OK! So, nobody builds an altar anymore. Well, not really. Yet, there are ways we automatically build an altar in our lives on which we make sacrifices – for goals and dreams, for relationships, to feel validated – all the while hoping our sacrifice will bring desired results. Incidentally, it helps to consider – your life is an altar.
Your Life An Altar – Healthy Living
In Scripture, an altar was used to sacrifice to God or to give thanks and worship Him. Often, it took effort and time to build an altar. Of course, the offering on it was considered a “sweet aroma” to God – if it was sincere.
Actually, throughout Scripture, an altar kept Bible characters connected to God through a “stand-in” sacrifice to bear the penalty of sin.
Likely, your favorite Bible characters were ordinary persons –
- Pressed on every side.
- Managing complicated scenarios.
- With stresses, insecurities, fears, and pride to manage.
Just like you.
Strikingly, these folks didn’t know they, themselves, were an altar to God. Yet, their lives invite you to live under the same shadow they did –
- An authentic, personal relationship with holy God.
- A practical life that frames your faith in God.
Remarkably, they did know they could rely on God’s promises, provisions, and presence.
Who Is Your Person?
In your lifetime, you likely have at least one person who, by their daily life, strongly encourages you to trust God. Just because you don’t know all their difficulties, doesn’t mean troubles aren’t present. Your person –
- Fully trusts God.
- Obeys Him even when it’s hard.
- Relies on God’s promises, provisions, and presence.
- Draws close to Him with love.
Simply put, they are an altar to God. Now, who is your faithful person?
What About You?
Naturally, God designed you to be an altar to God.
- Are you willing?
- Whatever the cost?
- Further, are you willing to be an altar for others?
The best way to be an altar is to tether yourself to God. In doing so, your life becomes an altar.
Without doubt, your life is intended to influence others. Indeed, this likely means sacrifice. Plus, investments of time and energy. Also, loving compassion.
Strikingly, your life is an altar for others especially when you suffer.
1 Jn. 3:16 says, “. . . we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
Amazingly, the offering of your life on God’s altar is a sweet aroma to Him. (2 Cor. 2:15) Plus, it’s how you fulfill your purpose! Finally, it encourages others.
Abandon To God
Remarkably, when you offer your life on God’s altar, you do something many Christians are not willing to.
Significantly, what is God’s altar? It’s a place you –
- Stack up your expectations.
- Let go of your reputation.
- Give God your hopes.
- Be flexible with your dreams.
- Then, pour your love to God over everything you’ve laid on your altar.
- Finally, let the flames of passion for Jesus – and purpose – burn in your life for Christ.
Be an altar to live healthily.
Some “H” Words
Let’s look at some “H” words with practical ideas of how to be an altar.
1. Help
God promises to help you in every detail of life. Subsequently, latch onto His unlimited help.
“So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Is. 41:10)
Make your life an altar by accepting God’s help.
2. Hope
God gives you hope. Yet, only when you accept it does it become yours. The Psalmist repeatedly instructs to hope in God.
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” (Ps.31:24)
Interestingly, hope in God means –
- Strength is renewed.
- Your heart is refreshed.
- Weariness falls off.
- Weakness transforms into power.
Make your life an altar by accepting God’s hope.
3. Healing
Life is hard. Disappointments, losses, bad things happen, disease. So often, you need healing.
God says, “I am the Lord who heals you.” (Ex. 15:26) “I heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.” (Ps. 147:3)
Make your life an altar by asking God to heal you. Then, accept whatever that looks like.
4. Healthy
Health goes far beyond your body. Some people with physical diseases are healthier than others with no disease.
Frankly, be healthy in every way you can –
- Body.
- Mind.
- Spirit.
- Relationships.
- Work-life balance.
1 Tim. 6:3 encourages Jesus followers to agree with the healthy words of Jesus.
Make your life an altar by living a healthy life.
5. Holy
God, alone, is holy. Yet, He offers holiness to whoever trusts and obeys Him. As a result, be a candidate for holiness.
- Surrender completely to God.
