In the Old Testament, Abraham’s faith was tested when God told him to take his son, his only son, the son he loved, and offer him as a sacrifice. And Abraham did. Abraham bound Isaac to the altar and raised his knife to slay him in strict obedience to God’s Word. Just before the gleaming knife plunged down, God leaned out of heaven and urgently commanded, “Abraham! Abraham! . . . Do not lay a hand on the boy,” and Isaac’s life was spared! Abraham looked around; caught in the thicket nearby was a ram. After cutting Isaac loose, Abraham took the ram and offered it on the altar.
As God’s Son, God’s only Son, the Son He loved, hung on the Cross, the knife of God’s fierce wrath against sin was lifted, and there was no one to stay the Father’s hand. Instead, “He . . . did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all.” Jesus was God’s Lamb and our Substitute Who endured the full force of God’s wrath for your sins and mine when He was bound on the altar in our place.
“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my life, my soul , my all!”
You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting.
The Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed. § What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. § The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. § Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? § What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts. § You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing.
Dan. 5:27; 1 Sam. 2:3; Luke 16:15; 1 Sam. 16:7;
Gal. 6:7–8; Matt. 16:26; Phil. 3:7; Ps. 51:6; 17:3
Christ the firstfruits.
Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. § If the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. § Now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. § If we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. § The Lord Jesus Christ … will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
The firstborn from the dead. § If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
1 Cor. 15:23; John 12:24; Rom. 11:16; 1 Cor. 15:20;
Rom. 6:5; Phil. 3:20–21; Col. 1:18; Rom. 8:11; John 11:25
God loves for us to come to Him and ask Him for things. But I wonder what kind of relationship I would have had with my husband if I shared only about fifteen minutes a day with him and spent the first minute or two thanking him for what he had done for me and the rest of the time asking him to do something else for me! I doubt we would have had a very good relationship! My husband wanted me to love him simply for who he was. And Jesus Christ, Who is my heavenly Husband, also wants to be loved for Who He is. Not just for what He has done, or may do, but for Who He is in Himself. Would you make time each day to praise Jesus for Who He is? Read the Bible, gleaning His attributes that you might live your life in praise of Who He is.
Rejoicing in hope.
The hope which is laid up for you in heaven. § If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. § We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. § Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. § No one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! § The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. § Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. § Through [Him] also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom. 12:12; Col. 1:5; 1 Cor. 15:19; Acts 14:22; Luke 14:27;
1 Thess. 3:3; Phil. 4:4; Rom. 15:13; 1 Peter 1:3, 1:8; Rom. 5:2
I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinks upon me.
I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil. § “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
How precious … are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. § O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. § Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us.
Not many mighty, not many noble, are called. § Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom? § Having nothing, and yet possessing all things. § The unsearchable riches of Christ.
Ps. 40:17; Jer. 29:11; Isa. 55:8–9; Ps. 139:17–18; 92:5;
40:5; 1 Cor. 1:26; James 2:5; 2 Cor. 6:10; Eph. 3:8
The firm “click” of the Gardener’s pruning shears can be heard in our lives when . . .
we are confined to a hospital room,
we are fired from a job,
we are moved to a new place, surrounded by strangers,
we are isolated in a new job, surrounded by unbelievers.
Your purpose, and mine, is to bring glory to God. Jesus reiterated this purpose as He concluded His challenge to the disciples to be fruitful in service: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
You will not bear much fruit unless and until you submit to the cutting and clipping of the Gardener. Therefore, when you resist His “gardening” in your life, what you are really doing is refusing to glorify God and therefore aborting the very purpose for your existence. Solemn thoughts, aren’t they?
