In what ways can we ensure our lives reflect the holiness of God's altar? The heart of Exodus 29:37 “For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy.” (Exodus 29:37) What holiness at the altar looked like • Set apart exclusively for God’s use • Purified by blood and anointed by oil • Continually attended; no ordinary object or person handled it casually The altar’s sacredness overflowed: touching it transformed the ordinary into something holy. Believers share the altar’s identity • Hebrews 13:10—“We have an altar…”—points to Christ’s finished work. • 1 Corinthians 3:16—our bodies are God’s temple; holiness moves from furniture to flesh. • 1 Peter 2:5—“a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices…” Because we are in Christ, His holiness is both our position and our calling. Daily practices that mirror altar-holiness Consecration is not one grand gesture but a series of deliberate routines: • Ongoing surrender – Romans 12:1: “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” – Begin each day reaffirming that every faculty—mind, tongue, time, talents—belongs to Him. • Guarding what touches our lives – Psalm 101:3: “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes.” – Choose media, friendships, business dealings, and entertainment that strengthen rather than soil consecration. • Quick, thorough repentance – 2 Corinthians 7:1: “cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit.” – Confess sin promptly; lingering guilt smothers devotion like ashes on an unattended fire. • Cultivating continual worship – Leviticus 6:13: “The fire must be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not be extinguished.” – Schedule unhurried Scripture intake and praise throughout the day; whispered gratitude rekindles the flame. • Practicing sacrificial obedience – John 14:15: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” – Yielding rights, resources, and preferences turns everyday choices into fragrant offerings. • Living separated yet engaged – John 17:15–18: in the world but not of it. – Serve, work, and befriend others without adopting the world’s value system. Community safeguards • Hebrews 10:24–25—meeting together stirs love and good deeds. • Transparent fellowship and mutual exhortation keep the altar of each heart blazing. The outcome of altar-shaped living • Increasing likeness to Christ: 1 Peter 1:15–16, “Be holy, because I am holy.” • A life that attracts others to the Savior through the aroma of consecrated worship. • Confidence for His return: 1 Thessalonians 5:23, entire spirit, soul, and body preserved blameless. Keep the pattern: consecrate, guard, repent, worship, obey, engage, and encourage. In doing so, your life continually reflects the holiness of God’s altar. |
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