American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 81
ARC Prayer Meeting:
The past Sunday at the American Reformation Church, the message preached was entitled, “Love at First Sight.” We went through the book of Genesis to pinpoint the first time the word “love” appeared in Holy Writ. It comes at Genesis 22:2. The context is revealing. God tests Abraham when it comes to the long-awaited promised son, Isaac. God’s Word declares, “Then He said take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
This first mention of the word “love” is not a divine love or a romantic love. This is a familia love that will one day reveal an extreme divine love that will come to our poor fallen world. In this case, however, it is a love of a father for his son. It is sacrificial, deeply personal, and emotionally intense.
Biblically, this was the dress rehearsal for the greater Son to come to be the once and for all sacrifice, the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. There are incredible connections established between prayer, the Lord, Abraham, Isaac, and later in redemptive history, Jesus Christ. First, is the revelation of love. Abraham loved Isaac. Heavenly Father loved His only begotten Son and through Him, He so loved the world. Thus, prayer should be rooted in the concept of divine love.
Second, love in this case included the notion of sacrifice. Isaac was almost sacrificed. Jesus was indeed sacrificed. Prayer then serves to align us with God’s will. Not my will Lord, but thine be done. Third, the importance of faith and obedience comes to light in this instance. Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Jesus obeyed unto death, not for His obtaining of righteousness, but for us to obtain it through Him. True prayer flows from surrender that builds up our most holy faith, which leads to obedience.
Fourth, this incident unveils the close relationship between a father and his son. The relationship between Abraham and Isaac was deeply tested, but was preserved. The one between Heavenly Father and Jesus was, is, and always will be perfect and eternal. Prayer includes us with that divine relationship. 1 John 1:3 states, “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
Lastly, we see God’s provision in all this. God provided the sacrificial ram for Abraham. Later in redemptive history, God provided the true Passover Lamb who became a propitiation for our sins. True prayer always acknowledges the faithful provisions of the Lord accompanied with a grateful, thankful heart.
In conclusion of the matter, prayer is the meeting place between the Father's love and our willing surrender—modeled by Abraham, fulfilled in Jesus, and made real in us.
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