A Place Called Altar

A Place Called Altar
Words of Faith 12-28-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Exodus 20
[21] The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
[22] Then the Lord said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites this: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: [23] Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.
[24] " 'Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. [25] If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. [26] And do not go up to my altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it.'

God gave the people regulations about their worship of the true God and the building of an altar. He had manifested Himself and His glory on Mount Sinai to give the Ten Commandments. Now (20:22-23:19), He would elaborate on many of those ten. The command to worship God alone, not other deities (20:23), and the caution against making carved or molten idols of silver or gold, re-emphasizes the first and second commandments.
The people were to build an altar to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. These offerings were to honor the Lord and His name. Worship was to be in one centralized location. The altar was to be unadorned by craftsmanship. It was of earth or natural stones. It was to have no steps so the priests would not be indecently exposed. Altars with elaborate craftsmanship and elevated platforms with staircases were common in worshipping false deities. This place of sacrifice was simple. It was not ornate and did not lift up the person making a sacrifice.
So, where is our altar today? The sacrificial system of the Israelites was completed in full through the final sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross. Do we have a place for an altar in our worship?
In some Christian traditions, there is an altar in the chancel area of a house of worship. Flowers are placed upon this altar as a sort of fellowship offering. The elements of the Eucharist are placed on the altar in preparation for the Lord's Supper. Other traditions have no "altar" but use a "Communion Table." This is because they view the final sacrifice of Jesus to be complete and the Lord's Supper to be a remembrance.
We also often hear talk of the "altar of the heart." If the modern believer is a Temple of the Holy Spirit, significant offerings and sacrifices occur within us. Rather than an architectural altar, we offer the sacrifice of Praise and Worship as we humble our hearts and will before the Lord. Even bringing a tithe or offering is a matter of surrender at the altar of the heart long before such gifts are consecrated for the Lord's use.
So an altar is fundamentally a place of "letting go." The Israelites were to "let go" of some of their flocks and crops to express their complete trust in the Lord. In the same way, we are called to "let go" of our claim upon ourselves as we give ourselves back to the Lord in praise and worship. The Apostle Paul urges us to offer our very bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God as our spiritual act of worship. We are to do this "in view of God's mercy," not to gain God's mercy (Romans 12:1). We worship in gratitude for the completed sacrifice of Jesus once and for all.
So how is the place called "altar" in your life? This is the place of surrender. This is the place of communion. This is where we give ourselves wholly to the will and work of the Lord. Do you have that place? Have you found that place? Are you visiting that place regularly?

Father God, lead me to the Holy place where I can find You. Thank You for the final and complete work on the cross for me. Thank You for your unmatched grace and mercy. In gratitude, I offer myself to You. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.