FAITH CAPSULE: Abraham was sacrificially steadfast.

Genesis 22

Sacrifice is to surrender something of value as a means of gaining something more desirable. It requires steadfastness. Steadfastness can be inconvenient to engage especially when you have to surrender your time to receive a promise that is unseen.

David stated God’s message to Solomon, “Now He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father. Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day.” (1Chronicles 28:6-7)  This is a beautiful and blessed promise of God but for Solomon to receive this promise from God, He had to continually be steadfast in following God’s commands. Any sacrificial engagement that lacks steadfastness will cut short the blessing promised by God.

In life, there is no possession without sacrifice. In other words, behind every gained possession, there is a reasonable sacrifice to be given. Sacrifice might happen in different ways, but it is necessary in order to receive your rightful possession.

God promised Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Behind the promise of God for Abraham, the sacrificial condition was enormous and painful to engage. God commanded him, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house.” (Genesis 12:1) Often times, believers’ claim Abraham’s blessing, but many of them are unable to make such sacrifice to receive those blessings. Abraham continued in the journey to His blessing by making sure he was continuously steadfast.  It was a journey which lasted from his departure as commanded by God, until the rest of his life. Abraham was sacrificially steadfast.

Moses, being a vessel of God, was speaking to the children of Israel when he said, “Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess.” (Deuteronomy 11:8) God promised the children of Israel a possession, but it could not happen until they had invested in a required sacrifice. If they had kept the commandments of God, it would have given them the strength needed to possess their possessions. Sacrifice is costly and can be in different forms. Obeying the commandment is a sacrifice because it takes man out of his plan and places man into Gods plans.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace which saw Abraham through to be true in your life.