When God asked Abraham to kill his beloved son, Isaac, and burned him on the altar as a sacrifice, Abraham obeyed, although it was very painful for him. He was willing to do it because he believed in God. Abraham was willing to give up everything for God because of His faith in Him. In the end, God stopped Abraham from killing his son because God just wanted to test Abraham's faith. James 2:21-24 says, "Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone."
Our actions must show our faith in God. For example, if we claim that we believe in God, our actions must correlate with our belief in God. Our faith in God must affect our behaviors and attitudes. It is easy for us to say that we believe in God, but our faith in Him will not mean anything if we are unwilling to change. Many people believe in God for what they can get from God, but they are not willing to surrender their life to Him. They do not understand that true faith in God is a surrendered life to God. As a result, they think they have a relationship with God, but in reality, they do not have a relationship with God because their hearts are far from God. Jesus said these words to those who do not have genuine faith in Him, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." (Matthew 15:8).
As true believers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we belong to God because we surrender our life to Him. As we surrender our life to Him, God begins to change our hearts that we may do good works, and our attitudes and behaviors start to exemplify the character of God in and through us.
Ask yourself these questions: Do I have surrendered faith in God? Is there anything in my life that is stopping me from completely surrendering my life to God? Am I willing to believe in God with surrendered life that He may change my life and give me a blessed and abundant life?
Write down all the worries you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I believe in you, and I surrender my life to you. Thank you that you are changing my heart that I may do good works and exemplify your character in and through me. Thank you for saving me through faith and adopting me as your precious child. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.