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“Was not
our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what He did when he offered his
son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working
together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” James 2:21-22
The story of Abraham taking Isaac up to a mountain and
preparing his son with Sarah for sacrifice is known by believers. We read where
Isaac asks why they didn't have the sacrificial animal with them. Abraham
responded with words of faith, “The Lord will provide.”
James tells us
Abraham’s faith was “made complete” by his deeds. When we get into the issue of
works, we look at works being the starting point in our journey of faith. If
Abraham hadn't believed in God’s providing, I don’t believe he could have done
as God told him.
The work a person does is the result of the faith he or she
has. I once heard a children’s moments’ lesson sum up this issue very well.
“When we are new in the Lord we
look at work as what we do in order to develop or faith. Actually
our work is as a result of our
faith.”
Click this for a special hymn My Faith Looks Up to Thee
Click this for a special hymn My Faith Looks Up to Thee
THE GREATEST SORROW (OVER USING OR NOT USING FAITH) ONE WILL EVER HAVE IS IN HAVING NOT DONE (WHEN CALLED BY OUR LORD TO DO) BETTER KNOWN AS THE SINS OF OMISSION.
ReplyDeleteJames 4:17 (ESV)
17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
Romans 7:14–20
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, wsold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For xI do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with ythe law, that it is good. 17 So now zit is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells ain me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 bFor I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, cit is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Luke 10:30–37
30 Jesus replied, “A man wwas going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a xpriest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise xa Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a ySamaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and zbound up his wounds, pouring on zoil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two adenarii3 and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Matthew 25:31–46
The Final Judgment
31 i“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, jthen he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him kwill be gathered lall the nations, and mhe will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates nthe sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then othe King will say to pthose on his right, ‘Come, you qwho are blessed by my Father, rinherit sthe kingdom tprepared for you ufrom the foundation of the world. 35 For vI was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you wgave me drink, xI was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 vI was naked and you clothed me, yI was sick and you zvisited me, aI was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And bthe King will answer them, c‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these dmy brothers,6 you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, e‘Depart from me, you fcursed, into gthe eternal fire prepared for hthe devil and his angels. 42 For iI was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, jyou did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away kinto eternal punishment, but the righteous kinto leternal life.”
Thank you for your insight. The topic of faith causes us to think about our own faith, especially during the Lenten season.
DeleteBeautiful post and message. Many blessings to you~
ReplyDeleteCynthia;
DeleteThank you for your kind words. And thank you for deciding to follow my blog. I usually post on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Great post. It is chilling to imagine the thoughts racing through Abraham's mind as he asked his son to climb the mountain with him for the sacrifice, made the journey side by side with his son, and then prepared the firewood and altar while his son obeyed his every command. Isaac obeyed his father, much as Abraham obeyed our heavenly Father, and in the end Isaac was spared through Abraham's faith. We must put God first, even when it is uncomfortable or even painful to do so.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this reminder during this Lenten season! Be well, my friend.
Janette: thank you for your kind observation. I also find this story awesome. We serve a wonderful God.
ReplyDeleteI guess after believing God for his precious son, Abraham remembered the promises of God. One way or another, the prophetic words over this boy would come to pass.
ReplyDelete