Living In The Light

October 9, No Greater Proof Than Christ’s Sufferings

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
—Romans 8:32 LL 298.1

Isaac was a figure of the Son of God, who was offered a sacrifice for the sins of the world. God would impress upon Abraham the gospel of salvation to humanity. In order to do this and make the truth a reality to him as well as to test his faith, He required him to slay his darling Isaac. All the sorrow and agony that Abraham endured through that dark and fearful trial were for the purpose of deeply impressing upon his understanding the plan of redemption for fallen human beings. He was made to understand in his own experience how unutterable was the self-denial of the infinite God in giving His own Son to die to rescue men and women from utter ruin. To Abraham no mental torture could be equal to that which he endured in obeying the divine command to sacrifice his son. LL 298.2

God gave His Son to a life of humiliation, self-denial, poverty, toil, reproach, and to the agonizing death of crucifixion. But there was no angel to bear the joyful message: “It is enough; You need not die, My well-beloved Son.” Legions of angels were sorrowfully waiting, hoping that, as in the case of Isaac, God would at the last moment prevent His shameful death. But angels were not permitted to bear any such message to God’s dear Son. The humiliation in the judgment hall and on the way to Calvary went on. He was mocked, derided, and spit upon. He endured the jeers, taunts, and revilings of those who hated Him, until upon the cross He bowed His head and died. LL 298.3

Could God give us any greater proof of His love than in thus giving His Son to pass through this scene of suffering? And as the gift of God to human beings was a free gift, His love infinite, so His claims upon our confidence, our obedience, our whole heart, and the wealth of our affections are correspondingly infinite. He requires all that it is possible for people to give. The submission on our part must be proportionate to the gift of God; it must be complete and wanting in nothing. We are all debtors to God. He has claims upon us that we cannot meet without giving ourselves a full and willing sacrifice. He claims prompt and willing obedience, and nothing short of this will He accept.— Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 369. LL 298.4

Further Reflection: How can you demonstrate your appreciation for God’s love today? LL 298.5