Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Genesis 22:10, “And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.”

Background

We’ve all seen the tragic stories of a car wreck where multiple people are in the vehicle, and some of them survive and some do not. Too often it involves high school kids driving home from a school function or after a night of having some fun. The survivors are torn with emotions, elated to be alive, but destroyed over the death of their friends. And if the driver is one of those who lived, no amount of comfort can prevent them from feeling responsible or wondering why they survived and the others did not. Even more tragic, if that’s somehow measurable, is the death and survival of family members. God spare us all from being involved in the death of one of our own. And as such, how would you respond to having to choose between the one who dies and the one who lives but takes the other’s life? Specifically, would you rather be Abraham or Isaac? It’s a horrible thought to consider. Do you want to die at the hand of your own father, or be the one who takes the life of your son? On a grander scale, and with all respect and honor do I submit this, would you rather have been God or Jesus? I won’t be presumptive to suggest I know how most of us would answer. And I won’t even assume that we could answer. I only propose this for us to ponder so that we can be reminded of the awesome price that was paid at Calvary.

Application

All that was accomplished that Friday, and for all time, carried the weight of eternity with it, and it required nothing at all from us. We don’t have to experience tragedy. We don’t have to offer up a child. We don’t have to look into the eyes of our executioner. Our salvation is a gift, the only priceless gift ever given. And it cost everything. It cost God. The price was God Himself. Not something as valuable as Himself, not just something of His own, and not just a tragic event for Him. He gave Himself. He was the killer and the killed. How’s that for a sacrifice of love? Believe in that love. And go and live in that love.    

Charge

As we seek Him today, let the sacrifice of our Father free you to give yourself completely to Him and to whatever He asks of you.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words