Brothers and sisters,
Happy Monday to all! Yesterday, we proclaimed the praises of our glorious God. We worshiped the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We looked at Genesis 22 and the testing of Abraham to see if he loved the gift God had given him, Isaac, more than God who had given him the gift of Isaac. Abraham passed this test. Issac, also in his submission to Abraham, also passed this test. However, the great lesson of the sacrifice of Isaac is not Abraham’s love for God, but God’s supreme love for Abraham and us. God offered His Son, and the Son, like Isaac, willingly submitted to being offered. God stayed Abraham’s hand and would not permit him to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. However, God did not stay His own hand when Jesus, His only Son, was dying for the sins of the world. God the Father poured out on His Son His wrath that sinful men and women deserve. Jesus become our substitute, our guilt offering. Jesus was the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” What God stopped Abraham from doing, offering Isaac as an offering, God did for us Himself in giving Jesus to die for us. You can trust your life and all your treasures to the God who gave His Son for us. God loves you more than anyone else could love you. If you treasure those you love, you can trust them to God by remembering He loves them more than you do. God Himself is the treasure above all treasures, the pearl of great price, the One who gave His greatest treasure for you. Trust Him with your life and with your treasures today.
We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper next Sunday, November 9, during the morning worship gathering.
Sunday evening, November 16, at 6:00 PM is our annual EMBC Thanksgiving celebration. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the foyer for the food needed for this celebration.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church