DRAWING NEAR
June 29
Enjoying Friendship with God
"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered
up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working
with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was
perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'And
Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as
righteousness,' and he was called the friend of God. You see
that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone" (James
2:21-24).
Can you imagine life without friends--those precious people who love
you despite your failings and who stand by you through joys and
sorrows--those to whom you've committed yourself and whose
companionship you treasure? They are without question one of God's
greatest gifts, yet there is an even greater gift: friendship with
God Himself.
Jesus spoke of such a friendship in John 15:13-16, describing it as
one of intimacy, mutual love, sacrifice, and commitment. In verse 14
He says, "You are My friends, if you do what I command you." That's
the kind of friendship Abraham demonstrated when he obeyed God and
prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice (Gen. 22:3-10). Isaac was the
son through whom God's covenant to Abraham would be fulfilled.
Killing him would violate that covenant and call into question the
character of God, whose Word forbids human sacrifice (Deut. 18:10).
It took unquestioning trust for Abraham to obey God's command. When
he did, his faith was on display for all to see.
The Greek word translated "justified" in James 2:21 has two meanings:
"to acquit" (treat as righteous) or "to vindicate" (demonstrate as
righteous). James emphasized the second meaning. When Abraham
believed God, he was justified by faith and acquitted of sin (Gen.
15:6). When he offered up Isaac, he was justified by works in that
his faith was vindicated.
Faith is always the sole condition of salvation, but saving faith
never stands alone--it is always accompanied by righteous works.
That's the test of true salvation and of friendship with God.
As a friend of God, treasure that relationship and be careful never
to let sin rob you of its fullest joy.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Praise God for the privilege of being His friend.
For Further Study:
Read Genesis 22:1-19, noting the faith and obedience of Abraham.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Genesis 15:6
6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for
righteousness.
Genesis 22:1-19
22:1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham,
and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
2 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."
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and
took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split
the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of
which God had told him.
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place
afar off.
5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the
lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on
Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the
two of them went together.
7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And
he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the
wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb
for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.
9 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.
10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his
son.
11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said,
"Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am."
12 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."
13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was
a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the
ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide;
as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of The LORD it shall be
provided."
15 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of
heaven,
16 and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you
have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son;
17 "blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your
descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on
the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their
enemies.
18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,
because you have obeyed My voice."
19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went
together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
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and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
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In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus Is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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