept of death is that of an irreversible disconnection or separation. They lost their connection (love relationship) and found themselves unprotected (naked and ashamed).

Shame is a fundamental human emotion that serves as a self-preservation mechanism in the presence of perceived threat to self. Adam and Eve were afraid of God’s presence because of shame – this unleashed the spirit of fear and death that every human being is subjected to until they are born again and mature in love (the Love that casts out all fear).

2021/02/20, 11:06 am – Rod Campbell: God is Love. It is a Holy Love. Holiness, not in the sense of a base morality (don’t do this, or don’t do that), but complete and utter Goodness in which no shadow of wickedness or evil exists, only Total Good. We were created from this and for this – to be encapsulated, entwined and immersed in the Circle of Love in which dwells Father, Son and Holy Spirit and always and will always abide.

2021/02/20, 11:15 am – Rod Campbell: The Fear of the Lord, then is demonstrated in what we know as separation-anxiety in an infant when their parent(s) leave the room and the infant becomes distressed because of a perception of “loss’ of connection with their parent(s). The infant’s bonding and dependence on the parent(s) is total and consuming – the threat of disconnection elicits terror in the heart of the infant.

Such is the True Fear of the Lord – have being born again and being placed in Christ, experiencing that intimate love and utter dependence as a creature with the Creator – uncoerced, but drawn (like a magnet) – where the thought of losing connection with Him for one moment elicits such terror. This is the beginning of Wisdom (for in Him ALL the Treasures of Knowledge and Wisdom are found)

UNDERWRITTEN BY LOVE

Christian Life, ,

UNDERWRITTEN BY LOVE

A thought came to me that I must pass on.

I am a member of an insurance company that promises to pay for any damage or loss to my property when I lay a claim. Some years ago, I would not have been able to have my car repaired after an accident had my vehicle not been insured.

The most important part of personal, property or medical insurance is that the company is underwritten by enough money to pay out the claims made against it. Insuring one’s possession with a company that has limited funds would be a huge risk.

Now let’s translate this thought into God’s “insurance company”. God has made hundreds of promises to those of us who have been born into His kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit. We have citizenship in a realm that is outside and above the kingdoms of this world.

“4. God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 2:4-v6 NLT

This heavenly citizenship elevates us above the world and its evil systems and puts us under God’s personal supervision and control. We have direct access to the Father through Jesus, and all God’s promises are available to us as we ask in faith.  We are members of God’s “insurance company” that has limitless resources to meet our “claims”, no matter how big they are.

However, for us to have confidence that God will honour His promises, we need to know that His resources are sufficient to underwrite His promises.

God’s promises are contained in a legal contract with Jesus, His Son, signed in the blood of Jesus, in which we participate because we are “in Christ” through faith in Him. However, these promises would mean nothing unless they are underwritten by the One who has the resources to fulfil them.

What are the resources that underwrite God’s reliability and faithfulness to make good on all His promises? His character! What is the essence of His character?

Amazingly, I found this Scripture that perfectly captures this very concept.

“I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.”

Psalms 138:2 NLT

God’s name enshrines all that He is, expressed in the word “hesed”.

God’s character (name) is summed up in two words…

“… God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.”

1 John 1:5 NLT

“… God is love…”

1 John 4:16 NLT

These two words, holy/love, describe the essence of who God is. God has made many promises in His covenant and He will do what He has promised because He cannot lie. His holiness guarantees that He will always be reliable and faithful to honour His Word and His love guarantees that His promises are always for our good and for His glory.

The Bible often uses the Hebrew word “hesed” for God’s love, translated as “loving-kindness”. This is a covenant word, a love which is infallible and indestructible in the context of a legally-binding covenant made with His Son, which God cannot break.

Since we are “in Christ”, we also benefit from God’s promises in this covenant. Jesus guarantees that all God’s promises are “yes” in Him.

“20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT

All God’s promises are a declaration of what He intends to do in response to our faith. When we embrace His promises and say the “amen”, standing with Him in what He plans to do, we can rest on His pledge because He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do.

There can, therefore, never be a greater guarantee that God underwrites His promises with His own character because He is holy/love.