OBEY
EVEN WHEN IT HURTS: Devotion for Wednesday April
20, 2016
Text:
Genesis 22:1 – 14 Memory
verse: v 9
Abraham, through the years, learned many
tough lessons about the importance of obeying God. These were when he was
called out of Ur, when he went to Egypt, and when he had to wait for Isaac’s
birth. Initially, Abraham did not always show that he trusted or believed God;
but through each test, he saw God’s willingness and ability to keep His
promises. That is why God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (Gen 22:1-2) at an
altar as a burnt sacrifice. That is the greatest gift one can offer. God did
not want Isaac to die, but He wanted Abraham to sacrifice Isaac in his heart so
that he could learn to trust God completely (Heb 11:19). Imagine what Abraham
must have felt as he walked with Isaac up the mountain, each step being
torturous and leading him painfully closer to unspeakable grief. However
Abraham obeyed, even at his own hurt and God honoured his faith.
Obeying God may often be a struggle
because it may mean giving up something that we truly want. We should not
expect our obedience to God to be easy or to come naturally. Just as fire
refines ore to extract precious metals, God refines us through difficult
circumstances. When tested, we can complain or we can obey, trusting God as we
try to see what He teaches us. Trust and Obey is the best way to be happy. In
what ways might God be testing your faith?
Action: As you go out
today, be determined to obey God even when it hurts.
Prayer: God, grant me the grant me the grace to obey you in everything even when it hurts because there is a reward at the end.
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