An altar of praise, thanksgiving, and obedience

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      My daily Bible reading has me in Genesis 12-15. I'm struck with Abram's erecting of altars and calling on God's name. An altar was a place of worship through sacrifice and a monument of remembrance. Twice the text references a location as the place Abram built an altar (13:4, 18). 

     We, as New Testament believers, are commanded to offer to the Lord sacrifices of praise (Heb. 13:15). We are told to give thanks in every situation (1 Thess. 5:18). We are told to submit our eyes, ears, mouths, fingers, and feet to the Holy Spirit in obedience to Him (Rom. 6:1-14; 12:1-2). Are we not also commanded to sacrifice and remember? The hymn goes, "Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither to thy help I'm come. . . " (Come Thou Fount). An Ebenezer is a stone of remembrance. It is a monument to the working of God in one's life that can be returned to over and over and over again as a reminder. The history of the nation of Israel was something that was repeated over and again in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy says God's heart was that they not forget Him (Deut. 4:9, 23, 31; 6:12; 8:11, 14, 19; 25:19). He reminded them often of their history - both of their sin and of His faithfulness. 

     What can you look back on in your own life, even today, that is a gift of God, a working of God in the details and big picture, that would prompt you to offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving? What obedience do you need to give to the Lord today with your eyes, ears, mouth, feet, and hands? Where your focus is (on the political chaos and confusion or on the God who gives peace) will determine how you respond to today. Will those around you remember the chaos more or your response to it? Where will your response point them?  

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