{"id":16698,"date":"2023-11-24T07:37:43","date_gmt":"2023-11-24T14:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bibleinteract.com\/?p=16698"},"modified":"2023-11-24T07:37:45","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T14:37:45","slug":"%f0%9f%93%84-building-an-altar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bibleinteract.com\/?p=16698","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udcc4 Building an Altar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Kaaren Craig<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture is full of the building of altars. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses all built a visible altar in thanksgiving to God. In Revelation, the altar of God in heaven is revealed. A definition of an altar is a \u201csupernatural landing strip, a place where divinity meets humanity.\u201d Today, we also build altars in the things that take our time, energy, and purpose.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jer. 31:33 For this\u00a0is the covenant\u00a0which\u00a0I will make\u00a0with the house\u00a0of Israel\u00a0after\u00a0those\u00a0days,\u201d declares\u00a0the LORD: \u201cI will put\u00a0My law\u00a0within\u00a0them and write\u00a0it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.\u201d<\/em> Ancient Israel would bring their sacrifices to the Temple in Jerusalem to be sacrificed at the altar. But even then, God calls for \u201c\u201cOffer\u00a0God\u00a0a\u00a0sacrifice\u00a0of thanksgiving and pay\u00a0your vows\u00a0to the Most\u00a0High; (Ps. 50:14).<\/em> Today, no one can go to the Temple in Jerusalem, but all of God\u2019s people can offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving in the temple of their hearts.\u00a0 I Cor. 3:16: \u201cDo you not know\u00a0that you are a temple\u00a0of God\u00a0and\u00a0that<\/em>\u00a0the Spirit\u00a0of God\u00a0dwells\u00a0in you?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sacrifice of Thanksgiving is never more needed than in times of stress and trouble. A short history of this secular holiday is applicable as it is the 500th<\/sup> anniversary of the first harvest celebration on the shores of America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans shared an autumn harvest feast acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, individual colonies and states celebrated Thanksgiving days. It wasn\u2019t until 1863, in the midst of the\u00a0Civil War, that President\u00a0Abraham Lincoln\u00a0proclaimed\u00a0a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November. Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed the 4th Thursday of November during the Great Depression. Both of these eras were stressful and traumatic, and for the wise in heart, the time to look to God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When focused on what is good, right, and true, thanksgiving is the only way to approach God. Psm. 100: 4,5 Enter\u00a0His gates\u00a0with thanksgiving, And\u00a0His courtyards\u00a0with praise. Give\u00a0thanks\u00a0to Him, bless\u00a0His name. For the LORD\u00a0is good; His mercy\u00a0is everlasting, And His faithfulness\u00a0is to all\u00a0generations.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hebrew is such a poetic, pictorial language. In Hebrew, thanksgiving is the word todah (to- daw\u2019), which comes from the word yadah. Yadah means to hold out the hand not to receive but to give. NAS Concordance: choir, confession, hymns of thanksgiving, praise, sacrifices of thanksgiving, thank offering<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hebrew Honey; Yadah means: To cast, eg a stone.  Lam. 3: 54 To broadcast, to proclaim the Name of the Lord is to meet one requirement for reopening a shut-up heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ps. 30:12 To give thanks, to sing. The person is moving into the atmosphere where God dwells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Torah: Lev. 7:11.12 \u2018Now this\u00a0is the law\u00a0of the sacrifice\u00a0of peace\u00a0offerings\u00a0which\u00a0shall be presented\u00a0to the LORD. If\u00a0he offers\u00a0it by\u00a0way\u00a0of thanksgiving,<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I Thess. 5:18<\/em><\/a> \u201cIn everything\u00a0give\u00a0thanks; for this\u00a0is the will\u00a0of God\u00a0for you in Christ\u00a0Jesus\u201d.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rev, 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, \u2026 saying, \u201camen, blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever. Amen<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The purpose of an altar is to connect to God, build a landing strip, or better yet, a hanger. How do we, in our daily lives, connect with Him? Build an altar of thanksgiving. Journal your praises as You enter His Presence, record your daily thanksgiving for big things, for small things, for events, for memories. Thanksgiving is like the spark that keeps the fires burning on the altars we build as we commune with God. Not only is it commanded, it is a marker of our attitude. Gratitude is attitude with the Big G released in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to know what altars you are building in your life, what takes your time, what are you consistently doing, and where is your focus? I have learned that the first hour of my day sets the attitude and atmosphere. It is the way to enter His courts with thanksgiving and ignites the spark on the altar built for Him in my heart for the rest of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sacrifice of Thanksgiving is never more needed than in times of stress and trouble.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Please give us your thoughts on this article!<\/p>\n\n\n\n