SACRIFICE, SERVICE, SURRENDER

The stories of Abraham teach us about worship… authentic worship.

Obediently following God from his home in the south, Abraham travelled north to Canaan where he built an altar at Shechem (Genesis 12:7-8). From there he travelled to Bethel where he again built an altar and “called upon the name of the LORD” (Genesis 13:1-4). At Hebron, about twenty miles south of Jerusalem, he once again constructed an altar (Genesis 13:14-18). In each case, Abraham built an altar to offer sacrifices to his God. He sacrificed.

When “the Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre … he bowed to the ground” (Genesis 18:1-15), and in an act of reverent worship he faithfully served the Lord. He served water, he served bread, and he barbequed a calf to serve his Royal Guest. Abraham served the Lord.

Focusing on God’s promise, God’s power, and God’s purpose, Abraham surrendered his beloved son in an act of unrestrained, unreserved worship. Abraham gave his beloved son, the son that was miraculously born in Abraham and Sarah’s old age. Abraham sacrificed the one thing he loved most and best… he offered Isaac to God on Mount Moriah.

Worship involves sacrifice, service, and surrender. Anything less isn’t authentic worship.

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).