A Simple Altar of Sacrifice

 Pondering God's mercy today... ya know, He's still the same God as He was in the beginning. I think we forget that sometimes don't we? I mean He is still the God that hates sin, who is fierce when it comes to keeping His Children from the influence of the world around us. Seems like a crazy thought especially because all we talk about anymore is how we need to go out into the world and reach people for Jesus... and we should. BUT it's one thing for God's People to influence those in the world and another for those in the world to influence God's people ... ouch right?  We as God's Children today often find ourselves supporting organizations, businesses people of this world who advocate for sin everyday. People of this world that push and move Satan's agenda forward everyday and we as God's Children have fooled ourselves into believing that "it's no big deal" or that maybe by us participating, somehow we are being a "witness" to the lost and they'll find Jesus as they hand us our favorite cup of coffee, or our merchandise, or our thank you for your support letter. It's a hard thing to ponder sweet friends but it's nothing new. The Old Testament talks all the time how the Nation of Israel caused it's people to sin... and we can say the same for our nation as well can't we? But many things that are sin.... we have a choice whether we participate or not. Do you know how important it is to God that His people don't sin? When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness and God told them to annihilate different places... Do you know why He commanded them many times to not take any prisoners and bring them back to their camp? Because He didn't want the wicked people to influence the Israelites. Look it up! It's all throughout their journey. God was fierce about those ungodly influences leading His people into sin and separating them from Him. Kind of a humbling thought isn't it? Maybe as we go out into the world to reach people for Jesus... we need to keep in mind that we don't allow their influence to be stronger than ours. 

                         Do you want to know what is so amazing about God's mercy towards us? 

Lamentations 3:22-23

"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 

They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness."

His mercies are new every morning! Do you know what that tells me sweet friends? God does not want us to fail. He is always right here and willing to set us back on the path of righteousness! You guys, we are so loved by our Creator. No matter what we do, if we have a repentant heart, He is FAST to forgive us and set us upright again. That is amazing and worth our appreciation as His Children.

And when we realize just how merciful He is to us, especially when He doesn't have to be, we can better understand the beautiful gift of His grace that He gives us... to help give us strength to walk in righteousness, to break the hold of sin in our lives and empower us to turn away from temptation. Isn't it amazing how He has literally given us everything we need to BE His and to please Him with our lives? That verse found in 2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.".... that is literally what it means!!! Our excuses we use for our sin... are just that sweet friends, excuses. invalid. a crutch. He has GIVEN us what we need to be holy, we just have to walk in it! Whole heartedly. Intentionally. Everyday. He is always there if we mess up because that is who He is. But He is also with us everyday giving us everything we need so that we don't mess up. Embrace Him sweet friends. 

     

      This brings me to the topic of this post.. Have you ever sat and thought about all the things the Children of God had to do in order to be forgiven or blessed by God before Jesus came? They had to abide by the Laws and customs, rituals, and mostly sacrifices. IF they disobeyed or messed up their sacrifice, it usually was followed up by immediate death. They had to work in order to repent. 

BUT THEN JESUS CAME...

Oh how we take for granted that beautiful awesome sacrifice that was brutally paid on our behalf. We love to talk about it like we really know... but how often do we actually stop and really understand everything that was actually done for us? This ultimate sacrifice came with a price and Jesus was willing to lay down His life and so much more for us to be able to be with Him. In order to come to Him at ANY moment and repent of our sins and be washed clean and made holy again instantly. That's huge.

     But here's the other thing... what is the cost on our end? Of course His mercy, His grace, His salvation... is all offered to us freely isn't it? Right there in front of us for the taking. But the cost is... we have to accept it and allow it to change us. We have to understand that even though we no longer have to work in order to approach the altar of sacrifice...that act should not be taken lightly but seriously. We still serve the very same God of the Old Testament, we have received the beautiful gift of Jesus' sacrifice that made it so much easier to approach God's throne... but we are still approaching His throne. Now that we have a simple altar of sacrifice, we sometimes turn our sacrifice into something much more simpler than it should be don't we?

Micah 6:8

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you 

But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

   Our attitudes are key when we approach our altar of sacrifice. Jesus paid a brutal price for my altar. The very least I can do is walk humbly to it, never take it's convenience for granted, to understand just how crucial and important it is in my life, and to always remember how much my simple altar cost my Savior.

 This altar is really anything but simple...

it's where I meet Jesus to talk about my life, 

to ask questions,

to seek guidance,

to lift others up in prayer, 

to gain strength,

to repent,

to be restored,

to get to know my God.

It is the most important place in my life... at His feet.

And because of His sacrifice, I can go there anytime I want.

Not simple... it's everything sweet friends.