LifeLink Devotions for Thursday, September 19, 2024

I am still rejoicing in the truth of yesterday’s devotional. In his great statement of faith Abraham stated that God would provide Himself a lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham’s faith allowed him to look beyond the possible loss of a son to the sacrifice of God’s Son. He knew that God would see to it. And He did see to it both in Abraham’s present situation and in Abraham’s future.

Genesis 22:13-14 “Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

God provided a lamb as a substitute for Isaac, and He has provided a Lamb as a substitute for all of us. So complete was Abraham’s faith that he named the place Jehovah-Jireh, which means “The LORD will provide.” And how He has provided! On that very same mountain, in that very same place, the Holy of Holies in the temple was exposed to all the people when the curtain was torn at the death of Jesus Christ our Savior. That gave us all who believe in the Lamb access to God’s mercy seat. God has seen to it that we have a way out of the bondage and consequences of sin. God has seen to it that we have a way into the eternal covenant of life and blessing. God has seen to it that one Gate provides for both the way out and the way in, and that Gate is His Son Jesus.

I am overwhelmed with this. It may sound simple to many, but it is deeply profound. God has provided for our salvation. Can there be any greater truth? Can there be anything more beautiful? We may be emotionally moved in our spirits by the majesty of God’s creation when we view an incredible vista from a mountaintop, but is there any mountain more deeply moving than the one upon which God provided for our salvation? Is there any human experience that can compare with the splendor of the experience of God’s forgiveness? I say a loud and emphatic “NO!” to all these questions. May the LORD’s provision for our salvation never become simple or unmoving. May our desire for more knowledge of God and His Word never compromise the thrill of God’s grace and mercy. May our desire to serve and work never diminish the joy of our salvation. 

Pastor John