Joseph, God, And Making Sense Of It All

Scripture: Genesis 37:5 "Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more."

Observation: The paradox of the story of Joseph is that God gave Joseph dreams, who then increased the hatred of his brothers by sharing the dreams, which drove them to sell him, which resulted in the fulfillment of the dreams. Even more curious is that Rueben saved Joseph from death, which also was key to God's plans for Joseph.

Some may say that God here merely looked into Joseph's future and revealed a portion of it. That conclusion is incorrect, however. God orchestrated these things; He intended all of this. Like it or not, He is sovereign and does as He pleases (see Ephesians 1:11). How can I support that conclusion? I think with two points.

1. The dreams that God gave Joseph are the catalyst for everything that happened to Joseph. The brother had kindling for a fire in their dad's favoritism but the fuel and spark were the dreams (37:19 "this dreamer is coming..."). It wasn't the other way around. God was not just reacting to what the brothers did.

2. Joseph himself testified of this fact (see 45:4-8).

Application
1. God is sovereign over all things. The more I accept that, the greater I am blessed through it.

2. I will make mistakes no matter how hard I try. Rest in God's sovereignty. Joseph's naivety got him into trouble with the jealous brothers. Joseph continued during his enslavement (the consequence of his blabbing) to honor God as best as he could. God accomplished the physical salvation of an entire nation through it.

3. In the end, God spread His great, powerful, righteous name all over Egypt and the rest of the world. It is to His glory and to their shame that within centuries they had turned completely to satanic idolatry.

Prayer: Father, please teach me to trust Your faithfulness to Your own glory and to me. You bless those that diligently seek You. If You are for me, who can be against me. The reality is my Daddy can beat up their daddy. I love You. Amen.

Opinion Bomb

This is too funny not to share. It's also a little too much reality not to share... at least it is to me.

"I have a right to bear arms to protect myself. The government should provide me free firearms since I cannot afford them. The ability to pay should never prevent me from protecting my family from criminals."

Don't know who said it, but I kind of want to shake his or her hand. We should also add for accuracy's sake "from criminals and a reckless, dangerous, or detrimental government."

On the the other hand, President Obama actually ended his speech to Planned Parenthood the other night with the phrase, "God bless Planned Parenthood". I was literally expecting lightning bolts or scaffolding to fall from the ceiling. Folks, the term "reproductive health" is one of the most offensive things I've ever heard.

I pray that everyone using that term to sugar coat the killing of a child for convenience's sake would be blessed with an overwhelming understanding of how infinitely God loves them. I think that perhaps seeing a love so powerful, forgiveness so freely offered, and acceptance so unconditional might just be the thing to heal the hurting heart of someone who pursued "reproductive health" and is now dealing with the crushing, soul-wrenching aftermath of that decision.

Lord, please let your love shine so strongly through your children that it overcomes the darkness.

Mind Your Step, Your Steps Matter

Scripture: Genesis 34:1 "Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land."

Observation: Of all the history in Genesis I think this event to be the saddest. Jacob had one daughter; one daughter among 12 sons. I know the love I have for my only daughter - that I would protect her from anything and everything that seeks to harm her. My greatest concern comes not from the physical dangers, though.

Dinah was raped, but that, like so many other things in life, was avoidable if she would have made different decisions. That doesn't mean she was at fault for Shechem's actions. It means that she was at fault for being in that place at the time. We should not live life so naively that we don't recognize the impact that our decisions have on the experiences we have.

Dinah had some draw to visit the other women of "the land" of Canaan. The purpose of her visit isn't clearly stated but in light of the rest of the Bible, and the Torah especially, I can clearly see there was a drawing of the heart toward the way the "daughters of the land" lived, acted, worshipped, talked, played, mothered, married, dressed, and prioritized their lives. Genesis 34:1 serves no other purpose than to establish the context of the remained of the narrative.

So, Dinah had a heart issue that led her into danger and eventually into heart ache for her, her whole family, and to death for the men of an entire city. She was drawn to fill her heart with either something novel, something relational, or something spiritual. She, like the rest of us, sought to fill that hole in her heart with something other than the Lord.

