Devotionals

Read 1 Samuel 3:1-18

ABRAHAM | SAMUEL | SAUL

Eli was a great preacher, a fine priest. As the high priest, he was responsible, once each year, to enter the Most Holy Place and offer an atoning sacrifice on behalf of the nation. No one else had that privilege. He judged, he instructed the people in matters of worship, he gave counsel, he devoted his entire life to serving in the tabernacle of God and ministering to the needs of His people. But he was a passive, inactive father who indulged his sons. Those boys of his were a piece of work!

Read 1 Samuel 2:1-3:18

ABRAHAM | SAMUEL | SAUL

Eli and Samuel were probably taking their turn sleeping in the tabernacle to keep the lamp lit. They slept in little rooms or closets near that special area of God'spresence. It was when Samuel heard a voice call his name that he sat up in his little pallet and called back, "Yes?" No one answered.

Read Judges 21:25; 1 Samuel 1:1-28

ABRAHAM | SAMUEL | SAUL

Read Genesis 22:1-14

ABRAHAM | SAMUEL | SAUL

In this fascinating story of faith and sacrifice and trust and surrender, I see the characteristics of a God who asked nothing of Abraham that He didn't demand of Himself. Because it is so significant, I cannot resist sharing with you three powerful truths about our God that I see illustrated here.

Read Genesis 22:10-14

ABRAHAM | SAMUEL | SAUL

This isn't a movie. As far as Abraham was concerned, the drama didn't have a surprise ending. The knife goes up in order to bring it down into his son's chest or across his throat, and what will happen next is the death of his boy. This is real! This is faith in the wild where the stakes are incredibly high—life and death!

Suddenly, at the last possible moment, God intervened:

Read Genesis 22:9

ABRAHAM | SAMUEL | SAUL

Some people live so carefully they absolutely refuse to take risks. Everything has to be carefully regulated and kept under control ... their control. Borders defined, guidelines spelled out, every dime accounted for, no surprises. And after having expended so much time and effort trying to live safely, they end life never having accomplished anything of lasting value. They built nothing, tried nothing new, invested in no one.

Read Genesis 22:3-8; Hebrews 11:8-19

ABRAHAM | SAMUEL | SAUL

Read Genesis 22:1-2

ABRAHAM | SAMUEL | SAUL

Why? Why would a good and loving God ask an obedient and faithful man to do this? The answer can be found in the original language of Moses, the inspired,human author of Genesis. The Hebrew word nasah, translated "tested" in Genesis 22:1, has the idea of proving the quality of something, usually by putting it through a trial of some kind. God wanted to prove the validity— the authenticity — of Abraham's faith.

Read Genesis 22:1-2

ABRAHAM | SAMUEL | SAUL

Each of our children grew to become a self-sustaining, responsible servant of Jesus Christ, in his or her own way. As God intended from the beginning, wereleasedthem to follow their destinies.

Read 2 Timothy 4:1-16

PAUL

Paul wrote with urgency, "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and ofChrist Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction" (4:1-2). In other words, stick with the preaching plan God has promised to bless and use. Deliver the biblical goods! Be a man or woman of the Word!