Faith Capsule: Love is a costly sacrifice.

Genesis 22

1 John 5:3 stated, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.”Keeping God’s command is obeying and seeking God. It is sacrifice to keep His command and it means loving God. Sacrifice is not cheap but costly to give. King David once stated in 2 Samuel 24:24, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”” King David was responding to Araunah who had offered him a free land for sacrifice to God. The sacrifice was meant to deliver the children of Israel from death that was caused by David’s census. It was a clear demonstration of what a costly sacrifice before God should be. To consciously engage a costly sacrifice is a proven mark of love for God.
God did not just ask for love rather He gave us a standard of acceptable love when He stated in 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 our all. Those that gave Him all were able to live a fulfilled life and accomplish great exploits to the glory of God.
Abraham demonstrated his love obeying God. Abraham was seventy five years old when he was called out to unknown land and he left as commanded by God. Abraham’s 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’s repeated emphasis on Isaac’s status to Abraham could not discourage Abraham. He loved God with all his heart when he followed through and obeyed the instructions of God. A three day journey to sacrificial ground was not enough to dissuade Abraham to change his love from God. Genesis 22:4 stated, “Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.”  Despite all, he continued because he loved God with all his strength.
Abraham love God with all his soul when he carried out the sacrifice in his heart. “Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” (Genesis 22:10) Abraham’s attempt called for heaven’s attention 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) Abraham feared God. To love God is to fear God.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to know and to love God with all your being.