Abraham...

Genesis 21:9-14

Abraham… sending Ishmael and his mother away was definitely not an easy thing to do.

"And Abraham rose up early. How painful was the wound, which the ejection of his firstborn son inflicted upon the mind of the holy man, we may gather from the double consolation with which God mitigated his grief: He sends his son into banishments just as if he were tearing out his own bowels. But being accustomed to obey God, he brings into subjection the paternal love, which he is not able wholly to cast aside. This is the true test of faith and piety, when the faithful are so far compelled to deny themselves, that they even resign the very affections of their original nature, which are neither evil nor vicious in themselves, to the will of God." - John Calvin

We are not so accustomed to obeying God because we are afraid of what God will ask us to do/give up. We have gotten so comfortable in our little bubble that we live in the convenience of what we have and only aspire to a greater level of comfort.

And everything I once thought was important, all the goals and the ambitions, were suddenly dropped at His feet. What was once important – almost a priority –paled in comparison to the magnificence (glory) of knowing Christ and having an active relationship with Him. Do I still wake up with fleshly desires – I do. Do I still desire those things that i shouldn’t desire – I do, sometimes. Will there be a test soon? Most likely. Am I ready? 

Like a man who knows that exam is coming, I guess we should prepare.