3 Remarkable Attitudes Leading unto Complete Obedience

I think you would agree with me that for something that you love the most, you would spend most of your time for it, right?

You would think about it most of the time.
You would not let it slip away from your attention.
You would do things, sometimes weird things, to nurture it.
You would cherish every moment being with it.
You would wrap your arms around it as tight as possible, to ensure that it is safe.

But what if one day, God would ask you to give it up to Him, to surrender it unto His feet, would you obey?

Abraham encountered this same scenario. After 25 years of waiting for a son, finally he and Sarah had a son - Isaac! Abraham was already 100 years old by that time. Imagine how joyful his heart might have been! Imagine how Abraham did everything to nurture him, to make sure that he would grow up into a great man.

But one day, God asked Abraham to surrender up his son, Isaac, and that would mean losing his one and only son! Here is what we could learn from Abraham's reactions.

3 Remarkable Attitudes Leading unto Complete Obedience

1. Total Surrender: Does not withhold what he loves most
When asked by God to give up his long-awaited son, Abraham obeyed. Abraham surrendered unto God's will for his life by not holding too tightly on to who he loves the most - his son. He did not question God for His reasons. Abraham just obeyed.

"Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.' 
Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac." - Genesis 22:2-3

What are you holding on so dearly, that has already taken up the place of God in your heart? Have you been in a situation already that it seems your life is already revolving around it?

A special someone?
Career?
Family?
Dreams and Aspirations?
Hunger for Success?
Devotions to friends?
Craving for acceptance from others?
Desire to be loved by someone?

Please don't get me wrong, most on the list are not bad at all. But, if it has already been your "god", then you will be utterly ruined if it has been taken away from you - either by natural death or taken by someone else!

Do you know why did God want you to make Him the center of your life? It is because He will not die at all, or He cannot be taken away from you by someone else, EXCEPT for SIN. It is the ONLY thing that could separate you from God. But if you have surrendered everything unto Him, including those SINFUL things that you do, and accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life, He will come into your life and be with you!

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39

2. Confident Trust: Trusts that God will provide
Abraham did have a confidence in God trusting that when He asked for something, He will provide for it!

"Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, 'Father?' 'Yes, my son?' Abraham replied. 'The fire and wood are here,' Isaac said, 'but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?' Abraham answered, 'God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.' - Genesis 22:6-8

Has worry eaten you up already? Have you been dragged down already by life's hardships and trials?

Abraham confidently trusted God for provisions, showing his desire to constantly run unto God for all and his every need. And you can confidently trust Jesus Christ too!

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

3. Expectant Hope: Believes that God keeps His promises
When Abraham was about to strike his son, Isaac, as the offering sacrifice, God stopped him.

"The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, 'I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.'” - Genesis 22:15-18

Abraham believed that, NO MATTER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, God will keep His promise when He said that his descendants will be as many as the stars, even if it means that his son, Isaac, will be offered up.

And he was not forsaken after all! Abraham DID BECOME the FATHER OF ALL NATIONS through ISAAC!

Renew your hope on Jesus Christ and His promises, His love never fails!

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'' - Lamentations 3:22-24

© 2014 Erickson Ibana

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3 Reasons Why Not to be Overwhelmed by Life's Storms

It is very relaxing to just look at the ocean from the shore. It brings back my memories when I would just sit back, with my feet dug down in the sand, watch as the waves go back and forth, and listen to the gentle noise of the sea.

It is quite interesting that these tiny waves could turn into monstrous ones when a storm comes, and it is not relaxing to see at all - it is overwhelmingly terrifying!

How ironic that we, most of the times, find it "amusing" to watch over those monstrous killer waves. How? We have been like Peter in the Bible. Matthew 14:25-30a narrates:

"And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink..."

What are these "gigantic waves" that could easily distract us, and eventually sink us into anxiety, depression, or fear?

Those are anything or anyone that we regard higher than God in our life's priority!

• Career
• Love Life
• Family
• Money
• Success
• Friends

It is very heart-breaking when the time comes that these things would fall right before your very eyes. It seems to you that you've completely lost it all.

But there is good news! Peter's story does not end there, Matthew 14:30-32 completes the story:

"But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, 'Lord, save me.' Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased."

These are something that we could learn from Peter.

3 Reasons Why Not to be Overwhelmed by Life's Storms

1. Recognize that God owns you.

When you've seen how sinful you are and have turned back from your sinful lifestyle, surrendered your life unto Jesus and accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, you have been "adopted" as a child of God! It is not based on your good works, or anything that you could give but it is based entirely on what Jesus has done on the cross. Jesus died, was buried, and lived again after three days, to prove that anyone who would put his trust on Jesus Christ will be saved - saved from his sins! From this point forward, you are His child!

May this truth sink deep in your heart - you are God's child, by His grace through your faith in Jesus Christ! If you have not made this decision yet, Jesus Christ is knocking at the door of your heart. Surrender unto Him, and let Him be the Lord and Savior of your life.

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

2. Acknowledge that God is in control.

Let's not forget that Peter is a fisherman. I think there is no fisherman who does not even know how to swim! But what did Peter do when he was starting to sink? He cried to Jesus for help!

When it seems everything is falling apart, be comforted in the truth that God is still in control.
Joseph, the Dreamer, said this unto his brothers (the ones who sold him to Egypt as a slave), even after experiencing so many evil and painful things. Joseph kept in his mind that despite every hurt and pain, God is in control!

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” - Genesis 50:20

3. Remind yourself that God knows best!

Instead of swimming away from Jesus and towards the boat, Peter cried out to Jesus to save him. Peter knew that Jesus knows best and only He can save him, especially at that moment.

It may seem unclear today, but always keep in mind that God knows the best! In the end, His great plan will prevail. So, do not lose heart!

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

© 2014 Erickson Ibana

With special thanks to Pastor Willie Basilio, head pastor of Marikina Christian Fellowship, for the 3 points he shared with me. God bless you, Pastor!

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