Radical Obedience

Call to Prayer 

Title: Radical Obedience

By: Daniel Peter

Date: 25.09.2023

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

Genesis 22:1-2 NIV

Scriptures says “.. be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit promises (Hebrew 6:12)”. This means, when we follow the examples of these people, like them, we will inherit promises. One thing that is common to all of God’s men and women whose life we are to imitate is that they were obedient to the voice of God.

Faith is the means by which we receive in the natural that which God has given in the spirit. Faith is not just a conviction that exists in our hearts, but it includes actions inspired by the revelation of the spirit. Abraham was one whose faith was perfected by his radical obedience to the voice of God. Initially, when he received the promise of a child, the Bible records “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to Him for righteousness (Gen. 15:6). Yet, that faith he expressed in his heart was tested when God asked him to sacrificed Isaac. Apostle James writing about this event said: “Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? (James 2:22 NKJV)”. If we are to be followers of Abraham, we must be willing to obey radically the voice of God.

Abraham’s obedience to the voice of God is considered radical because His response to it was immediate. Abraham didn’t wait to check how logical the instruction was, nor did he consider what His wife would think. Again, Abraham didn’t wait for a confirmation, but he just did as he was told. This is the kind of faith God is calling us to imitate. However, for Abraham to posses this dimension of faith, there was something he knew. Scriptures says “Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death (Hebrew 11:19)”. 

God’s instruction to us during a time of testing may mean we have to give up something in order to be obedient. The grace to be obedient (radically) comes when we believe that He can bring back the dead (he can restore). God has demonstrated his ability to restore through stories in scriptures and in the lives of men and women. As we meditate on them, the faith to obey radically will be imparted to us.

Prayer Point 

Let’s thank God for His word. Let’s ask Him to help us to be radically obedient people like men and women who obtained promises.