Journal Entry ~ 06/24/18

20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"-and he was called a friend of God. - James 2:20-23

Abraham is an incredible example of faith in action. God asked him to offer his son up on the altar, and Abraham was obedient. You see, Isaac was the seed of the covenant between God and Abraham. God had promised to grow a nation of His people through Abraham, and Abraham waited until he was an old 100 years before his first child was born, so sacrificing Isaac was sacrificing God’s promise to him. And even though it didn’t make any sense to him, Abraham walked Isaac up to the altar, trusting God had a plan. What incredible faithfulness. 

As a mother of 3 sons, I often think about the faithfulness that Abraham demonstrates in that moment. He was willing to sacrifice his only son because God asked him to. God never had any intention of taking Isaac, but He wanted to see if Abraham was willing to give what he cherished the most in this world. God wants to have the most treasured part of our heart, and He is willing to allow us to walk through very difficult trials to reveal to us He is not on the throne of our hearts. 

The most beautiful parts of God’s plan is what happens when you surrender that which you hold over God. He increases your faith in ways you cannot explain - 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works. Faith works with our works, and as a result of our works, faith is perfected. When we take that leap of faith, when we offer up that which we hold most dear to Him, God grows our faith in some pretty incredible ways. My faith would not be where it is today had He not taken me to places I would never have gone on my own. Had He not allowed me to walk through the trials of my life, I would still have unsurrendered parts of my heart, and my faith would be shallow.  But because He has, I have such a deep sense of His presence in my life, a trust beyond measure in His plan, and the true knowledge of His peace, His comfort, and His strength. 


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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