Application: My concern for Nori is that her heart be totally defended against the draw of the world. People generally do what the people of their environment do. There are few exceptions. The application for me is to:

1. Continue to date Nori so that she values the treatment that godly men give.

2. Continue to encourage her to fill her mind and heart with the mind of Christ by carefully chosing that activities and books that she takes in.

3. Encourage her to love the Lord will all her heart.

4. Encourage her and bless her daily.

5. Help her find her true joy and complete satisfaction in God even while the world around her tells her that it is a waste of time and energy to live solely for His love and glory.

6. Love and support her so well that she will be able to clearly recognize true love when she sees it and so that she can spot fake, self-centered, worldly, sinfully driven  emotion and affections from a mile away; and to reject it on the spot.

Prayer: God, my Lord, I cannot pray strongly enough or more passionately that You teach me to love Nori to the highest degree and to model Your love for her. Please strengthen our relationship so that I can meet her relational needs and so that I would be her knight in armor until the day that she leaves according to Your will to marry according to Your will. I love You. Amen.

Go!

Scripture: Genesis 31:13 " 'I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.' "

Observation: God is announcing that He has done all that Jacob has asked (back in Chapter 28, verse 20-22). The last thing to be completed required Jacob to obey in faith and return to Isaac.

The conflict that had risen between Jacob and Laban may have prompted Jacob's departure, but it didn't determine his next destination. Jacob likely would not have returned to his brother without God telling him to.

God took 20 years (31:41) to fulfill Jacob's request at Bethel. Really that's how long God chose to take to demonstrate His sovereign power. Jacob now knew that God not only does as He pleases, but that He also sets the times and seasons of our lives. Despite the length of his journey with Laban, rather through the completion of all of His promises, God proved His untiring faithfulness.

Application:
1. Granted, Jacob may have lived longer than I will, but God will take however much time He wants in order to do the work in me and my family that He has purposed. Be patient in faith, and persevere through trials.

2. Trust in God's plan.

3. Obey when God says "Go".

Prayer: Lord, please give me the faith of Jacob. I praise You for Your sovereignty and trustworthiness. I love You. Amen.

Is He A Sovereign God?

WARNING! This is a theology post. Proceed at your own risk.

I have been part of a group of men that have been meeting on Friday's at 5am (yawn!) to study theology (double yawn, right?) for the last year and a half, or so. Several times the doctrine of "Sovereign Election" has come up. Some people may know this topic as Calvinism vs. Arminianism (though that is rather a poor generalization, to be historically accurate), or "Double Predestination vs. Free Will".

I post the below extensive quote by Horatius Bonar (19 December 1808 – 31 May 1889) because it contributes to the discussions and considerations that the Wing and a Prayer bible study group have had. Enjoy or loathe. It's up to you, I suppose.

Whether or not you make it to the end, comments are always welcome on the blog of someone who would wake up at 4:10 am to discuss a book call "Systematic Theology" (which I recommend if you're looking for such a book; this one is by Wayne Grudem).

"I do not deny that in conversion man himself wills. In everything that he does, thinks, feels, he of necessity wills. In believing he wills. In repenting, he wills. In turning from evil ways, he wills - all this is true. The opposite is both untrue and absurd. But while fully admitting this, there is another question behind it, of great interest and importance: Are these movements of man's will toward good the effects of the forthputting of God's will? Is man willing because he has made himself so; or is he willing because God has made him so? Does he become willing entirely by an act of his own will, or by chance, or by moral suasion, or because his will was acted on by created causes or influences from outside himself?

I answer unhesitatingly that he becomes willing because of another and superior will - God's, that has come into contact with his, alter its nature and its bent. This new bent is the result of a change produced upon it by Him who alone, of all beings, has the right, without limitation, to say in regard to all events and change, "I will!" The man's will has followed the movement of the Divine will. God has made him willing. God's will is first, not second, in the movement. Even a holy and perfect will depends for guidance upon the will of God. Even when regenerated, a man's will still follows, it does not lead. Much more an unholy will, for its bent must be first changed. And how can this be, if God is not to interpose His power?

