Unwavering - Faith & Testing

What is the biggest challenge you recently
overcame? How did you overcome this
challenge?

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various
kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces
steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that
you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
JAMES 1:2-4

After a long period of waiting, Abraham saw the
fulfillment of God’s promise when Sarah conceived and
bore a son, Isaac. But God tested Abraham, asking him to
sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. As we walk with God,
our faith in Him will surely be tested. While this is not a
happy truth, we rejoice in knowing that the testing of our
faith produces steadfastness, and as we let
steadfastness have its full effect, we will be complete,
lacking in nothing. Today, we will look at the life
of Abraham to see the choices he had and the choices he
made when his faith was tested.

Background: Abraham & Isaac
Genesis 22

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him...
“Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and
go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt
offering…” So Abraham rose early in the morning,
saddled his donkey, and took... his son Isaac. And he cut
the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the
place of which God had told him.
GENESIS 22:1-3

God tested Abraham to reveal the condition of his faith.
When the test was given, we see that Abraham did not
think twice. He obeyed exactly what God told him to do.
Abraham could have disobeyed God and fled with Isaac,
his beloved son. Instead, he obeyed even if it was a
difficult command to follow. When God gives us a
command or a challenge, we can choose to obey and
face it head on or to flee and live a life away from God.
When we face challenges, own hearts and our faith are
exposed. Was there a time when God tested you to reveal
your level of faith in Him? Did you flee or did you face it
head on? How did God use this to strengthen your faith?

“Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over
there and worship and come again to you.”... And Isaac
said to his father Abraham... “Behold, the fire and the
wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a
burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them
together.
GENESIS 22:5,7,8

Abraham could have responded in doubt, but he trusted
in God, the promise-giver and promise-keeper. There was
no doubt in his mind that God would provide what was
needed at that moment. Abraham trusted the goodness
and faithfulness of the Lord, that He will provide the
offering. What do you think enabled Abraham to trust God
completely despite God’s command?

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises offered up his
only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your
seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to
raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also
received him in a figurative sense.
HEBREWS 11:17-19

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and
said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, “Here I am.” He
said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to
him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have
not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
GENESIS 22:11,12

Abraham passed the test because he faced the test by
trusting and obeying God. In turn, God rewarded his faith
saying, “because you have done this and have not
withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you”
(Genesis 22:16,17). God tests us to expose what is in our
hearts—if we truly fear, revere, and love Him above all
else. He wants us to pass because He wants us to
receive His promises. While God has promises for us, we
must seek Him above all else every day and not just His
promises. According to Jesus, what is the greatest
commandment? (Matthew 22:36-38)

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
Jesus said to him, “‘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.
MATTHEW 22:36-38

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one
another; as I have loved you, that you also love one
another.
JOHN 13:34

• Have you put your full faith in God by receiving His
Son, Jesus, as your Lord and Savior? Would you like to
do so today?
• How does knowing that the testing of our faith
produces steadfastness encourage you to do what God
is telling you? What is one step you can take this week
to move forward to where God is calling you?
• Do you have a family member or friend whose faith is
being tested? How can you encourage him or her to
persevere with what you have learned today?

Verses to encourage you this week:
• Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always
obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in
my absence, continue to work out your salvation with
fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to
will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13
• Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once
he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life
which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
James 1:12
• In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little
while, if necessary, you have been distressed by
various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being
more precious than gold which is perishable, even
though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise
and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1
Peter 1:6-7

Unwavering - Faith & Testing

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