Made Ready

"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine.”

1 PETER 1:6

Ask God to make you ready in Christ rather than making bold personal assertions about being willing to do anything for him. To be tested on the lines of Peter - who made declarations he was not prepared to carry out - to the point of denying Jesus - is a lesson to be learned for all who claim unabashed boldness without careful thought. Through Jesus and his Holy Spirit - we can carry out any task the Lord asks of us - no matter how impossible it may seem. He has the power to do in us what he asks us to do - but we do not have the power on our own to do everything we say we will do.

Conversely, Abraham knew no other faith or belief other than God. He was beyond ready to be called into action, he was a man of incredible faith - and this faith was credited to him as Righteousness - meaning he was in right standing with God by putting his faith in action. It is faith and obedience that allow us to be covered and cloaked in the Holiness and Righteousness of the Spirit of the Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Abraham believed that God was asking him to kill his son Isaac. He was prepared to do anything for God because he put the way of God above his own way - his own understanding. If Abraham would have continued forward with the act of killing Isaac based on his own conviction, Isaac would have been killed and Abraham would have committed the act of a misguided extremist. 

"But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” 

“Here I am,” he replied. 

“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.” James 1:12-14 

“Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.” Genesis 15:6 

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” Ephesians 2:8 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6