The Glories of Altarsናሙና

Come

come | kəm | verb

—to expectantly approach God at His bidding; to become conscious of His abiding Presence, to encounter His Person and Provision

The Scriptures are full of examples of physical altars where God meets with His people, where worship happens, where memorials of remembrance are erected, and where demonstrations of God’s power are on display. The Bible also documents more hidden altar experiences where an individual is confronted with God’s will and responds, “Yes, Lord.” In this Bible plan we will be focused on the later—altar experiences that involve a specific moment when we submit the most precious parts of who we are and those we love to God.

In my relationship with my Father, altar time is the most glorious, freeing, enriching part of my day. I like to describe it as “high holy.” I anticipate this set apart time—even long for it. Yes, I talk to God, and receive and release things to Him throughout the day, but I save my deepest conversations for our established altar time. In these moments, my Father helps remove anything that blocks the flow of love between Him and me, and me and others. As He touches my heart, it is often me, more than my situation, that is transformed. I am finding that “the desire to do the will of God is the gift of God.”1

Characteristics of altars:

• Altar moments happen in a physical place and time, but more importantly they are a spiritual position and attitude before God.
• At altars we abdicate of our will to God—our will bows to His.
• Altars are places of unburdening, inner healing, and decisions before God; they are a specific time when He sets us free.
• Altars are sometimes stately with touches of pageantry, but they can also be messy and tear-drenched (or anything between).
• This solitary, suspended moment can feel risky, but Jesus holds us in the midst of it. He greatly values altars and understands them from personal experience.

Whether we drag ourselves to the altar with a pittance of faith and bare hope that God is good or run to our altar with veteran faith—He will be there waiting for us. Ultimately, altars are relaxing back into God our Savior and reveling in relationship with Him. This relationship was His idea, afforded at great cost.

Each day of this Bible plan journey is an invitation to approach the altar in your heart and give yourself into God’s wise and tender care in various ways. I have written some of this plan literally seated at my own altar with the Word open before me so that I may be as transparent as possible as I share about the beauty and power of altars. I need to make clear, however, that I am by no means an expert on altars. I still limp to God and am in constant need of His strength to humble myself and submit. I only offer my testimony that God has touched me as I kneel before Him.

The definitions that introduce each experience are verbs—actions to take before God (variations of Webster’s 1828 and modern definitions woven with biblical principle). Just after each altar’s description is an opportunity to activate your own altar time, should you desire it. The Scriptures that follow share encouragement to visit these altars and know God more.

Since Jesus has already opened the way to intimately meet with Him through His sacrificial life, death, and resurrection, let us draw near. All we need do is come.

Let Us Come

• Think about your daily routine. What is a good time and place for you to meet with God? Where and when might you enjoy holy privacy?
• Make an appointment with God. At your appointed time and designated place present yourself to Him. (Coming to an altar can, of course, happen in our hearts at any time or place.)
• Ask the Lord to search your heart and know you. Ask Him to indicate places that are not fully submitted to Him. Ask Him to heal you deep within.
• Wait reverently and expectantly.
• If He brings specific topics to your thoughts, talk to Him about them as you would with a friend.
• Commit to remain in His tender care as He moves you though the next days of this Bible plan. Trust Him with all your next steps in Jesus.

1 Edwards, Dwight.Revolution Within.New York: 2002, WaterBrook Press, Ch. 9–10