Susan's Blog: What is my Isaac?

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

What is my Isaac?

This week I’ve been getting back into my normal weekly routine following the Christmas and New Year holidays. As soon as I return from my morning walk, I turn on the radio to listen to Chuck Swindoll’s Insight for Living as I get ready for work. His current message is about Abraham and his obedience to God’s command to sacrifice his son Isaac? Chuck went on to ask, “What is your Isaac that God may require of you?”

I started thinking…what is my Isaac? What would God require of me to lay down, be willing to sacrifice, in obedience to His command? Like Abraham, would I be quick to obey?

Is my Isaac my husband Chris?
Our home?
Is it my job?
My health?
Is it a hope or a dream?
Our finances?
Is it the approval and acceptance of man?

Each year it seems like God has taught me to loosen my grip on things and even people. To hold loosely and be ready to say, “Thy will be done.” Last year and in recent months, it feels as though God has been deconstructing me by removing people and things that I love from my life. Testing me to see if I love Him more than the gifts He has given me. Obviously the test is for me because God already knows how I will respond.

Even if I do okay on one test…I can’t afford to be complacent. I must realize that there will other tests and trials. By the grace of God…some I will pass. However, there will be some tests that will reveal things within my character, attitude or the thoughts and intentions of my heart that are sinful and ugly and need to be dealt with. Tests may reveal that I’ve let something creep in and take the place of God being first in my life. How will I respond to those test results?

One thing that comes to mind is that I don’t need to fear those tests that God may allow in my life. I can trust Him because He is good all the time. Unlike me, God is not sinful and His motivation and purpose is always good and come from a pure, undefiled heart.

So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” - Luke 10:27

1 comment:

Joshua said...: Great post. We always need to be remindful that God uses tests for a purpose to be able to build up our character. We may not always like it, but God knows what is best for us. So, stay close to Him and be obedient to what He asks of us.

In Christ,
Joshua :); 2:00 AM

My Colors Will Be Clear

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight seeing, smooth knees, color-less dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, "chinchy" giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need position, promotions, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my destination is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few. My Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of the One that gave me life, drew the line in blood for me in the hour of my destiny.

I am one of Christ's remnant people. I belong to Him and none other. All I do to bring this life to another is done because of that blood covenant poured out for me.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. I must share will all that one more might hear and be drawn from the flaming darkness that longs to consume. Reach for another, touch but one more!

Until that moment...He will have no problem in recognizing me- my colors will be clear!!!

Not only are the words inspiring but so is the man behind them. The above letter was written by a Pastor in Africa who was undergoing severe persecution. On the eve of his execution he sat down and wrote the above note.

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

What is my Isaac?

1 comment:

The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay – Fascinating, Compelling, Filled with Intrigue