Word for Today - 2 Dec 2024
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“He built an altar to the Lord.” Genesis 12:7 NKJV
Build an altar
After the flood, the first thing Noah did was build an altar to the Lord. Think about it. Noah had an altar before he had a home. Most of us have homes, but the old-fashioned family altar has virtually disappeared. Everywhere Abraham went, he built an altar. Why? (1) An altar is a place of prayer. The Bible says that Abraham returned “to the place of the altar which he had made…And there Abram called on the name of the Lord” (Genesis 13:4 NKJV). (2) An altar is a place of sacrifice. “Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar” (Genesis 22:9 NKJV). Did God want Abraham to slay Isaac? No, God just wanted to know, “Is there anything I could ask of you that you would be unwilling to give, or anything on earth you love more than me?” God will not ask you for what you don’t have, but He will often ask you for something you would like to keep. Sacrificial giving conquers the spirit of greed, the fear of lack, and your focus on self-centered living. (3) An altar is a place of worship. “You shall make an altar to burn incense on” (Exodus 30:1 NKJV). As the incense melted and the smoke rose, it represented the worship of God. Worship is an act of intimacy; it’s the giving of your heart, your love, your praise, and thanksgiving to God. The Bible describes it as “a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2 NKJV). So today, build an altar.
Build an altar
After the flood, the first thing Noah did was build an altar to the Lord. Think about it. Noah had an altar before he had a home. Most of us have homes, but the old-fashioned family altar has virtually disappeared. Everywhere Abraham went, he built an altar. Why? (1) An altar is a place of prayer. The Bible says that Abraham returned “to the place of the altar which he had made…And there Abram called on the name of the Lord” (Genesis 13:4 NKJV). (2) An altar is a place of sacrifice. “Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar” (Genesis 22:9 NKJV). Did God want Abraham to slay Isaac? No, God just wanted to know, “Is there anything I could ask of you that you would be unwilling to give, or anything on earth you love more than me?” God will not ask you for what you don’t have, but He will often ask you for something you would like to keep. Sacrificial giving conquers the spirit of greed, the fear of lack, and your focus on self-centered living. (3) An altar is a place of worship. “You shall make an altar to burn incense on” (Exodus 30:1 NKJV). As the incense melted and the smoke rose, it represented the worship of God. Worship is an act of intimacy; it’s the giving of your heart, your love, your praise, and thanksgiving to God. The Bible describes it as “a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2 NKJV). So today, build an altar.