The presentation of truth, however forcible and clear, even though that truth were the grace of God, will only exasperate the unconverted man. It is the gospel he hates, and the more clearly it is set before him, the more he hates it. It is God that he hates, and the more closely God approaches him, the more vividly that God is set before him, the more his enmity awakens. Surely, then, that which stirs up enmity cannot of itself remove it. Of what avail, then, are the most energetic means by themselves? The will itself must be directly operated upon by the Spirit of God: He who has made it must remake it. Its making was the work of Omnipotence; its remaking must be the same, in no other way can its evil bent be rectified. God's will must come into contact with man's will, and then the work is done. Must not God's will then be first in every such movement/ Man's will follows. 

Is this a hard saying? So some in these days would have us believe. Let us ask wherein consists the hardness. Is it hard that God's will should be the leader and man's will the follower in all things great and small? Is it hard that we should be obliged to trace the origin of every movement of man towards good to the will of God? If it is hard, it must be that it strips man of every fragment of what is good, or of the slightest tendency to good. And this we believe to be the secret origin of the complaint against the doctrine. It is a thorough leveler and emptier of man. It makes him not only nothing, but worse than nothing, a sinner all over  - nothing but a sinner, with a heart full of enmity to God, set against Him as the God of righteousness, and still more against Him as the God of grace, with a will so bent away from the will of God, and so rebellious against it, as not to have one remaining inclination of what is good and holy and spiritual. This man cannot tolerate. Admit that a man is totally worthless and helpless, and where is the hard saying? Is it hard that God's blessed and holy will should go before our miserable and unholy wills, to lead them in the way? Is it hard that those who have nothing should be indebted to God for everything? Is it hard, since every movement of my will is downwards, earthwards, that God's mighty will should come in and lift it omnipotently upwards, heavenwards?"

- Horatius Bonar

The Shadow Proves The Sunlight

So today we're again facing things that just do not make sense to us.

Apparently it made sense to someone.

It's times like this that we're reminded that there is indeed such a thing as absolute morality, because such a nonsensical act demands justice in our heart (but that topic is for another day). I pray for justice upon these men or women that did this, but I pray even more for the rest of us that this moment will draw us all closer to the Lord.

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings like eagles. They shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalm 27:14

"I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints, but let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him that glory may dwell in the land." Psalm 85:8-9

"Because he has set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver Him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He shall call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him." Psalm 91:14-15

Answers we may have none of; confidence and hope for tomorrow are within our grasp if we wait on and call on the Lord who loves us.

I Know Karate. And Like Three Other Japanese Words.

Monday, 8 April 2013 - Christian earned his 2nd degree white belt. He has one more tip before being able to belt up and he should be ready for the belt test in August!

We Come To That Certain Place

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22 - Jacob dreams of the ladder extending to heaven from earth. God promises Jacob to give him the covenantal promises of Abraham and Isaac. Jacob's response.

Observation: This journal will be a bit different. It seems that within this text is a great representation of encountering God, God's revelation, and man's response.


Encounter
1.      
          - Verse 11 says Jacob "came to a certain place". Every person that exists, that has ever existed, and that will exist has a certain place where they meet God. I suppose very few people, if any, have only one place, but all encounter Him somewhere.
          - Jacob came to his place by no choice of his own; circumstances which were in the Lord's control placed him there.
          - Jacob was merely going through his normal daily experience when he met God (vs. 11).

Revelation
2. God comes to us with a declaration of His own character and follows that with a call for us to draw near to Him for the satisfaction of our heart and soul (John 6:35). He promises true and great success as a product of that relationship (John 6:35, 40), (vs 13-15).

The remaining steps only happen to those whom the Lord draws (John 6:44).

Response
3. Jacob chose to respond in faith. He immediately began to praise what he knew of God. He would learn more later (John 6:45).

4. Jacob then chose to set his desires right. He asked that God merely provide for his needs and repair the damage in his life. Jacob had strife on all sides of his life and so he asked that God grant him peace (vs. 20-21).

5. Jacob recognized that all of his material possessions belonged to God and he vowed to honor God with them.

Application: Steps 1 and 2 are God's work; 3 through 5 are for me (and everyone else). It will look different for each person, and yet it will look the same as well.

