Today's Meditation

WEDNESDAY, February 1

Genesis 22:1-18. Abraham! 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 on one of the mountains that I shall show you.

Abraham took Isaac to prepare the altar of sacrifice. The boy silently wondered and then asked, “Where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham responded, “God will provide the lamb.”

Obediently, Isaac allowed his father to lay him on the altar. In faith and obedience, Isaac waited quietly, without resisting his father. Abraham, in obedience to God’s command, raised the knife to do as the Lord had commanded him to do. There was apparently no hesitation in Abraham’s mind as to what he had to do. Then the angel of the Lord suddenly called out to stop Abraham from sacrificing his son to God.

So also the Lord will search our hearts to strengthen our faith for the challenges that may confront us. Such trials may not compare to those that tested Abraham and Isaac, but there will be times when we will be called to respond to God’s work in our lives by recalling the obedience with which Abraham and Isaac answered the Lord in faith.

PRAY for the Missionary Diocese of Angola (Southern Africa)

Ps 72 * 119:73-96; Hebrews 11:23-31; John 6:52-59

View the daily Lectionary Readings at http://satucket.com/lectionary/

Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com or Oremus Bible browser.

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Human sacrifices

Jan 31, 2012 at 11:37 pm

Written by Steve Doutt,

I know that human sacrifices were common in the ancient civilizations. Does anybody know the sequence of events that led to their decline?

...

Feb 01, 2012 at 6:16 am

Written by Captain,

Help me to hear your voice, Oh Lord.

...

Feb 01, 2012 at 6:48 am

Written by A,

Faith and sacrifice, yes. Yet I can only imagine the joy, relief and gratitude felt by Abraham when God relieved him of his burden.

...

Feb 01, 2012 at 7:14 am

Written by Gail J in N.C.,

Isaac was the “son of promise” for Abraham and Sarah – he was his parents' treasure.
What do we treasure most?
Could we offer it as a sacrifice?
God knows how that feels. He gave up the most precious treasure – his son – too.

The story of Abraham and Isaac helps me be grateful for God’s huge, sacrificial, atoning love for us.

...

Feb 01, 2012 at 7:43 am

Written by mindful,

In the foretelling of sacrifice, Abraham, a mere man, and Isaac a mere boy, obeyed the will of God. Like Jesus, they prayed to God for an alternative plan. In the story of Abraham and Isaac, we as God's people see that nothing is impossible, even sacrificing the life of a son. But God took this final sacrifice onto Himself, once and for all, it was not imperfect Isaac, but perfect Jesus, who was the last sacrifice, the final atonement, the perfector: now we can all be clothed in white and enter into our heavenly home.

...

Feb 01, 2012 at 9:18 am

Written by Andrea,

I think we tend to romanticize this story, since we know the ending - that God intervened and Isaac was not sacrificed. But what kind of God would ask a parent to do that? What kind of God create a situation where a child has to lie down to be sacrificed without a word of protest? Do we really believe this is the nature of God? Would you really slit your child's throat if you thought you were being obedient to God's will? Really? I think we need to think more about this story - why it was told, what it said to the people for whom it was told... and what it says to and about us.

...

Feb 01, 2012 at 9:27 am

Written by Kennisha,

Abraham obeyed the command or request from God to Sacrifice his only son, God did the same John 3.16 says it best. As Christian of today do we obey God's request to us, do we make sacrifices for our fellow brothers & sisters. Sacrifice is to give your all are we doing this to the Lord by giving our all. I pray that God will strengthen us as we continue to heed his word & that we will obey his call to us

...

Feb 01, 2012 at 11:13 am

Written by Sarah ,

Andrea, maybe this story is told for the exact point you make. We CANNOT/COULD NOT/WOULD NOT sacrifice our children's lives for faith. Our children are our gifts from God. God knows that and made the sacrifice for us. It reminds me not to hold my children before God or to make them gods.

Hummm..

