Genesis 12:1-9
Christian life is one of sacrifice, humility, love, and service. Jesus regularly taught that His followers were to love and serve one another. He taught that the first will be last and the last will be first. He established a kingdom where a life defined by sacrifice is the norm.
In today’s study, we are going to look at the life of Abraham as one who lived a sacrificial life. To live a life acceptable to God, we must obey divine instructions which is summed up in the great commandment – “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39.
To love the Lord is to obey His instructions – John 14:15, 23-24. As can be seen in the life of Abraham, our father in the faith. God called him out of his father’s house – his familiar territory – Genesis 12:1-3. It was not convenient for him but he obeyed and it was recorded for him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 | Romans 4:17-18. Living a sacrificial Life is to believe in God’s instructions and to take steps to obey them. This is seen in Genesis 22:1-19 when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.
In Genesis 14:13-16, Abraham gave up his comfort to rescue Lot, his nephew. In Genesis 18:16-33, Abraham interceded for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. In Genesis 22:1-19, as we have read above, Abraham obeying God’s instruction proved without doubt that he feared God and he was established as the father of faith.
In summary, living a sacrificial life may not make the news, but it definitely will bring obvious rewards, because God sees and rewards all our acts of sacrifice and also, living a life of sacrifice will make an eternal impact on others. Genesis 22:15-18, 24:1 | Romans 4:13-25.
Discussion:
- What is the relationship between faith in God, fear of God and Sacrificial Living? What lessons can be learnt from the life of Abraham? Genesis 22:1-19, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Psalm 86:11.
- Abraham took his nephew along, is this a contradiction to the instruction God gave him? Genesis 12:1-9.
- What are the divine instructions that God has given us today? Matthew 28:19-20 | John 15:16.
- Is it possible to live a sacrificial life in today’s world?
- How can our lifestyles impact on the world around us? John 13:13-15.
Prayer.