Mizbeach

Wk 1 Day 5

Genesis 12-14; Luke 5

Genesis 12:8
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.

// THOUGHTS:

Notice that every time they (OT folks) would reach to a new land or a new place, they always built an altar to the Lord.  So far from last week's reading, is Noah - after getting off the ark (Gen. 8:20) also built an altar. 

Why would they do so?  What was the importance of building an altar to the Lord?  What does it mean to build an altar?  From observations, the altar is where they would worship the Lord, offer sacrifices, and a physical place where they'd worship God - a symbol where they meet God, whether it be literal or not. 

They would always do it when they get to a new place or land.  Why?  It tells me a few things:
.. They want God to be the first
.. They want God's presence to be where they are
.. They included God in everything and put special place for Him - the altar

// BELLE:

What is my altar?  What have I offered Him? 

Whenever God leads me to something new, would I build my altar?  Would I let God be first?  Would I let God's presence in first by acknowledging His presence? Of course, the answer to all these is YES! 

In the altar I build for the Lord, I can offer anything to God.  I can meet His presence.  Daily, I must make sure I offer something to God if I want Him to be first.  When the new day breaks, I must go to the altar of the Lord in my room (or wherever I am) to meet God's presence and offer Him my sacrifice of praise.  I want to honor God and I want to make Him the first in my life. 

Lord, please help this truth to sink in some more as I go on today.  I pray for Your Holy Spirit to continually guide me as He would, to the thoughts that pleases You.  I thank You for always being so real, because You are real.  Remove anything that is bothering my mind and help me to trust You at all times.  I want to put you first in everything.  May You remove anything that is keeping me from putting you as the main "picture" in my mind.  Help me to follow Your leading.  In Jesus' name, amen.