November 17-Build an Altar

Happy Friday to you! Did you have a blessed week? Were you just crazy busy like I was? I was so tired last night after Bible Study, my whole body ached. But, my Study was so good. It was over the last part of Romans 5 and my take away was 1) Sin ruined it all but 2) Grace changes everything.


I couldn’t help but think about Exodus chapter 20 right after God had given the law to Moses. Right after He explains how to not sin, he explains how to ask forgiveness for the sin He knows they will commit. (Yeah, can you see Him just shaking his head saying “here’s the standard, but there’s no way, so here’s what you can do.”) He gave them instructions for building a personal altar. 


 ““Build for me an altar made of earth, and offer your sacrifices to me—your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats, and your cattle. Build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you. If you use stones to build my altar, use only natural, uncut stones. Do not shape the stones with a tool, for that would make the altar unfit for holy use.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:24-25‬ ‭NLT‬‬


He specifically has told in previous verses not to build the altar out of gold or silver because he doesn’t want them to be worshipping the alter. Notice He tells them to just build it out of dirt! Or if they use rocks, just use the rocks like they find them, don’t smooth them out. It’s not the altar but what happens ON the altar that is important. What happens when God meets you there that’s important. It’s not about what we do in building our altar, it’s about having one and being ready for God to show up and receiving the blessing He wants to pour out on us.  


Our sin nature tells us that we need to fix ourselves up and make it all good before we let God come in and reign over all, but God clearly tells us, “Just pull some dirt together, the altar doesn’t matter...it’s your willingness to meet with me!” Don’t you love that? How awesome is it that we can’t and don’t need to do anything fancy for the King of Glory to be with us. In fact, He specifically tells us not to do anything but be ourselves—not even to climb up steps. 


Today, build your altar...wherever you are and with whatever you have—just your heart—and let God meet you and bless you right there. 


Love you dear one,

Pam

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