Take Now

[0:00] A Pastor's Reflections Take Now Genesis 22, 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

[0:20] Luke 9, 23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

[0:31] 1 Corinthians 11, 24 And when he had given thanks, he'd break it, and said, Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you, this do in remembrance of me.

[0:47] In Genesis 22, the word of the Lord had once again come to Abraham. God had placed before Abraham a very difficult test of faith, and Abraham now had a choice whether he would respond in obedience or turn back from God's command.

[1:04] However, Abraham's choice was not a one-time decision. As he progresses through the events of the chapter, Abraham is continuing to make decisions according to his faith in God's word.

[1:16] As much as we would like our decisions of obedience to God to be one-and-done events, the life of faith is a moment-by-moment choice of surrender.

[1:29] The word take appears six different times throughout chapter 22, and each time represents one of those acts of decision on the part of Abraham. Abraham had a part to play in his walk of faith, and every time he took something to himself in response to God's leading, he was choosing once again to say yes to the will of God.

[1:54] Abraham took his son to the mountain. Abraham took two servants with him to help. Abraham took wood. Abraham took fire. Abraham took the ram.

[2:06] In the scripture, six also represents the number of man. In Genesis chapter 22, that number specifically points to the part that man has to play in the will of God.

[2:19] God is not about just hitting start and then leaving us to go it on our own. No. His plan is for his continual involvement in our lives, but also for our continual involvement in his will.

[2:35] Philippians 2, 12 and 13. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God which works in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

[2:49] God has done the heavy lifting for us. He is not expecting us to determine our destiny or to chart our own course. He is not leaving it up to us to work up the energy to live out this life of faith.

[3:03] But he is expecting us to take advantage of the source of life that he gives. The work he has done on our behalf is completely sufficient for every situation we meet.

[3:15] However, it is not God who is to blame if we do not choose to take that sufficiency and apply it to our own moment-by-moment decisions of faith.

[3:28] So take up and live out what God has given into your hands to do. Deuteronomy 1, 8. Behold, I have set the land before you.

[3:39] Go in and take the land. Jesus, thank you for accomplishing everything for me. There is now nothing I need to do, but there is a whole lot I get to do.

[3:54] Help me to not trouble myself with the how and the why, but instead to focus on what you have given me to do. Thank you that you have a part for me to play in this life of faith.

[4:07] I choose to take now my cross and to take up the adventure that you have placed before me. Amen.