February 25 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

The purpose of a test at school is to find out if the student knows the material he or she has studied. The purpose of the test God gave Abraham was to find out if Abraham had learned to love God above all.

We can hardly believe that God would give such a test to all who walk with him. It seems an extremely difficult test, reserved only for God's honor students. And it was a final examination: it came during the last miles of the road Abraham traveled with God.

Yet, if you believe your Bible, you will have to admit that Abraham's test, though critical and ultimate, was by no means exceptional. The decision Abraham had to make was no different from the crisis through which the writer of Psalm 73 had to go. The psalmist came through with the glorious confession "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you" (v. 25). Abraham had to arrive at the same confession: There is nothing on earth to hold onto besides God.

You will also remember that the calling of Abraham, by which God began to form the people of the old covenant, has much in common with Jesus' calling of the disciples, by which he began to form the people of the new covenant. Jesus said: "Follow me." And they left their nets and followed him.

If you aren't convinced yet that Abraham's test is no exception, read Matthew 10:37-39, where God says, not just to veteran saints but in general terms, "Anyone who loves their father or mother . . . son or daughter. .. more than me is not worthy of me." God takes his covenant as seriously as any good husband or wife takes the covenant of marriage. The Lord will not share us with another. And all of us must learn to confess: "There is nothing on earth that I desire besides you."

REFLECTIONS

Read all of Psalm 73. Then make verse 25 your own prayer to God.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.