Tag Archives: church

Altered at the Altar

05 Thursday Nov 2015

Posted by in Devotionals

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Have you been altered at the altar? Has God changed you there—really changed you in the hidden places?

Every rightly built house of God has a change table. Most often it’s called an altar. God fixes us up there. That altar can look quite different depending on which church tradition you follow. But the purpose for the altar is always the same. It is the place where we are cleaned up. Sin is washed away.

What parent throws out their infant on the first occasion when they soil their diapers? Every parent knows that baby messes come with the baby. Changing diapers quickly becomes a part of the family routine.

As a father of two infant sons, I had ample opportunity to practise my diaper changing skills. I would lay the baby on the change table and in a minute or two everything was fixed up—put to right—on that change table.

God has a change table for us. He is intimate with us there. The outward trappings of righteousness are stripped away. He sees us completely. You see there is no place for human pride at the altar of God. Our heavenly Father gently lays us down and does his work on us. There is nothing we can hide. Why would we want to? Let’s deal with all of it.

Cleanse me should be our only cry.

I am reminded of what happened at the dedication of the first temple. Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud,  and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God. (2 Chronicles 5:13-14 NIV).

Landestreu Church, Landestreu, SK, Canada

Landestreu Church, Landestreu, SK, Canada — Photo by Donald Adam

But isn’t the altar just for babies? LORD, haven’t I grown and matured since my first trip to your altar? I would like to think so. I’m not tripped up by the same things anymore. Surely, I don’t have to humble myself yet again!

If we have outgrown the altar, then we have outgrown God. And that’s preposterous!

The LORD God Almighty has not lost any of his awesome power or majesty, simply because we have grown older and supposedly wiser. We are still in need of His correction, His discipline, His mercy and His love. I still need to get onto God’s change table on a regular basis. Moral perfection keeps eluding me. The smugger I feel about my self-deluding, superior spirituality complex, the more I prove that I need to be altered on the altar.

I hear God whispering “Lay down. Lay it all down. I want to change you.”

Response: Lord Jesus, forgive me. Change me. I am not the person I want to be. I need your help to change. Thank you, Holy Spirit for working on me from the inside out. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you been altered at the altar? Have you outgrown the altar?

Do you love the house of God? Why or Why not?

11 Tuesday Feb 2014

Posted by in Psalm 26, Psalms

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Reading:                                      Psalm 26

(Verses 8-12)

LORD, I love the house where you live,
the place where your glory dwells.
Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
my life with those who are bloodthirsty,
in whose hands are wicked schemes,
whose right hands are full of bribes.
I lead a blameless life;
deliver me and be merciful to me.

My feet stand on level ground;
in the great congregation I will praise the LORD. (NIV)

 Reflection

Here in Canada people have been abandoning the house of God in droves. In the most recent census survey, by far the largest growth has been among those who identify themselves as having no religion. This move to “no religion” is most pronounced among young people. There are many factors that have led to this decline. Perhaps a hard look in the mirror is needed for us to see what we are doing wrong. Jesus attracted people. Why are his followers today repelling people?

David had a completely different attitude toward the house of God. Hear the cry of his heart, “LORD, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.”

No one had to drag David to the LORD’s house. He was eager to meet with God there. Really, that’s the secret. If God is in the house—if His glory is present—it will be hard to keep people away. The question we need to be asking ourselves is, “Is God in the house? Is His glory dwelling here among us?” If God is truly, tangibly present among you, look out! The transformational power of God will overwhelm individuals and ignite the congregation. I have seen it happen and there is no experience like it.

I live in expectation of His appearing among us. The living Christ visits His church. Are you anticipating His coming? Have you set the table for Him? Have you put out the welcome mat?

All too often church has become program maintenance. The focus is entirely wrong. Church in its most vibrant form is God dwelling among us—God breathing upon us. That was the Book of Acts Church. That’s the church I love. When we have found that place—when we experience the LORD of that place—we will join David in declaring, “My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the LORD.”

Response: Come, Lord Jesus, dwell among. This is my confession: “LORD, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.” Lord come and dwell in my local congregation. Manifest your presence there, so that many will see it and be changed. Amen.

Your Turn: Is God showing up at your church? What are you doing to make the place ready for Him?