Feb 01, 2012 at 6:45 pm

Written by Frederick Wright,

I think the concept of sacrificing a child for humanity when one knows the sacrifice is going to the Kingdom of Heaven then one would have joy and excitement, if one believes in this everlasting life. Truly God did not ask Abrahama any more then he has done for His Son, Jesus, but again God knowns how it will trun out in death, but in Glory for all of Humanity. Abrahama needed to believe more in God's love and way for the works ahead where he and Isacc set the stage for ,me, you and your children everlasting life.. not a bad trade off. People of faith still see things in a worldly demention and self center thinking and again God asurrance us that His Love is more advanced than a mother's love or childs, but we are getting more understanding each day, thanks be to God.

Sacrifice

Feb 01, 2012 at 8:21 pm

Written by Rick,

God would not ask us, mere mortals to ever sacrifice our children like he asked Abraham. But, he does ask us to make a goodly sacrifice of our time, talents and treasures to give to the good of his Kingdom. To this request, we had better not refuse.

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WEDNESDAY, March 30

Jeremiah 8:18—9:6. O that I had in the desert a traveler’s lodging place, that I might leave my people and go away from them!

It isn’t for nothing that Jeremiah is known as the Weeping Prophet. He read the signs of the times and perceived that his country would soon crumble under a foreign invasion and its people be carried off as captives. But no one heeded his repeated cries to prepare and get their house in order. Jeremiah was seen as unpatriotic and a crank—until the end came.

In this verse Jeremiah seems to say that he would like to leave his country and flee to a deserted place. But we know that was not so. When the Babylonian army invaded, he did not leave but remained with his people to the end, until he was finally taken against his will to Egypt. Jeremiah merely wanted to distance himself from the infidelity he saw all around him.

Love of country is often confused with approval of country. “My country right or wrong,” some have said. The faithful, however, stand for the right, whether their country stands with them or not. Patriotism is a good thing, but not the best thing. When their country is headed in the wrong direction, God calls the faithful to oppose their country.

PRAY for the Diocese of Mpwapwa (Tanzania)

Ps 119:97-120 * 81, 82; Romans 5:1-11; John 8:12-20

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com or Oremus Bible browser.

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Homemaker

Mar 30, 2011 at 10:22 am

Written by Barbara Simkins,

Can you direct me to, whomever publishes "Prayers,New and Old" by Forward Movement ... I'm trying to get a quanity of the little
books for our church, St. Marks, Wadsworth, OH 44281. This is NOT connected with the church ...it is my private doing. Please direct me to the person who can help. Thankyou. Blessings, Barbara

Stillness

Mar 30, 2011 at 10:34 am

Written by Mary Kier,

This verse reminds me of another desert we sometimes wish for. As Jesus went to the mountains for forty days and forty nights. He left the worldly encumbrances and went deep into his soul where he met the darkness, the abyss -- the devil. He met his shadow face on and won. Sometimes seeking stillness in our lives and in our souls - our inner desert, Helps us when we go back into the world were we are faced with temptation ans people who don't respect us. Jesus's short life was full of love and faithful friends and followers. But in the end he was decieved and misunderstood and killed. I ponder on this these days of Lent, praying to God to guide me to the life I was meant for. And to grant me the the stillness and peace needed to hear his voice clearly.

Patriotism

Mar 30, 2011 at 10:45 am

Written by Bo Cox,

Is certainly not blind allegiance, whether to a flag or a belief system. Thank you for your insight. Refreshing and another reason I so love the Episcopal Church, where we're allowed, encouraged even, to think.

...

Mar 30, 2011 at 11:47 am

Written by Kriste,

Good to hear from you Bo. Your writing inspired me many times. I pray all is well with you and yours.

...

Mar 30, 2011 at 8:48 pm

Written by Mary C.,

Loved your last paragraph! Good to see that viewpoint articulated so well!

I'm sure we'll talk more during April!

Mar 31, 2011 at 8:58 am

Written by Bo Cox,

To Kriste and Mary:
beginning tomorrow, I'll try to respond to comments on April's meditations. (Yes, you'll recognize the author!)
Peace,
Bo

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WEDNESDAY, March 30

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