Don’t you just love multi-tasking? The other day, I saw an advertisement for a kitchen appliance.
It peeled, sliced, chopped, diced, and finally; the container could be used as a serving dish. Oh, and it was also microwave and dishwasher safe! Quite an impressive piece of equipment.
Did you know that the altar is a muti-tasker? Obviously, the altar is best known as a place of blood sacrifice for sins. But, before the law for a blood sacrifice was given, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all built altars to worship, seek guidance and give thanks. (Genesis 8:20, Genesis12:7-8, Genesis 26:25, Genesis 35:7)
As Christians, we find the “need” for an altar as a meeting place with God is never finished. During those moments when we need wisdom for life decisions; the altar is a place of guidance. There should be no relationship, ministry, life decision or project started without time spent at the altar. God cares about every part of our life.
The altar is also a place of confirmation. When we are busy at God’s work and satan attacks us, saying we don’t know what we’re doing; we often need to return to the altar. The altar where we received direction is a definite “place” that we can point to and say, “not so, devil, right here is where I heard from God!”
When life is difficult, we often need to return to the altar for encouragement. Taking our heart back to the price that was paid at Calvary reminds us how much we are loved.
The altar is for every season of life; every need begins to be met the moment we bow and seek God’s face. The altar is also a place for praise and thanksgiving, powerful worship can be found at the foot of the cross.
A trip to the altar for salvation is only the beginning! The altar isn’t just for sinners; it’s also for people who have an intimate relationship with Jesus.
Judges 6:24 So, Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord is Peace.–
Prayer: Father, I love you so much. I’m so thankful that you have given the altar as a meeting place. So much can be done at the altar, make me sensitive to your voice. Amen.
Scripture References:
Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it.
Genesis 12:7-8 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.
Genesis 26:25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.
Genesis 35:7 There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel,[a] because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.