Pick It Up

Jn.12:²⁴ “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (NRSV, with emphasis).

Abraham was a classic example of giving up life to find life. Abraham, in the place of waiting on God for a child decided to help God. As if God had forgotten how to make children. Abraham produced Ishmael and God in His mercy chose to bless Ishmael. But God said, “In Isaac shall your seed be” and according to God’s timing, Isaac came. Then God said to Abraham, “take your son your only son Isaac and sacrifice him”; meaning that Ishmael was not recognized. I imagine that God had to specifically say Isaac because if God had said, “take your son, your only son…” Abraham would have sacrificed Ishmael. While this is funny, it is the sad reality of what some people are doing with God. God is asking us for Isaac, but we are giving God Ishmael.

Abraham gave God what He requested for, the sacrifice God requested for and that is so big. How was he able to do that? Heb. 11:18 tells us that, “even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” ¹⁹ Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.” [with emphasis]. Abraham reasoned, faith reasons. The same account in Rom.4:²⁰ “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises” [with emphasis].

Abraham was fully persuaded, fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises. What has God promised you? I am here to tell you that God is able to do it. You have to be fully persuaded. Abraham did not take the way of self because he was fully persuaded that God will do what He has promised to do. Even if Isaac died, Abraham believed that God was going to raise him from the dead.

Song: God is able to do just what He says He will do… He’s going to fulfill every promise to you. Don’t give up on God cause He won’t give up on you. He’s able.

The power over the way of self comes from being fully persuaded that God has the best for you. The power over the way of the world is being fully convinced that God has the best for you. Do you trust God? The only way to triumph over the way of the world and over the way of self, is in being fully persuaded in God, in trusting God completely. Do you trust God?

Prayer [song]: Righteousness (2x), is what I long for. Righteousness, is what I need. Righteous is what You want from me. So take my heart and mold it, take my mind transform it… Amen!