1. There must always be audible and visible praise to God for who He is, not just for what He does.

2. There must always be a change of heart and mind that results in a demonstration of faith and a declaration to pursuing God (even if only for a time God alone knows of the declaration).

3. There must always be a surrendering of this present life looking unto the life that God promises to give us in replacement and in eternity.

If those three are absent, then faith is not genuine, salvation will be false, and eternal life will not be granted by the Lord.

Prayer: With all that I am able to give, I give my life to You. Please increase my faith. Teach me to fulfill all the law by loving You and those around me. May my praise of You be heard and seen! Lead me and I will follow - by Your grace. I love You. Amen.

Leaving A Legacy

Scripture: Genesis 27:6-8 "So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, 'Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, "Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death." Now therefore my son, obey my voice according to what I command you.' "

Observations:
1. A lot of things have changed since Chapter 24, verse 67 "... and [Rebekah] became [Isaac's] wife, and he loved her."  Isaac pleaded for children and God granted twins.

2. God had revealed His future plans for the younger one. Sadly, rather than sharing that knowledge with Isaac, Rebekah apparently hid it and worked to manipulate circumstances. I see no reason that would provoke Jacob to barter for the first-born inheritance portion (Chapter 25) unless Rebekah had revealed something of God's plans to him. Sadly, Rebekah and Isaac had grown so far apart that they did not share even revelation from God. 

3. Rebekah's deceit of her husband also makes no sense unless there is great division between them. Chapter 25:28 says Jacob loved to eat the food Esau brought home. At the end of Chapter 26 we see Esau refused his parents wishes concerning his choice of wife (wives). Chapter 27:4 again says that Jacob "loved" wild game. Verses 7, 9, and 14 repeat that fact. Verses 19, 25, and 31 directly connect the blessing to the pre-blessing food.

5. To me, much of the family breakdown is Isaac's doing. I see several reasons for this. The only details we are given concerning Isaac is that he favored Esau. At first thought that isn't too surprising because he was a firstborn; however, Scripture records that the favoritism was owed to the fact that Esau was a hunter - the man's man. Second, Isaac repeated Abraham's sin of deceiving the Philistine leader. Third, Isaac overlooked Esau's obvious disregard for faith in God and following God's precepts (evidenced by his choice of wives).

Application:
1. Love my wife. I think it's interesting that two of the last three journals concerned Scripture's admonishment to treasure Candi and seek to bless her and appreciate her. I'm listening, Lord.

2. I think Isaac allowed his physical desires or enjoyment to cloud his discernment over his act of giving the blessing. Had he considered which of his sons were faithful to God he likely would have blessed Jacob by choice. What appetites do I have that cloud my judgment and hinder faithful obedience to my Lord?

Prayer: Father, thank you for providing Your word which is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that I may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Again, teach me to treasure Candi and to follow You whole-heartedly. I love You. Amen.

The Witness Of The Lord

Scripture: Genesis 26:28-29 "But [Abimelech] said, 'We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you... You are no
w the blessed of the Lord.' "

Observation: This Abimelech is likely the heir of the Abimelech that Abraham had dealings with. Perhaps not a son, but rather it's just a name that all the Philistine kings took. I'll have to research that more.

The name and fame of the Lord clearly was passed down to these non-Abrahamic descendants as well. They were aware that taking Rebekah as a wife when she was truly Isaac's wife, even though they wouldn't have know, would have been guilt on them. The previous Abimelech was told of that fact in a dream by God.

Isaac was a great witness to God's goodness, sovereignty and protection. "You are now the blessed of the Lord."

Application:
1. Know that God was bringing all men to Himself in the O.T.; not just the descendants of the Patriarchs. It is a misconception that people are unaware of God even today. God has always made Himself known. I fail to credit God as a just God when I presuppose through a variety of hypothetical postulations that there are people completely innocent before a God that holds them guilty with faith. Rather if I believe God is good and just, I must believe that either God has revealed Himself sufficiently to invoke faith to all those that would believe or that those that die without clearer revelation than nature would not have responded in faith even if given more revelation. As Jesus said in the story of the Lazarus and the rich man, some will not believe even if someone returns from the dead.

