Let Him Who Thinks He Stands Take Heed

"Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, 'Abraham, Abraham!' So he said, 'Here I am.' And He said, 'Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.'” - Genesis 22:9-12

These verses were part of a sermon this last Sunday about worship. When I heard them I was reminded of the principle that God sees the heart. When the prophet Samuel was sent to anoint the new King.

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'” - 1 Samuel 16:7

As for Abraham - he had already sacrificed Isaac in his heart and given his heart fully to God. There was no need to do any more.  He could have killed Isaac as an act of works doing what he was told but resenting God all the while. That is what many people do - they praise God with their lips and actions but their hearts are not devoted to him. (Isaiah 29:13) 

I think for many Christians our struggle is not with overt - external sin - but with our thought life - sins of the heart. Living the Pharisaical life - "white-washed tombs filled with dead men's bones". We look good on the outside but forget that God sees the heart - and sin is committed in our hearts - first - and expressed on the outside second. It is so easy for us to dismiss the sins of the heart. Jesus spoke to His disciples about them. He raised the bar on what it meant to sin against God and others.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." - Matthew 5:27-28

The Apostle John wrote about the same principle - "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." - 1 John 3:14-15

Why do I write about this? Because it is a common problem that we all struggle with - temptation tests the heart. The test that Abraham faced is the same test that we face. 

"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." - 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone