Level Up!

God said it.  I heard it and I am obedient to His will.  

Studying this word obedience I started examining the story of Abraham when he was directed by God to sacrifice his son Isaac.

The bible says that faith without works is dead. The bible gives clear examples of those that used their works and their great faith to accomplish great things. I believe that Abraham must have been grieved deeply but his love for God propelled him to go forth with his son to the place of sacrifice. 

His love for God was so deep that he carried with him the proper knife and even had his son help him gather wood for the alter. He went up that mountain prepared to do a work for the Lord!. 

The sacrifice. What was he willing to sacrifice for the Lord?  What thing was he willing to give up to prove his love for God?  Without a doubt, Abraham loved his son and this was the hardest decision he ever had to make. I cannot imagine that painful journey up a steep cliff  knowing that the joy he found in his son would be no more after that day.  How tough must it had been for him to envision that terrible swipe of the knife, the blood and the smell of burning flesh.  But his love of God propelled him forward.

We know that Abraham's story did not end here.  We also know that God stayed his hand in time before the deed could be done.  We know that God saw Abraham’s love for his son and honored his willingness to sacrifice everything for God out of shear obedience.  It wasn’t as though he could see into the future that he did it.  He couldn’t see what the Lord’s plan was for him after this sacrifice.  He really didn’t have a motive aside for his love of the Lord and because God said so.

So here is Abraham and Isaac climbing that steep mountain, feet slipping on jagged rock, carrying a heavy parcel of sticks and wood and everything else that was needed to make a sacrifice.  Did you ever think about how long this must have taken?  Did they stop and rest at some point?  Did they rest in the cool shade for lunch?  The bible doesn’t clearly say but Abraham being a human being with human thoughts probably did not want to stop and think about what he was doing because if he did his own thinking would have gotten in the way and he would have found some excuse to not do as God had commanded.  He would have talked himself right on out of it and subsequently followed his own fleshly desire.

Isaac had to be wondering all this time where is the sacrifice.  He even asked his father, I  am sure more than once,  "Where is the sacrifice, father?" All that Abraham would say to his son was God will provide. Over and over again he would say God will provide. Isaac being the good son that he was just kept climbing on.  He followed after his father because he was an obedient son.

Realize that this journey toward the place of sacrifice was not only about THE sacrifice it was about positioning Abraham toward the fulfillment of a much larger purpose.  He was to be and is the father of many nations. God had to pull him up a little further in preparation for this magnificent assignment.  This was Abraham's time of testing and strengthening and cleansing.

Abraham needed to be put in position to receive God's favor which is to fulfill the call on his life according to God's purpose and divine plan. In the process of climbing that mountain to the place of sacrifice or purpose God needed to raise him up spiritually to new heights and levels.

All of us are given assignments and purpose in the Kingdom of God.  He has so much more to accomplish through each and every one of us.  He needs for us , however, to seek, listen and obey.  God needs for us to follow HIS plan to reach the goal that He has set before us.

So, I am sitting and writing all of this and I hear that small voice that I have come to know. God spoke this morning and said simply "START PACKING!"  Like Abraham I don't really understand why nor where or even if. All I know is that I love God. When He speaks I listen and obey. I am reading the bible and seeking. The bible does say to seek ye first the Kingdom. As an act of sacrifice I am physically 'climbing a mountain' and I am packing boxes and getting rid of stuff.  Don't know about you but I can no longer afford to have my stuff weigh me down. Traveling light. Moving on. Level up!

Again, the bible gives clear examples of those that used their works and their great faith to accomplish great things. They received wisdom, understanding and much favor (Yep. You got it....a ram in the bush!). Abraham, Ruth, Deborah and many more, all sought God, listened to instruction and acted upon what they had been taught.

Seek, listen and obey. Amen.

Referance:  www.favored1-dailyfavor.blogspot.com

Image credit: favored 1

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