So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.”        Genesis 15:9 NIV

In response to Abram’s question, the Lord makes a strange demand. This demand served as a challenge to Abram’s faith. Let us be reminded that faith that isn’t tested isn’t really faith at all! The Lord’s request is for Abram to prepare a sacrifice. This whole event was how men in ancient times made a covenant with one another. They would cut animals in half and arrange the pieces several feet apart and walk between the pieces together. It symbolized the sacredness of a man’s word. It said, “May I be like one of these animals if I break my part of the covenant.” For Abram, it took a lot of costly, hard, bloody work to prepare these animals as the Lord wanted them to be. We need to remember that when the Lord makes a requirement of our lives, it will often require us to commit to some hard work on our part. The great things of the Lord do not come easy, they do not come cheap, nor do they come to the lazy. The Lord’s best is reserved for those who are willing to pay the price. What is that price? Prayer, holiness, separation, obedience, etc. Let us be reminded of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3:12-13, “If anyone builds on this foundation (Jesus Christ) using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.” May our relationship with the Lord be built on that which will last for eternity.

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, Your sacrifice to us calls for us to be totally committed to You.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, You sacrificed Your only begotten Son, for our salvation, may we be just as committed to Your call upon our lives. AMEN

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Jonah 2:1-6

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