- Ask Him to transform your character.
- Pursue Christ’s character as your own.
Make your life an altar by pursuing a holy life.
6. Heaven
Heaven is unending joy, provision, kindness, love, safety, fellowship, peace – forever.
Interestingly, Jesus said Heaven is very near. (Mt. 3:2) Additionally, He promises all God’s provisions are yours, daily.
Make your life an altar by living in Heaven’s realities – starting now.
7. Honesty
Actually, to live an honest life is a sign of integrity and trustworthiness. Plus, it takes humility to be honest.
“Teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth . . .” (Prov. 22:21a)
Make your life an altar by being honest.
8. Humility
God highly values humility. Remarkably, Christ humbled Himself every day on earth. Interestingly, this kept Him in the center of God’s will. Plus, He stayed in intimate relationship with God.
Importantly, humility brings confession, repentance, and forgiveness. Frankly, this keeps you in God’s will and close to God.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (Jas. 4:10)
Make your life an altar by being humble.
9. Hard Work
Bring your skill sets, abilities, and experiences to serve God. Subsequently, God made you for productive, constructive, and meaningful work.
It’s my conviction that after His earthly father, Joseph, died – Jesus worked hard as a carpenter, setting His mother up for success and providing for His siblings.
Make your life an altar by working hard each day.
10. Happiness
Practice cheer. Basically, rejoice in the Lord. Interestingly, this produces quiet contentment even in hard times.
“Rejoice before God . . . be happy and joyful.” (Ps. 68:3b)
Despite everything, you can choose “joy.”
Make your life an altar by engaging happiness.
Immediate Management Approach
The best way to manage your life as an altar to God is to adopt an immediate management approach. Essentially, this includes –
- Responsibilities.
- Schedules.
- Habits.
- Relationships.
- Career.
- Leadership.
- Future hopes, dreams, plans.
Being organized, pro-active, forward-thinking, and prayerful helps you manage those areas. Subsequently, it’s a great way to put everything on your life altar.
However, you also need to manage unhealthy practices and sin. Particularly, as we’re talking about your life as an altar.
Deal with sin at the heart level as soon as you see it. Essentially, before it becomes a lingering thought, word, deed, especially an on-going pattern. If it’s already entrenched – confess and repent. God helps you manage everything.
Actually, using the “H” words will help you manage your life.
An immediate management approach keeps you healthy as you make your life an altar.
Unhealthy Practices And Sin
Frankly, unhealthy practices and sin create barriers.
-
-
- Self-oriented thoughts.
- Selfish desires.
- Dreams that don’t honor God.
- Anxieties.
- Irritations.
- Bitterness.
- Anger.
- Revenge.
- Etc.
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Battles of your heart are fought in an invisible realm. Strategically, as soon as you sense yourself making allowances, justifying, denying, defending – stop! Frankly, it’s precisely there that Lordship must be established. So, who is going to be in charge? You, or God?
Once Christ’s Lordship has been established, only then can you move on to fight battles of unhealthy practices and sins. Truthfully, it is a battle of the will. Either you choose to be completely surrendered to Christ, or you’ll conjure up –
- Allowances.
- Exceptions.
- Excuses.
- Extensive explanations.
- Compromises.
Simple question: Is your entire life on the altar?
Application Thoughts And Questions
Do you see your life as an altar to God?- Are you willing? Whatever the cost?
- Further, are you willing to be an altar for others?
- Name anything that is not on the altar of your life.
- Which “H” words are you doing well? Name them.
- Regrettably, which “H” words are you not doing well with? Name them.
- Do you have an immediate management approach? How well is it working for you?
- Which unhealthy practices and sin do you need to eliminate?
- Simple question: Is your entire life on the altar?
A Bible Study For Your Quiet Time!
* Portions of this content come from my book Shadows of Things To Come – a study in Hebrews.
Also from my book – Sharp Shooting: Your Bronze Bow – a devotional book that takes you through Matthew. You’ll find practical action points that help you know God better and nurture personal growth. You can find these books in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.
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