Mon., 1/21/13 Devotion (Gen. 22:1a)

Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 22:1a, where we read these words:

"Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abra-
ham . . . "

Are we believers in the Lord Jesus Christ? If so, then we are the spir-itual and covenantal children of Abraham, Biblically-speaking. This also means that, even as Abraham's faith was tested, ours will be, as well. The "trying" of faith is to show forth the sincerity, the reality, and the value of it.

Are God's tests sometimes difficult? Undoubtedly, they are. God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his beloved son of the promise. Abraham was willing to do this, not because he wanted to, but because he trusted God and believed that He (the Lord) knew what was best. May this be our attitude as well.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Grace shall never be idle where the love of God is strong." --Obadiah Sedgwick, in, "Christ's Counsel to His Lan-guishing Church"]