FAITH CAPSULE: Abraham demonstrated what it means to love God.

Genesis 22

Claiming the love of God can not be compared to any idea of loving God.
To love God should not be a non-stop engagement.
Just as having a breath of life, so should it be loving God unconditionally when there is breath within.
Loving God should not be the way of anyone but in His own way.
God does have a set standard for every area of His expectations,
Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
To love God means to give Him all, just as Abraham gave God all, loving God.
He loved God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his strength.
Abraham loved God with all his heart.
Abraham was seventy-five years old when he obediently left home.
Obedience to God is the character of love for God.
Abraham demonstrated his love when he moved in obedience to an unknown location.
However, the strongest demonstration of his love for God emerged after the birth of his son, Isaac. 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.” (Genesis 22:2)
God repeatedly asked for Isaac.
Abraham could not deny God.
Abraham demonstrated what it means to love God with all our heart when he followed through and obeyed God.
Abraham resumed the journey of obedience at an early hour.
“Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.” (Genesis 22:4)
It took Abraham three days to get to the ground of sacrifice.
Abraham took his only son, whom he loved, on a three-day journey, an exhausting journey.
Also, knowing fully well that the son was to die should have taken away all his strength as he went on for three days.
Despite all, he continued because he loved God with all his strength.
Abraham also demonstrated his love with all his soul when he carried out the sacrifice in his heart. Genesis 22:10 records, “Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.”
The attempt of Abraham called for the attention of heaven, and the angel called on Abraham, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”(Genesis 22:12)
By not withholding and being so willing to sacrifice his one and only son, Abraham clearly demonstrated how much he loved God with all his heart, strength, and soul.

Prayer for today: Ask God to enable you with all that it takes to love Him with all your heart for His glory.