“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
―Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Regardless of your religious beliefs, attempting to kill your only son because someone told you to will always sound a little bit strange. It’s because of this that the story of Abraham and Isaac is one of the most controversial and discussed stories of all biblical text. Its powerful drama and raw emotion cuts deep into everyone who reads it—no matter what they believe.
Abraham’s experience in this story paints a powerful picture for us in regard to our faith, making us consider what extremes we would go to in proving our faith.
Here’s the backstory: God has continually promised Abraham an heir through his wife, Sarah; he has also promised Abraham that his descendants would come through this son. When she is 90 years old, Sarah gives birth to Isaac. Then, not long after this, God calls Abraham to offer up his only son as a worthy sacrifice.
Genesis 22:9–10 describes the experience:
When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.
The word “sacrifice” can be defined as giving up something for the sake of something or someone else. God requests that Abraham sacrifice the very thing he loves most dearly to test whether Abraham fully trusts in him and has placed his heart fully in him. He is looking for Abraham to prove his faith.
Abraham’s story shows us just how powerful a statement a sacrifice can make. We also get a picture of how much God loves us: He spared Abraham from having to give up his son. But for us, God sacrificed his only son so that we could know him.
It’s amazing how much our culture is obsessed with the idea of sacrifice. Popular books and movies like The Hunger Games and Harry Potter, war hero stories, and the feel-good news items that go viral on social media all center on this theme of sacrifice. We love it. It’s awe-inspiring. A sacrificial life is an ideal we all want to live up to. There’s something about this behavior that resonates with us deep down inside.
Here’s a thought: Could the reason that sacrifice just “clicks” with so many people be that our only way to life is through accepting sacrifice—Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice?
How much would you sacrifice for someone you loved? What would you give up to prove your love for God?
VERSE OF THE DAY
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him” (Romans 12:1).
CHALLENGE
Give up something you know is hindering your relationship with God. It may be something as simple as TV, or something as harmful as drugs. Regardless, anything hindering your relationship with God is something you can live without. Today is your day to make a change for the better and step into a new way of living.
DISCUSS
Discuss things you have sacrificed in your own life to show your dedication to God.
What are some things you believe you still currently need to lay down at the foot of the cross?
Can true love exist without some sort of sacrifice? Why would Jesus sacrifice himself on a cross to show his love?
30 Words Daily Devotion
WORD 22 - SACRIFICE
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
―Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Regardless of your religious beliefs, attempting to kill your only son because someone told you to will always sound a little bit strange. It’s because of this that the story of Abraham and Isaac is one of the most controversial and discussed stories of all biblical text. Its powerful drama and raw emotion cuts deep into everyone who reads it—no matter what they believe.
Abraham’s experience in this story paints a powerful picture for us in regard to our faith, making us consider what extremes we would go to in proving our faith.
Here’s the backstory: God has continually promised Abraham an heir through his wife, Sarah; he has also promised Abraham that his descendants would come through this son. When she is 90 years old, Sarah gives birth to Isaac. Then, not long after this, God calls Abraham to offer up his only son as a worthy sacrifice.
Genesis 22:9–10 describes the experience:
When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.
The word “sacrifice” can be defined as giving up something for the sake of something or someone else. God requests that Abraham sacrifice the very thing he loves most dearly to test whether Abraham fully trusts in him and has placed his heart fully in him. He is looking for Abraham to prove his faith.
Abraham’s story shows us just how powerful a statement a sacrifice can make. We also get a picture of how much God loves us: He spared Abraham from having to give up his son. But for us, God sacrificed his only son so that we could know him.
It’s amazing how much our culture is obsessed with the idea of sacrifice. Popular books and movies like The Hunger Games and Harry Potter, war hero stories, and the feel-good news items that go viral on social media all center on this theme of sacrifice. We love it. It’s awe-inspiring. A sacrificial life is an ideal we all want to live up to. There’s something about this behavior that resonates with us deep down inside.
Here’s a thought: Could the reason that sacrifice just “clicks” with so many people be that our only way to life is through accepting sacrifice—Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice?
How much would you sacrifice for someone you loved? What would you give up to prove your love for God?
VERSE OF THE DAY
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him” (Romans 12:1).
CHALLENGE
Give up something you know is hindering your relationship with God. It may be something as simple as TV, or something as harmful as drugs. Regardless, anything hindering your relationship with God is something you can live without. Today is your day to make a change for the better and step into a new way of living.
DISCUSS
Wilson, J. (2016). 30 words: a devotional for the rest of us. (2nd Edition, Ed.) (pp. 128–131). Bellingham, WA: Kirkdale Press.