Faith vs control

For several weeks I’ve been hearing the story of Abraham and Isaac. The great sacrifice God requested of Abraham to give his only son Isaac up to death at the altar. I was finding it in my devotionals, people were speaking it to me in conversations, and it was even coming up in my own discussions with God. Every month I meet with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to eat a meal and share our thoughts on the bible and what God is placing on our hearts. This week to my surprise we discussed the tale of Abraham and Isaac! I felt like God was trying to reach me but for some reason I wasn’t getting the message so he made it louder and louder. At this discussion it was brought to light that during this time in history it was commonplace for believers to sacrifice something to God on an altar (i.e animals, people. etc) to show their devotion. God was testing Abraham's willingness to obey. As I was listening it brought to mind how gentle God is. As noted above it was commonplace to sacrifice people at that time so God used that to meet Abraham where he was and tested his faith only to be told he ultimately did not need to sacrifice (murder) his son for Him. He gently reminded and taught Abraham one of the commandments, Thou shall not kill, all while using the challenge of the time (sacrifice) to teach him that. In this tale I felt God’s call to obey. But how wasn’t I obeying? What is commonplace in today's society that God requests I let go of? God whispered Control. I want to know how, when, where, and why God is asking me to do something. However God is asking me (as he does all of us) to have faith, to let go, and to surrender just as Jesus did on the cross. To not be intimidated by fear of rejection or judgment by anyone other than Him. To hold tight to the love and respect we have for His wisdom and guidance and find strength within Him. 

Jesus IS the example so we should put all of our trust in him. He was not a warrior who destroyed nations or fought great battles. He was a faithful servant to God who entrusted his every move to Him and led his life by the fruits of the spirit. When we hear the stories of God destroying nations and taking out whole societies it may be enticing to emulate such things, but we are not God. We are human. He is just asking for your faith and obedience. To trust he will do what is needed when the time is right. He wants us to live out the fruits of the spirit just as Jesus did. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. A common phrase I hear over and over is spare the rod and spoil the child. What is the rod? A weapon? No, it is a standard in which we live by. One that is unwavering and steady. One that is stable in the fruits of the spirit. If you hit your child you have no self control and are choosing anger over gentleness. If you teach your child and hold a steady standard you are living out self-control, gentleness, kindness, and above all love. How we treat each other matters to God and our faith in him should dictate our behaviors. Trusting in the Lord, surrendering and obeying the holy spirit, and seeing Jesus as the example he was intended to be. While in his final days on Earth Jesus did not pick the battle but held tight to his faith and obedience to God. Instead he healed the soldier whose ear was chopped off while arresting him. He spoke to God about his fear and surrendered it to Him. This is what God is calling all of his people to do today. Be the rod. The unwavering standard in the middle of the storm that can be this chaotic life. To sacrifice self wants and needs to control and instead we should be the way of the spirit, the way of Jesus, the way of God. 

Love 1 Corinthians 13:4–7

Joy 1 peter 1 8-9

Peace John 14:27

Patience Psalm 37:7

Kindness Ephesians 4:32

Goodness Romans 8:28

Faithfulness John 1:9

Gentleness Timothy 6:11

Self control Proverbs 25:28