A SACRIFICE GIVEN
Day # 9
John 1:8 The
next day, he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world!”
Abraham was told
to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering to the Lord. We spoke of that yesterday.
Even as they climbed the mountain, Abraham answered Isaac by saying, “God
will provide himself the lamb for the burnt offering.” (Gen. 23:8) Was it
really possible? Yes it was. God did spare Isaac and provided a ram in place of
Abraham’s son.
Active ingredients
in a recipe. One is spared while the other is added. Isaac is given a future as
the father of God’s chosen people while the ram gave up its life (not willingly
of course). Ingredients in A Recipe for a Savior. Isaac becomes a part
of that special recipe.
John the Baptist
announces that the special ingredient had come. He points to Jesus of Nazareth
and says to those around him, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the
sin of the world.” This One who comes from the line of Abraham and Isaac is
the special ingredient that brings salvation to a world lost in its sin. This
Lamb of God is the One who will take our place under the Law and give each of
us the wonder of salvation.
As we continue A
Recipe for a Savior, we now see the way that God is putting together the
special recipe that brings life and salvation to all people, including you and
me. He is our Lamb that takes our place, dies for us, even as the ram died in
Isaac’s place.
Continuing through
this Advent season, we will find the Lord adding more and more special
ingredients to the recipe. Yes, we know how the recipe will turn out as we hear
the words of John the Baptist. Let’s continue mixing together the ingredients
in A Recipe for a Savior.
Prayer:
Father, You once spared Isaac from certain death on the stone altar, yet You
did not spare Your only Son as He gave up His life upon the cross for our
salvation. We thank You for our Savior. We pray that You will continue to guide
us through this Advent season. Amen.
I would have been filled with Hope and Doubt. Not about John The Baptist message, rather filled with self doubt of being worthy of such a wonderful gift 🎁 as a savior sent to me . Self Doubt has been my biggest downfall.
ReplyDeleteMichael, That is a tool that the devil likes to use against us - self doubt. He leads us to doubt that God can love such a person as me. I am so unworthy of any such love. And yet, while we were yet sinners, God loved us. He loved you, not because you were worthy, but because of His great mercy. That is the joyous message of the Gospel. He saved us even as we are sinners.
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