2. Live my life today in a way that demonstrates that God is my Lord. Trust in His ways. Speak of His goodness to everyone. Spread His name and His fame. Even as I am delayed in my departure this week I know that it provided me the opportunity today to meet with a missionary from Cameroon. This could be the reason that God held up the processes that needed to be completed for me to be able to leave. I ought to share that thought; Christians overcome by our testimony. What is my testimony today? Everyday?

Prayer: Lord, You are so good to me. You pour out an endless flow of goodness and grace and joy and blessing to me. I know that it is only through Jesus Christ that we have the intimate relationship that we have. Please help me to witness of that fact to others. You bless every person but blessings are not evidence that we are justified and forgiven of sin. People need to know that they aren't OKAY without a personal relationship with You. I love You. Amen.

A Little Rock And Roll For The Soul

The kids and I took last Friday as a day (actually, night) trip. We drove three plus hours up to Enid, Oklahoma to see a quadruple band show. The night started off with Manic Drive. Seventh Day Slumber and Group 1 Crew came next. 

The "headliner" was Audio Adrenaline featuring their new lead singer, Kevin Max. Some older folks will remember him from the group DC Talk. Extra credit for anyone that knows what the "DC" stands for. More importantly, he also happens share my Alma Mater, Liberty University. I'm a little surprised he didn't recognize me at the concert. I know he was busy, though. He doesn't come bothering me while I'm talking to airplanes or telling Airmen to do push-ups.

The show was great. My right ear recovered today and I can just barely hear the constant ringing as I write this.

The kids also took the opportunity to hone their photography skills. Apparently Nori and Christian bogarted the cameras, though. There's a clear lack of Wyatt below.

I've not listened to Seventh Day Slumber before and I couldn't hear a whole lot of what they were saying, but the lead singer had quite a testimony of God's grace, love, and faithfulness!

We got one picture with Manic Drive. We saw this Canadian crew in little ol' Altus a couple months back. They've become a family favorite since then. If you happen to see them, please let them know Altus, Oklahoma says "Hi" and follow it up with a "We love you!" That's generally what people say to super stars, especially if you're personal friends now.

Now we're just waiting for the call that Group 1 Crew is going to hand deliver the mini-guitar that we are going to win in the raffle we signed up for. I've got a good feeling about that raffle. A friend of mine generally wins at those things, but he wasn't there to win it for us. I hope my good feelings are as effective as his.

Beautiful Woman

Scripture: Genesis 24

Observation: The story of Eliezer's (most likely. See 15:2-3) travel to find a wife for Isaiah is amazing. It is rich with truth about how God has a will over even the small details of our lives. It also is testimony to the sovereign election of God. The story of Isaac and Esau does not take place without Rebekah's faith and personality.

Today though the Holy Spirit drew my attention to Rebekah herself. There is so much effort by society to define the value, roles, purpose of, and uniqueness (or lack thereof) of women (especially in America because, I believe, in our arrogance we believe we have outgrown God's word and have moved on to a more civil and fair-minded societal perspective). May God grant me that I would carry to my grave and into eternity the conviction that women are best served and cherished by others and that women best serve and cherish themselves when they are surrendered to and guided by the Word of God (an identical statement holds true for men...).
          What makes me a good controller is that I adhere to the guidance and counsel of the FAA and Air Force regulations for they have both defined what defines and ensures safe and effective air traffic control. Womanhood and manhood are no different. While someone may have temporary success apart from the FAA guidance, eventually they will cause an accident by ignorantly violating the requirements determined to be the best procedures by the technical experts. Likewise a woman may see any number of successes in parenting, education, profession, relationship, etc. but eventually unknowingly departing from the Best Procedures contained in the Sole Guidance as determined by the Technical Expert will produce regrets and hurt in their own lives and the lives of those around them.

The quality of Rebekah as seen here...
Hard-working Eliezer first found her doing what the women of that area did. It was not easy and light duty. She was had work serving her family. Not only that, but her heart toward work was one of joy. Had she grumbled through work she certainly wouldn't have responded to Eliezer the way she did.

Kind Easily recognizable here, but it is significant that Eliezer was a complete stranger to her, and obviously a stranger to the area.

Honest Her conversation and actions with Eliezer were candid. She made no effort to conceal truths, nor to manipulate through the encounter. In contrast her family attempted (though certainly out of love) to deter her from being straight-forward when they asked for a few days before she leave.

