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"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God"
"Romans 4:20.
Devotional
These words are spoken by the Apostle of Abraham. Nowhere are they verified so much as when God commanded Abraham to offer up Isaac, his only beloved son. This was the hardest test yet for the Friend of God. Think what God called Abraham to do. God demanded an act of obedience which seemed to do violence to all of Abraham's natural affections.
Nothing, not even the closest ties, must keep a child of God from doing what God has plainly commanded in His Word. Did not the Lord Jesus Christ say, "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me"?
Some wise member of Abraham's household might have cautioned him not to render all the promises of God futile by killing the son of promise. If Abraham would do this thing how could God bless the world? To all earthly calculations it seemed just so. Yet it was to a course of action which to all appearances would destroy his future usefulness that Abraham was called.
God still calls men to actions which seem to jeopardize their highest hopes. Men are heard to plead for remaining in a corrupt church because they have obtained an influence in its midst. Should they follow their conscience and be true to God they might lose their position of honor and respect.
But what true servants of God can claim exemption from any command of God on any ground whatsoever? Are they not bound to lose all their supposed influence and renounce their apparent place of honor sooner than disobey God? They are as much bound to do so as Abraham was to offer up Isaac, in whom all the promises of God were centered.
(to be continued)
"Lift Up Your Heart" is a series of devotionals by the late Rev. David Freeman, an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for most of his life. These devotionals, in fact, are part of the early history of our denomination. The first of them was published in The Presbyterian Guardian in 1935; the denomination now known as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was officially formed in 1936. We believe that "the Word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:25). Thus it is no surprise that meditations based on that Word have continued relevance today. Dr. Freeman's devotionals are proof of that fact.
David Freeman was a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.B., 1928; Th.M. , 1930) and of Dropsie Univiersity (Ph.D., 1951). He served as pastor at Grace (later New Covenant) Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1936-1946), Knox Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1949-1962), and Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC), Fall River, MA (1962-1967). He authored many articles and (along with his son, David H. Freeman) is the author of the book A Philosophical Study of Religion, which appeared in 1964. He went to be with the Lord in 1984.
There is one change from the way the daily devotional was handled in the past with John Skilton's Think On These Things: New devotionals for the new series appear on weekdays only (Monday through Saturday. It is suggested that you use your pastor's sermon text(s) as the basis for your mediations on the Lord's Day.
We trust that you will find these devotionals, once again made available seventy years after they first appeared, to be a personal help in your own Christian walk today!
"Lift Up Your Heart" is a series of devotionals by the late Rev. David Freeman, an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for most of his life. These devotionals, in fact, are part of the early history of our denomination. The first of them was published in The Presbyterian Guardian in 1935; the denomination now known as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was officially formed in 1936. We believe that "the Word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:25). Thus it is no surprise that meditations based on that Word have continued relevance today. Dr. Freeman's devotionals are proof of that fact.
David Freeman was a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.B., 1928; Th.M. , 1930) and of Dropsie Univiersity (Ph.D., 1951). He served as pastor at Grace (later New Covenant) Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1936-1946), Knox Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1949-1962), and Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC), Fall River, MA (1962-1967). He authored many articles and (along with his son, David H. Freeman) is the author of the book A Philosophical Study of Religion, which appeared in 1964. He went to be with the Lord in 1984.
There is one change from the way the daily devotional was handled in the past with John Skilton's Think On These Things: New devotionals for the new series appear on weekdays only (Monday through Saturday. It is suggested that you use your pastor's sermon text(s) as the basis for your mediations on the Lord's Day.
We trust that you will find these devotionals, once again made available seventy years after they first appeared, to be a personal help in your own Christian walk today!
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