Friday, July 18, 2008

May We Have Abraham's Faith

"Because you have done this and have not withheld you son, your only son, I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky because you have obeyed me. (Genesis 22:16-18)

The story of Abraham is one that really struck a cord with us after having Isaac. We did after all name him Isaac because of that story. We had hoped that if we were willing to let go of our beloved son that God would bless us by healing him here on earth. That is obviously not what God had in mind, but I also wonder if I like Abraham was actually willing to let go with an open and gracious hand. I am pretty sure my letting go was with a clenched fist and kicking and screaming through it all. That is not to say Abraham liked what he was being asked to do, but he did it willingly.

The thing I am learning here is that this story is an example of how when we obey God's word and give up things that are most precious to us, things that might be scary, He always multiplies whatever that is many times over. Abraham at God's command was willing to give up his one and only son simply because that was what God asked of him. I doubt he liked it much, but he did it. He was obedient. He was prepared to sacrifice his one and only son simply because God told him to. God in turn saved Isaac and made Abraham's descendants as numerous as the stars.

The God we serve gives and he takes away, he understands TRUE sacrifice and he is calling us to give it all up. Everything that we cling to, even if it is painful, even if we don't want to. We are told that we must die to ourselves to live an abundant life in Christ. I guess I have never really taken that to heart. As I examine my life there are still things I am clinging to, things I have not surrendered and God calls us to surrender all. God is not interested in our comfort for it is when we step outside of our comfort zone that we can see Him more clearly. He calls us to walk on water, but first we must step out on faith leaving our security behind. We need to get out of the boat and as I examine myself I can see I am still keeping one foot in the boat much of the time. Simply because I am afraid I will drown, and this is not faith.

I do have some things, some Isaacs if you will in my life that I need to lay down before the Lord. I am ready, I am ready to give it all to Him. I am ready to die to myself to reap the rewards of a life lived in true faith. I know it will not be easy and I have a lot of work to do but I want to live the life God has for me, I want to know that I am walking in his light each and every day I need to lay my Isaac's down and wait patiently for God to respond. We don't get to pick and choose what we believe about Christ, if we take the Bible as the truth, we have to take it all. Not just the warm fuzzy stuff, but also the tough, painful stuff.

"After waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." Hebrews 6:15

I would bet that each of us has an Isaac we need to lay down at the altar and be willing to fully sacrifice. What is yours? What is holding you back from living the life God wants for you?

8 comments:

Bobbie said...

Me. That is what is holding me back. I was able to give it all to him with JT, but, for myself, I don't know if I feel I am not good enough or what it is?

I too related to Abraham in the bible. I told God, if you want him here he is. I give him back. I don't want to but, if that is what you want me to do, I will. Thinking in the end, he would swoop down and fix everything. Wehen I talk to people now, that I can look and see things more clearly, I tell them that all of our prayers were answered. We prayed for healing. Jt was made whole and healed. We prayed for him to come home. He went home. Just not to our home. Our prayers were answered. Not the way we would have liked but the way that the father had deemed.

But, it's me, whether I blame on something else or not, it is just me. I wish I could just surrender it all I try but, something is always holding me back. This is something I have been trying to work on.

I guess I need to just work harder huh?
Thanks this was a great post.

Tiffany said...

Well said!

Anonymous said...

Do you realized how blessed your boys are to have a mommy with such tremendous spiritual insight, you are awesome?!

Melissa Dovel said...

What an awesome post! I say that its all about santification (sp) each and every day. I think the real challange is one that you are seeing clearly and that is the things you need to lay down. I pray that this post blesses more than just me and it reaches deep as it has for me- to examine what all I need to lay down (for real). I still pray each and every day for you as I can not imagine it will ever get easy to have such loss in your life. His promises are many and I see them starting to unfold in THIS POST.

your blogger friend,
Melissa

Lauren said...

You and your family are constantly in my prayers!

Emily said...

Okay. Let's take turns kicking each other this week, shall we? I needed this desperately now. Thanks sister. :)

Corie said...

You words are incredible. I know I still have one foot in the boat many times. Stepping out in faith...its what He is asking and yet it seems hard at times. Glad that you are giving it all to him. You are so strong. Still working on giving it all to him. The problem is...I take it back sometimes. God is stretching me in so many ways.

Stacy@hiswaynotmine said...

Kristy-Your posting today was beautiful, raw and real. Thank you for your honesty. Through God's strength and His strength alone, you can lay it all down...and the blessings and rewards will be abundant. "I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me!" Phil 4:13. I will be praying that God will help you lay it all down at His feet. I know personally-how hard that is and that once we lay it down, Satan whispers in our ears to pick it back up. Oh, that we would all be continually fixed on Him and His truth. In Christ, Stacy