Surrendering to God

Hello there. It's time for encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Kenneth Peterson wrote today's devotional, and he titled it Surrendering to God. Born on a farm, Judson van Deventer learned to paint, studied art, and became an art teacher. God, however, had a different plan for him. Judson found his work in church and urged him to go into evangelism. Judson felt God calling him too, but it was hard for him to give up his love for teaching art. He wrestled with God, but at last, he wrote, the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. We can't imagine Abraham's heartbreak when God called him to surrender his son Isaac in Genesis chapter 22. In the wake of God's command to sacrifice him there as a burnt offering, we ask ourselves what precious thing God's calling us to sacrifice.

We know that he ultimately spared Isaac, and yet the point is made. Abraham was willing to surrender what was most precious to him. He trusted God to provide in the midst of a most difficult calling. We say we love God, but are we willing to sacrifice what's dearest to us? Judson van Deventer followed God's call into evangelism and later penned the beloved hymn, I Surrender All. In time, God called Judson back into teaching.

One of his students was a young man named Billy Graham. God's plan for our lives has purposes we can't imagine. He longs for us to be willing to surrender what is dearest.

It seems that's the least we can do. After all, he sacrificed for us, his only begotten son. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading comes from the first book in the Bible, Genesis chapter 22 verses 1 through 3 and verses 6 through 12. Sometime later, God tested Abraham. He said to him, Abraham, here I am, he replied. Then God said, take your son, your only son whom you love, Isaac, and go to the region of Moriah.

Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you. Early the next morning, Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. Now picking up at verse 6, Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, Father?

Yes, my son, Abraham replied. The fire and the wood are here, Isaac said. But where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Abraham answered, God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.

And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 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. Would you pray with me? Oh, Heavenly Father, we struggle to fully surrender parts of our life to you. Would you please help us to trust in your plan for us and to follow your leading, knowing that what you lead us to do will be used to change lives and also to advance your kingdom right here on earth. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen. Thanks so much for listening today. My name is Wes Ward, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.