Devoted to God She was not deterred from the path that God had led her to even when given the opportunity to delay by what most people would consider "reasonable" (some good-bye time), she acted out the words, "Not my will, but Yours be done."

Submissive This one is the gas that fuels so much anger and disbelief of unbelievers toward God's thoughts on women in Scripture. I recently read a professing Christian with a prominent position throughout the world deny the Biblical teaching on submission of women. His position is that it was the cause of the horrible and heinous atrocities of abuse, neglect, and prejudice on women in so many countries in the world. As I read I just reviewed in my mind the words of Paul, "for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desire, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers and they will turn theirs ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables."
     The sad truth is that the world will miss, and does now reel from the loss of that baby when they dispense with the bath water. Rebekah wisely understood that she was choosing to submit to others in her life because she was submitted to God. God's authority and righteous (always good and right) ways are the foundation that drove her decision to willingly select the path laid before her through God's chosen vehicles of presentation (in this case Eliezer and her father).

Faithful Rebekah continued on the path of the unknown simply by believing God.

Application:
- Pray diligently for the women in my life to receive the blessings that come through Biblical womanhood.
- Teach Nori to treasure the things that Scripture prescribes as valuable rather than the false idols of accomplishment, fame, approval, and acceptance that the world around her promotes.
- Blessing my wife and daughter for all that they do.

Prayer: Father, please help me to encourage women to become lost in You. Help me to be a voice for exalting the innate value of women because they are created in Your image. Teach me to appreciate the women in my life as You do and train me to show that appreciation daily. I love You. Amen.

Demonstrating His Love

Scripture: Genesis 22:3-4 "Then [God] said [to Abraham], 'Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.' So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him."

Observation: I have always been somewhat appalled that God would test Abraham in this way and curious as to the measure of Abraham's earnestness in obedience. I picture Abraham looking with one eye to Isaac as he lay on the alter and with the other eye to God thinking, "Really?". But the details of the story now seem to paint a different picture.

1. Here we have recorded a "burnt offering" commanded well before the law had been given.
2. God asks Abraham to offer his son, his only son. The test is a test all along, but only God knew this. Certainly there were other nations giving human sacrifices. The idea wouldn't be new. The hard thing for Abraham faith (aside from losing his son, of course) would have been that God had never directed him to do something the other pagan, demon-worshipping religions did.
3. This request from God must have torn Abraham's heart o shreds. No doubt Abraham loved Isaac immensely. And yet he truly, without reservation, intended to put Isaac to death as an offering.
4. Throughout this event, God was looking forward to the time when He would not replace His Son with a ram, but rather would offer "his son, his only son" to death.
5. Like Jesus, Isaac had done nothing to deserve this end. Surely Isaac was a sinner, but to be used as a sacrifice was not a form of punishment or wrath for sacrificed object. Sacrificial objects were offered up for others. The ram that was slain was a substitute by institute of God.
6. Because Isaac had his own sin, he was an inadequate sacrifice functionally. That is why the Jews always sacrificed animals, who have no sin of their own to die for. However, the blood of animals could never truly atone for the sins of people (Hebrews 10:4). The sacrificial laws were a temporary solution intended to point men to Jesus Christ.
7. Jesus had no sin and therefore did not need to be substituted.
8. The faithfulness and greatness of Abraham as a lover of God was tested in and demonstrated by his obedience in action and heart just shy of surrendering his only son. The faithfulness and greatness of God's love was tested in and demonstrated by Him surrendering His only Son, holding nothing back, all the way to death.

Application: Obvious - I want to be like Abraham who would follow God's word completely and fully in heart. This is merely one action among many for which all people who have faith are called children of Abraham. Only the children of Abraham (Romans 9:7-8; Galatians 3:28-29) will be saved. Continue to believe in faith in all that I do and in all that I experience.

Prayer: I do not know how to relinquish all of me to You, but I pray that You teach me to loosen the grip on my life to the point that it lays in an open palm in complete offering to You. You have not called me to offer my son, but rather myself (in Romans 12:1). I love You. My You be glorified in my offering. Amen.