We have an altar

And it’s not that platform at Church.

I’m not that sure how terribly out of place it is, that we reserve an area at Church and deem it holy, but when the reverence we hold for that space begins to look like worship, we’re then beginning to cross holy lines, methinks!

Because, what in fact, is an altar?

Our fathers have told us, as per instruction from God, that it is a place of sacrifice.

At the altar, we come before God with reverence, in worship, bearing our sacrifice.

And since it’s one thing to offer our sacrifice, and a completely different story for our offering to be acceptable, I’d say we should be more concerned with seeing that our gifts are acceptable to God.

Maybe we should spend more time loving our neighbours, and settling differences with our brothers instead of focusing too much on the gifts we’re bringing to God, or even worrying too much about the decorations at that dedicated platform at Church, if they’re sufficient or not.

Because when you think of it, our altar today, is not even in Church.

At Calvary, outside the camp, God raised an altar for us, and offered the sacrifice that has made us right with Him once and for all.

Let us go therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. Hebrews 13:13.

Remember –

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17.

And,

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee;
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Matthew 5:23-24.

And then this,

The altar God raised for us at Calvary, was not only outside the Church, it was also between two thieves.

So let’s stop worrying about the decorations at that dedicated space at Church, if they’re sufficient or not. Or about who is holy enough to go into that space….

And let us go to the altar God raised for us at Calvary, as many times as we have to, taking as many people as we can with us.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:13-14.


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46 thoughts on “We have an altar”

  1. Boma, this is beautiful and very true. I like how you point out that the altar God raised for us on Calvary was also between two thieves. Relationships matter to the Lord. I have always loved Matthew 5:23-24. Very challenging and convicting post!

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  2. Wow did this hit me this morning. I just finished some prayer time and was asking God what he wanted me to release for the day, and I was reminded that he is calling me to release my writing to him. And then I opened your post and stopped at “platform,” and it was one of those moments of God speaking directly to me through someone else: “We have an altar, and it’s not that platform . . .” While I know this was about the platform in the front of the church, I was reminded that it is not the platform of my readers either. May we lay our lives on the true altar . . .

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  3. I might not have had a context for your statement about “worrying too much about the decorations” in that space, but I actually heard a heartbreaking story yesterday about a woman whose ministry was to bring the church’s flowers, etc. and that she had been criticized sharply by someone who did not “appreciate” her style. I was sad to hear that because decorations are such a subjective thing, and it’s so important for us to keep an open mind to the style preferences of others–particularly in a gathering place like church.
    And now, I see that the complainer’s focus should have been on the One we are remembering when we gather.

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    • That is a sad story! And yes, our focus should always only be on the Lord. Thanks for visiting, Michelle. Blessings to you.

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  4. This is so true and meaningful. I seen churches divide over the color for new carpet. We, the people, are the church of God with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.

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    • The color of new carpet!?! Lord help us! And yes, we the people, are the Church. Thanks for visiting, Yvonne. Blessings to you.

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  5. Boma a very true observation, instantly bringing to mind Romans 12:1 “I urge you therfore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living & holy sacrifice, which is your spiritual worship, acceptable to God.”
    Jennifer

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  6. I love your thoughts on sacrifice! “Maybe we should spend more time loving our neighbours, and settling differences with our brothers instead of focusing too much on the gifts we’re bringing to God”….wonderful!

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  7. May we focus on the One we worship and not the place of worship. At times, I have come to the messiest of altars — at the foot of my unmade bed — and I am grateful He met me there.

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  8. This reminds me of God stating our offerings given with impure motives or offerings that are themselves not our best offering are not pleasing to Him. He doesn’t care about the offering – He cares about the heart. Great reminders for today!

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  9. Thanks for making me think! When I’m in a church building, I am reverent, but I’m just as reverent when I’m outside looking at God’s awesome creation or in my rocker studying the Bible.

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  10. “It’s one thing to offer a sacrifice and a completely different story for our offering to be acceptable.” And so I ask God to examine my heart. Only You, Lord, only You.

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  11. The altar is where we worship, so we need to be more careful with the attitude of our hearts than anything else. For if that is wrong, then nothing on the outside is acceptable to the Lord. Thanks for the post!

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  12. Love the heart of this message. It is much easier to get caught up in the wrong things like church decorations, and much more difficult to love our brothers. Thanks for this perspective on the altar! Visiting today from BVN

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  13. “So let’s stop worrying about the decorations at that dedicated space at Church, if they’re sufficient or not. Or about who is holy enough to go into that space….

    And let us go to the altar God raised for us at Calvary, as many times as we have to, taking as many people as we can with us.”

    Oh, Boma, I am totally with you here. Amen.
    Blessings to you! Thanks for linking up with us at the #LMMLinkup!

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  14. LOVE this! So thankful that the altar we go before is not one made by human hands, but are the prayers, reflections, and praise of a transformed heart! Thanks for linking with #BVN!

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