A person’s character determines how he interprets God’s will (see Psalm 18:25-26). Abraham interpreted God’s command to mean that he had to kill his son, and he could only leave this traditional belief behind through the pain of a tremendous ordeal. God could purify his faith in no other way. If we obey what God says according to our sincere belief, God will break us from those traditional beliefs that misrepresent Him. There are many such beliefs which must be removed-for example, that God removes a child because his mother loves him too much. That is the devil’s lie and a travesty on the true nature of God! If the devil can hinder us from taking the supreme climb and getting rid of our wrong traditional beliefs about God, he will do so. But if we will stay true to God, God will take us through an ordeal that will serve to bring us into a better knowledge of Himself.

The great lesson to be learned from Abraham’s faith in God is that he was prepared to do anything for God. He was there to obey God, no matter what contrary belief of his might be violated by his obedience. Abraham was not devoted to his own convictions or else he would have slain Isaac and said that the voice of the angel was actually the voice of the devil. That is the attitude of a fanatic. If you will remain true to God, God will lead you directly through every barrier and right into the inner chamber of the knowledge of Himself. But you must always be willing to come to the point of giving up your own convictions and traditional beliefs. Don’t ask God to test you. Never declare as Peter did that you are willing to do anything, even “to go . . . both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Abraham did not make any such statement— he simply remained true to God, and God purified his faith.

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April 26, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

I suspect looking back is the best way for me to understand what God has done in my life…how He has transformed me. My daily failures and wrong choices do not tell the story, nor does my inability to be the man I believe I should be by now.  I often define my Christianity and maturity by my mistakes and difficulties in this world.  Then I am moved to trust You, God completely because I can do nothing else, I look back and discover that You have indeed transformed me.

And God says…”I do not see you failures and wrong choices when I look at you.  I see Jesus. Over time you will be transformed into His very likeness and until then, you are covered in My mercy and grace.  Know that you are loved beyond your wildest dreams and expectations.  My sacrifice is evidence of this, and as you look back at yourself over time….so is your transformation.”