This event is a picture of the mistake we make in thinking that the ultimate God wants of us is the sacrifice of death. What God wants is the sacrifice through death which enables us to do what Jesus did, that is, sacrifice our lives. Not— “Lord, I am ready to go with You…to death” (Luke 22:33). But— “I am willing to be identified with Your death so that I may sacrifice my life to God.

”We seem to think that God wants us to give up things! God purified Abraham from this error, and the same process is at work in our lives. God never tells us to give up things just for the sake of giving them up, but He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having, namely, life with Himself.

It is a matter of loosening the bands that hold back our lives. Those bands are loosened immediately by identification with the death of Jesus. Then we enter into a relationship with God whereby we may sacrifice our lives to Him.It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death. He wants you to be a “living sacrifice”— to let Him have all your strengths that have been saved and sanctified through Jesus (Romans 12:1). This is what is acceptable to God.

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January 8 2016

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning God and thank you for this day and devotional. I really liked the portion that pointed back to our identification with Christ. …..God never tells us to give up things just for the sake of giving them up, but He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having, namely, life with Himself. It is a matter of loosening the bands that hold back our lives. Those bands are loosened immediately by identification with the death of Jesus. This portion spoke to the lessons You have given us related to surrender and connection. Namely that when we are identified with Jesus, surrendered to You, we are set free to live without restraint or concern.

And God says…”Jesus came to give you life and life more abundantly. When you acknowledge Me in all your ways and let go of your own understanding, I can make your paths straight. When you delight yourself in the Lord, I can give you the desires of your heart. When you give up the rights to yourself to Me, you loosen the bands that hold back your life. You can live a life knowing that all things work together for good for those that love the Lord and are called according to My purpose. There is great freedom in living this way. And you find “this way” through surrender; surrendering your rights to yourself, letting go of your rights to look good, feel good, to be right and to be in control. And when you do this, Jesus can live through you.”