The Generosity of GodSample

The God Who Provides For Himself

Our best efforts will not save us. Our righteous deeds are not enough. Our self-improvement cannot atone for our sin.

We have fallen short of God’s glory. We all, like sheep, have gone astray. And now we’re alone, wandering on a barren hillside. We lost ourselves, and we deserve judgment.

But God will provide for himself. This is the good news of Easter.

It was foreshadowed in Abraham. When God asked Abraham to offer up his son Isaac, the son he waited decades for, the son of promise, his beloved son, Abraham did not argue. He didn’t debate or delay. Instead, he rose early the next morning and saddled his donkey.

Abraham’s faith had an anchor. He believed a concise and concrete truth about God: God will provide for himself the lamb.

God didn’t need Isaac. He is completely self-sufficient. But God was calling Abraham near. Any offering God invites us to bring is an invitation to intimacy. It’s a chance for us, like Abraham, to believe who God is and what he says. It’s also an opportunity to upgrade our role in God’s story.

Abraham’s faith became the trailer for another father-son story. God chose Abraham to warm up our imaginations for a God who would give his son, the son of promise, his beloved son. This father would give his son completely. And this son would obey his father to the point of death, even death on a cross.

God provided for himself the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His name is Jesus. At the cross, Jesus died to save us. At the cross, our penalty was paid. At the cross, God’s justice was satisfied. At the cross, the lamb became king.

Glory to the God who gives! Glory to the Son who died! Glory to the Spirit who makes us alive!

The lamb has been provided. The table is now set. There’s a seat with your name on it. All that’s left is your yes.

You can come with hands empty or bring your guilt and stains alike. Come and dine without money, for Jesus has already paid the price.

Father in heaven, thank you for providing your son Jesus, the lamb of God who takes away our sin. Thank you for his death on the cross in our place and for our sin. We surrender our lives to Jesus as Lord and receive his forgiveness by faith today.